This article is about 7 years old

Science gifts for the stargazers in your life

WASHINGTON — OK, Santa. You have a lover of skywatching and space on your list. What’cha gonna to do?

Here’s just the thing to help you out: time-proven presents for that admirer of all things out of this world.

MONTHLY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION
For someone new to astronomy (or a seasoned stargazer that doesn’t have a subscription), I recommend getting them a subscriptions to either (or both) Astronomy or Sky and Telescope (S&T). When the magazine arrives each month, it will be that special stargazer of you. And both publications provide digital versions as part of the magazine subscription. These monthly magazines and their respective excellent websites are full of observing advice, astronomical equipment, pictures, book reviews, astronomy related ads, related news and monthly observing guides/star charts. Full disclosure: I am an S&T subscriber; I have also done major feature articles for them and been a S&T staff member. (Courtesy Astronomy)
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This artist's impression provided by the European Southern Observatory in July 2018 shows the path of the star S2 as it passes close to the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. As the star gets nearer to the black hole, a very strong gravitational field causes the color of the star to shift slightly to the red, an effect of Einstein's general theory of relativity. European researchers reported the results of their observations in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (M. Kornmesser/ESO via AP)
Venus and lower Mercury grace the predawn skies along with the Milky Way in the Tasman Sea, aboard Azamara Quest. (Photo credit: Greg Redfern)
Catherine Corrigan a geologist with the Division of Meteorites at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, holds a slice of a meteorite at a new meteorite lab in Suitland, Md., Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
In this 1981 file photo, astronomer Carl Sagan speaks during a lecture. On Saturday, May 9, 2015, Cornell University announced that its Institute for Pale Blue Dots is to be renamed the Carl Sagan Institute. Sagan was famous for extolling the grandeur of the universe in books and shows like "Cosmos." He died in 1996 at age 62. (AP Photo/Castaneda, File)
People use telescopes to observe the lunar eclipse in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. The moon is putting on a rare cosmic show. It's the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse. NASA is calling it a lunar trifecta: the first super blue blood moon since 1982. That combination won't happen again until 2037. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Mark Renz, of Rochester, N.Y, adjusts one of his telescopes during the period of total coverage during the solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, on the Orchard Dale historical farm near Hopkinsville, Ky. The location, which is in the path of totality, is also at the point of greatest intensity. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

I hope this has helped you on your out of this world holiday shopping. Drop me a tweet or email if you have any questions.

Happy Holidays and clear skies.

Follow Greg on Twitter @skyguyinva and his daily blog to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. Email him at skyguyinva@gmail.com.

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