Gifts for Space and Science Nerds

Science people want to know how things work, and they can tell instantly when a gift is a toy dressed up as science. Give them real instruments, good books, and kits that produce actual results. For space fans in particular, the right telescope or pair of binoculars gets used for years, while a cheap department-store telescope gets used once.

Under $25 8 ideas

  1. Cosmos

    Sagan's classic on the universe and our place in it. If they have only seen the TV series, the book goes deeper and has aged well.

    Carl SaganBook

    See it on Amazon

  2. What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

    The xkcd author answers ridiculous questions with real physics and stick-figure drawings. Funny and rigorous, which is rare.

    Randall MunroeBook

    See it on Amazon

  3. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

    Short chapters on the biggest questions in physics, readable in a commute. A good book for the curious person who would never pick up a textbook.

    Neil deGrasse TysonBook

    See it on Amazon

  4. The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe

    A beautiful photo of every element on the periodic table. Each one comes with its story. A coffee-table book for chemistry fans of any age.

    Theodore GrayBook

    See it on Amazon

  5. David Chandler Night Sky Planisphere

    A rotating star wheel that shows what is overhead at any date and time. Works without a battery or a phone screen ruining night vision.

    David ChandlerStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  6. Carson MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x Pocket Microscope

    A lighted pocket microscope for looking at insects, leaves, and fabric on the spot. Small enough to carry everywhere, which is how it gets used.

    CarsonStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  7. Tedco Original Gyroscope

    The classic spinning gyroscope that balances on a fingertip and defies intuition. A desk toy that doubles as a physics lesson.

    TedcoStocking stufferWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  8. Celestron Night Vision Flashlight

    A red LED light for reading star charts without ruining dark-adapted eyes. Anyone who stargazes needs one and usually makes do with a phone.

    CelestronStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

Under $50 5 ideas

  1. Estes Tandem-X Launch Set

    Two model rockets plus launch pad and controller, from the company that has made them since the 1950s. Engines are sold separately, so buy a pack to go with it.

    EstesAges 10+An experience

    See it on Amazon

  2. Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit

    A hundred-plus working circuit projects with snap-together parts. The best first electronics kit for a young scientist.

    ElencoAges 8+

    See it on Amazon

  3. NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

    The standard beginner's guide to stargazing, with spiral binding that lies flat outside at night. Pairs well with any telescope or binoculars.

    Terence DickinsonBook

    See it on Amazon

  4. Turn Left at Orion

    Shows what objects actually look like through a small telescope, rather than in Hubble photos. Avoids the disappointment that ends many new hobbies.

    Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. DavisBook

    See it on Amazon

  5. The Science Book (DK Big Ideas Simply Explained)

    The big discoveries of science explained with diagrams and short essays. Good for dipping into, and for teenagers getting interested in the history of ideas.

    DKBook

    See it on Amazon

Under $100 5 ideas

  1. Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope

    A small refractor with a tripod and backpack, light enough to take camping. A sensible starter scope for a kid or someone unsure how much they will use it.

    Celestron

    See it on Amazon

  2. Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars

    Big astronomy binoculars that show lunar craters, star clusters, and Jupiter's moons. Easier than a telescope, and they work for birds and ships in the daytime.

    Celestron

    See it on Amazon

  3. LEGO Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket 42221

    A Technic model of the rocket NASA built to send astronauts back to the Moon, with moving mechanical functions. Builds into a tall display piece for a kid's shelf or an adult's desk.

    LEGOAges 9+For display

    See it on Amazon

  4. AmScope M150C-I Compound Microscope

    A real glass-optics student microscope, not a toy, with LED lighting and cordless operation. Pond water and onion cells look like they do in a textbook.

    AmScope

    See it on Amazon

  5. Terraforming Mars Board Game

    Companies compete to make Mars livable by raising its temperature, oxygen and oceans. A strategy game built on real science that rewards replays.

    Stronghold GamesAn experience

    See it on Amazon

$100 and up 3 ideas

  1. Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope

    A 114mm reflector with a phone dock that shows exactly where to point it. Solves the biggest problem with beginner telescopes, which is not being able to find anything.

    Celestron

    See it on Amazon

  2. ZWO Seestar S50 Smart Telescope

    An all-in-one smart telescope that finds objects itself and stacks images on a phone, even from light-polluted cities. Produces nebula and galaxy photos that used to take a lot of gear.

    ZWO

    See it on Amazon

  3. Sega Toys Homestar Flux Planetarium

    A home planetarium that projects a sharp, accurate star field onto the ceiling with swappable discs. Far better than the cheap star projectors, which look like scattered dots.

    Sega ToysFor display

    See it on Amazon