Other Astronomy-Related Products

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Astronomy — like much of life — is a highly personalized adventure. Some stargazers are content to scan the skies with unaided eyes with nothing but night noises to keep them company. Others lie back with binoculars and gaze at the stars. Still others are hankering after telescopes so they can ply the deeps of space from the comfort of their own back yards. There are plenty of astro-enthusiasts who like nothing more than to curl up inside with a book or some software and maybe some space music to take them on voyages of galactic discovery. On this page I've listed some of my own favorite astro-toys and products, along with information on how to find them online or in real life.

BINOCULARS

The best way to learn the night sky is with the naked eye and a good star chart or star wheel. But there comes a time when you want to magnify the view. The first thing everybody thinks is "I've GOT to have a telescope!" Well, maybe yes, maybe no. I always tell folks to start out with binoculars, especially if they've not done a lot of stargazing before. Binos are perfect for scanning the sky and you can actually see some pretty neat stuff with them. The beauty of binos is that if (heaven forfend!) you get tired of doing astronomy, they'll be great for birdwatching, ball games, cloud gazing, and a host of other activities — and you won't feel like you've wasted money on something you'll never use again.

But wait, you say. Binoculars have all kinds of mysterious numbers in front of them — stuff that looks like 10 x 50, or 11 x 80. Strange terms get connected to binoculars, like "exit pupil" and "auto-focus." True enough. The best guide to binoculars I've ever read is at the Sky & Telescope webpage, so I recommend you check it out (link will open in a separate window): Choosing Binoculars for Stargazing.

One thing to remember about binoculars is that they probably aren't the best choice for really young people, unless the child is strong enough to hold them up for awhile. Also, the lenses of some binoculars aren't adjustable down to the size of kids' faces (and eye separation), so keep that in mind if you're looking for something that the budding young astronomer can use. Best to try out some binoculars in a store to see if the child can actually see through them.

The binoculars I recommend the most often are 10 × 50's — which means they magnify things 10 times over normal, and they're equipped with 50mm lenses (2 of them, which is why they're called binoculars). Also acceptable are sizes ranging from 7 × 50's to 12 × 50. Anything bigger (like, say, 11 × 80) and you're struggling to hold them up long enough to do any decent stargazing. Here are some links to binoculars that are good for stargazing. These Amazon info pages for binoculars (and the telescopes below) have a lot of technical information and reviews from other users that you can use for comparison.

TELESCOPES

When it comes to telescopes, what you want to look at really does influence what you buy. As with the binoculars, the best reference article I've seen about buying telescopes is at Sky & Telescope's website (the article opens in a new window): Choosing Your First 'Scope.

I have three telescopes myself. The first is an Edmunds Astroscan, one of the most rugged, adaptable, and handy scopes I've ever owned. It travels well and (important for families) is a great kids' scope! It looks a little strange, but it delivers great views! In 1986 I was hired to be the astronomy lecturer for two tour groups in South America. The idea was to visit great sites in Peru during the day and look for Comet Halley during the wee hours of the morning. The best instruments to view it with were binoculars and small scopes — and my Astroscan fit the bill. I also took it along when I was ship's lecturer onboard MS Ryndam in 2001. It fits into the overhead bin of just about any airliner, and sets up in seconds! If you're looking for a good astro-gift, this is one to consider!

My other two scopes are a 6" Dobsonian reflector and 6" Sovietski reflector. They couldn't be more different in design! They're also not made any more — although you can find plenty of Dobsonian-type scopes at Orion Telescopes.

Like I said above, this baby is just about indestructible! I've bounced mine off the top of my car, rolled it down dirt roads, and dropped it off of tables (none of this on purpose, of course). It emerged none the worse for wear and continues to give good views almost 20 years after I bought it! This is a great scope for kids, and it's easy to toss into the car when you're packing up for a camping trip or that overnight with the Scout troop. It comes with an eyepiece, a stand, and a shoulder strap, and a few other accessories. You can fit it into a gym bag for easy carrying.

I had a chance to try out Meade's "beginner's" auto-scope a few years ago. It was designed for people who want to find objects in the sky, but don't have all the knowledge yet to find things easily. The telescope itself was nicely made, and came with a digital computer guide that allows the user to simply choose the objects of interest. At the press of a button, the telescope slews to the object and you're viewing deep-sky objects before you know it. However, it's vitally important that the user READ THE MANUAL! It does contain useful guides for setting up and operating the telescope. If you don't follow this simple advice, I can just about guarantee you'll get frustrated trying to use the scope. If you DO read the manual and follow the setup steps, you'll be well on your way to the sky! And, the old-timer observer in me just can't resist saying, "Turn the computer off once in a while and just navigate by the seat of your pants and a good star chart!"

SOFTWARE

There's something kind of cool about exploring the universe using your computer. With a few mouse clicks you can be surfing the web, browsing image libraries, or firing up a program that'll help you learn the constellations, print out star charts, and learn more about the objects in the sky. I have used a number of programs over the years, including Voyager, from CarinaSoft,; a powerful program from Software Bisque called TheSky, which will teach you the sky and, if you're so inclined, control a telescope; another great program called SkyMap (from SkyMap Software), and a great freeware program called Ciel et Espace, available at Stargazing.net.

I highly recommend any of these programs for your computerized space exploration — some of them have demo versions you can download and try out before you buy. My personal favorite? I have two: Ciel et Espace, and TheSky. I use them to make star charts for friends and family and for quick lookups when I'm writing viewing entries on my blog. The others are great, too — you'll find that no two users favor the same program and I suspect it all depends on personal taste.

I've played with various versions of a program called Starry Night. It comes in a bunch of different "flavors", ranging from "Enthusiast" to "Pro." The "Beginner" version has a nice tutorial that takes you through the constellations and planets. A great program to give to the beginner of any age!

COOL GIFTS

When I was a young teenager I had my first visit to the planetarium. The sight of stars on a domed surface was so captivating that I've never forgotten it! In fact, I've made planetarium shows one of my life's work and we have a planetarium instrument at our studios. I've had a lot of people ask me about getting a toy planetarium for their kids. So I checked a few of them out. It's important to remember that NONE of the toy projectors on the market really replicate the night sky accurately. (And remember, there's no substitute for getting out under the REAL stars (weather permitting!) However, this planetarium from Slinky Science looked about the best. It's more of an educational toy, and comes with several different sets of "star pattern" paddles to use, along with a CD with useful information. Use it on those nights when getting outside just isn't possible and turn your child's bedroom or playroom into a planetarium!

Everybody needs a calendar, right? Canada's foremost amateur astronomer and publisher of the respected SkyNewsMagazine presents his popular yearly calendar. Terry wrote and illustrated it with his own beautiful astrophotos, observing hints, and practical tips for astronomers.

SPACE MUSIC AND OTHER AURAL GOODIES

For me, music is an integral part of life. I don't always listen to music when I'm stargazing, but I do have something playing while I work. Some folks like to have music playing softly as they watch the heavens — for those and others who join me in the love of fine sound, I've included a few of my favorites here. (My tastes run the gamut of musical experience, and with the possible exception of opera and Hungarian throat singing, I'll listen to just about anything — at least once!) As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm married to a space music composer. His music — which can be found at Loch Ness Productions is recorded under the name Geodesium and can be heard in fine planetariums around the world, as well as selected music stations. My personal favorite album is Fourth Universe, although it's followed right up by Anasazi and Stellar Collections. His latest album is called A Gentle Rain of Starlight,, and it's a soul-touching listen. They're all available through our website and five of his six albums are available through Amazon.com:

One of the first albums I everbought for myself back when I was a young 'un was Switched-On Bach — a record that was an astounding breakthrough into popular view for composer Wendy Carlos. Many years and several albums later, I find myself just as thrilled with her sonic stylings as I did 'way back then. My personal favorites are the re-release of SOB, called SOB 2000, the soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange, and Sonic Seasonings.

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