5 Cheap(ish) Things to Take Stargazing

A telescope can conjure images of stunning depth and detail from the night sky. Still, some of my most vivid stargazing memories are of nights that I’ve left the telescope in its case to instead see only what I could with nothing more than my eyes. On these nights, I might catch a glimpse of a spray of meteors as they streak across the sky, pick out a distant planet amid clumps of stars, or maybe just identify a few familiar constellations, all by simply looking up.

Whatever I plan to see up there, there are two essentials that I always need: darkness and time. The first I get by picking the right spot, as far away from any bright lights as possible. Once I’ve found that spot, a few key items help me to stay out there comfortably into the night, for as long as I need to see something spectacular.

Here are five of my favorite cheap(ish) things that I stash in my astronomy kit, before I head out to scan the skies.

See the full list by Ria Misra on Wirecutter's website here.

LAST UPDATED

January 6, 2025

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

Wirecutter Staff

Staff

Staff picks for Wirecutter.

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

Whether for gardening, mowing or warm evenings outside, we found Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent to be an excellent choice in every setting.

Health
Media Mentions from Health

Media Mentions

The efficacy of DEET without harsh chemicals. Sawyer Picardin Insect Repellent is our go-to skin protection against mosquitos and ticks. We prefer the lotion to the spray-on, which lasts 8-14 hours.

Adventure Alan
Media Mentions from Adventure Alan

Media Mentions

We recommend this lotion from Sawyer for its effectiveness, thorough application, and easily transportable bottle.

Real Simple
Media Mentions from Real Simple