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.
August 17, 2022
Wirecutter
Wirecutter’s mission is to recommend what really matters. Each year, we independently test and review thousands of products to help you find just what you need. Our goal is to save you time and eliminate the stress of shopping, whether you’re looking for everyday gear or gifts for loved ones.
We strive to be the most trusted product recommendation service around, and we work with total editorial independence. We won’t post a recommendation unless our writers and editors have deemed something the best through rigorous reporting and testing.
MEDIA MENTIONS
Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System -- You want to fill up your tub and sinks before a hurricane to help ensure you have water for cleaning dishes and flushing the toilet. This water purifying system can filter out 99.99% of bacteria in up to 100,000 gallons of water so you have clean drinking water as well.
MEDIA MENTIONS
Even if you remember to wear insect repellent and regularly check yourself, it’s easy to forget that your pets are vulnerable to these sneaky critters, too.
MEDIA MENTIONS
Choosing the right repellent matters: Our top products provided several hours of protection, and some of our lowest-scoring ones failed in as little as 30 minutes.
