I've been an amateur astronomer for well over 20 years and you would have thought that, by now, I'd have bought every astronomical gadget and gizmo on the market.
I've been an amateur astronomer for well over 20 years and you would have thought that, by now, I'd have bought every astronomical gadget and gizmo on the market. Well, it may surprise you to know that while I sport a pretty impressive line up of astronomical treats, there are still a few bits and pieces on the market that I'll be adding to my Christmas list this year.
Read on to find out which products I've tested and think would make the perfect stocking fillers for the amateur astronomer in your family.
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USB Handwarmer
Cold, second only to cloud, is the archenemy of the amateur astronomer and over the years I have tried all manner of "warm my hands up" accessories; from chemical pouches (which heat-up following a chemical reaction) to microwavable warmers. None seem to last all that long and all require either a microwave or kettle to revitalize. HotRox (product website)has solved this long standing problem with their fantastic battery-powered, rechargeable hand warmers. They charge via a USB cable so you can either plug into a mains socket or 12v supply (with suitable adapter)... or simply plug into your laptop. Once charged, they start kicking out the heat after just 15 seconds and last for an almighty 6 hours! Toasty.
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SkyWatcher 12v Power Tank
Newcomers and advanced amateur astronomers are often tempted with computerized, or at the very least, motorized telescopes -- this, of course, comes with a need for power. If you're like millions of people around the world and living under a light-polluted sky, then you will often have to travel to remote, dark skies, miles from the nearest power outlet. That's when a portable power supply like the Skywatcher 12v power tank( similar product that ships to the US) comes in handy to deliver 12 Volts of power to your kit. It also comes with an attached red light, which makes setting up your 'scope so much easier.
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Astrogloves
Over the years, one of my biggest grumbles has been how difficult it is to operate telescopes in the cold of a winter's night wearing warm, thick gloves. Thankfully the folks at Astroglove (product website)have solved the problem with gloves that are semi-fingerless with the thumb and forefinger tips left uncovered. Not only can you easily change eyepieces, adjust settings on cameras and twiddle with knobs and levers but you can easily operate smartphones or tablets without freezing your digits off.
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Celestron smartphone adaptor
Smartphones are so common these days that its not surprising to see them crop up in nearly every part of our lives. Astronomy is no exception and, while they can be great for helping you find your way around the sky, they can also be great for taking pictures of the view through a telescope. Those with a steady hand can do this with practice, but it is much easier to use one of Celestron's smartphone adapters (product website)to securely and accurately attach a smartphone to your telescope eyepiece.
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ThermaCell Heated Insole
Keeping warm is real challenge for astronomers and it is the extremities that pose the biggest challenge. Over the last few years I have worn heated boots, but these are quite expensive. A great (and cheaper) alternative is the heated insole and the ThermaCell version (product website)is among the best on the market. The purpose of these heated footwear products is not to make your toes toasty warm (you don't want sweaty feet!), instead their goal is to stop them feeling cold. You will notice that even the high setting is only just above body temperature, so you should expect these to simply stop your feet from freezing during a long night's observing. They come with a pretty nifty wireless remote to allow you to switch between different heat settings and a battery integrated into the insole.
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