Astronomy or Cosmology Christmas gift ideas

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around gift ideas related to astronomy and cosmology, exploring both traditional and unconventional options. Participants share suggestions for books, models, and other items that may appeal to enthusiasts or casual fans of these fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the idea of naming a star as a gift, noting its potential as a scam, and contrasts it with the high cost of purchasing land on the moon.
  • Another participant recommends "Star Vistas," a coffee-table book featuring astrophotography, highlighting the quality of the images and the accessibility of the descriptions.
  • Concerns about affordability are raised, with a participant seeking less expensive options.
  • A specific price point of $24 for a large art-book of astrophotos is shared, along with a link to purchase it.
  • Suggestions include a glass Klein bottle as a unique gift idea.
  • One participant expresses interest in DIY models of planets and stars, acknowledging that such items may seem childish but could still be enjoyable.
  • Custom t-shirts with relevant designs or slogans are proposed as a gift option, along with the possibility of purchasing a part of a meteorite from NASA.
  • A link to a site with various astronomy-related gifts is shared, indicating a broader range of options available online.
  • Additional gift ideas include a DVD series titled "The Universe," binoculars, and a book on cosmology aimed at a high school/undergraduate level.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the types of gifts that could be suitable for astronomy and cosmology enthusiasts, but there is no consensus on specific items or their value, with some expressing concerns about affordability and others suggesting more niche options.

Contextual Notes

Some suggestions may depend on personal taste or the recipient's level of interest in astronomy and cosmology. The discussion includes a mix of practical and whimsical gift ideas, reflecting varying perspectives on what constitutes a meaningful gift in this context.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals looking for gift ideas for friends or family members interested in astronomy or cosmology, as well as those seeking affordable options in this niche.

Ivan Seeking
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I have a friend asking for ideas for an A or C oriented gift, including things that might be a bit of a scam, like having a star named after you. I know that you can buy land on the moon but that is expensive. Any ideas?
 
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Star Vistas. It is a wonderful coffee-table book of astrophotography with forwords by Sir Arthur C. Clark, Sir Patrick Moore, and doctor Brian May (yes THAT Brian May). Greg Parker does the imaging and Noel Carboni does the image processing. They are both great guys, and they are tops at what they do. I am a member of a forum on which they give advanced views of their images, even while they are in progress, and their work is incredible.

Edit: They give interesting information about the objects that they image, and they keep the descriptions accurate, but within the reach of laymen.
 
anything affordable? =\
 
Maybe a Klein bottle made of glass?
http://www.kleinbottle.com/
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Those have been passed along in addition to an offer for land on the moon, for $29 an acre.
 
Don't they make some kind of models of planets and stars? That you put together yourself. May be kind of cheesey and childish but I might consider getting something like that for myself. A lot of the stuff seems to be for kids though.

You could also make a t shirt with some relevant slogan and design. Design it yourself or NASA has a space store with some items. You can also buy part of a meteorite from NASA for like $25 I think.
 
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I really like these http://www.bathsheba.com/crystal/largescale/ . I once saw one of saturn but can't find it now.
If not then like everyone else has said books or prints are always nice.
 
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  • #10
Ivan Seeking said:
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Those have been passed along in addition to an offer for land on the moon, for $29 an acre.

HA! I bought all my groomsmen an acre as a present for standing in my wedding with me.

Other ideas:

The Universe (DVD) - From the history channel. I saw the first season for $30 somewhere last weekend.

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter - currently $49.99 ($50 off) at Amazon right now.

Understanding Cosmology (book) - a little book put out by Scientific American I believe. It was accessible at an advanced High school / undergrad level I thought.
 

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