Give the Universe

It Inspires Some Cool Gifts!

A few entries ago I talked about how astronomy is for everybody. It’s true, you know. The stars are humanity’s common heritage. They taught us to tell time, build calendars, and navigate the globe.

We came from the stars. I know I’ve talked about THAT before. All the elements in our bodies came from long-gone stars in a process that stretches back throughout the history of the cosmos.

So, if you’re looking around for something TRULY cosmic to give this holiday season (or anytime), consider a gift of astronomy. (Yes, I know it’s Black Friday (the big shopping day after Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.). I’m just offering an alternative to standing in long lines waiting to buy the latest “thing”.  The products below are mail order, downloadable, and eminently cool!)

Of course I’m going to tell you about some cool astronomy products that I, personally, have been involved in. The first is my latest book, called Astronomy 101: From the Sun and Moon to Wormholes and Warp Drive, Key Theories, Discoveries, and Facts about the Universe. It’s available in both hardbound and e-book formats, and you can find it in bookstories everywhere and online. It’s even in Urban Outfitters, which never fails to delight me.

So, for the cost of a pizza or two (or a couple of grande-type drinks at your local coffee shop), you can get the universe, divided into topics of a thousand words each, written at a beginning (and engaging) level. Check it out! Make your loved ones happy (or yourself). Make ME happy.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

If you’re into astronomy apps, then you can’t go wrong with Starmap Media. That’s another one I’ve been working on, in cooperation with the developer (a delightful guy who turned a fascination with astronomy charting into a business). Starmap Media is an iPhone and iPad app that combines an elegant star chart function with pre-recorded multimedia “star talks” (like you hear in the planetarium) that you can enjoy in real time under the stars or in “couch mode” when the weather isn’t cooperating.

I wrote the scripts for more than 30 of these stories, the developer produced them with original artwork, music, and a narration by veteran voice actor Jon Mohr (Mark and I also used him as the American voice for a planetarium show called Into the Deep, produced by Ogrefish Filmproduktions of Austria).

The resulting story productions have been described by some users as having a personal planetarium in the palm of your hand.  They’re made for education, entertainment, and inspiration—all through your iDevice!  So, check it out and make a deserving developer happy!

Finally (for this round of astronomy-related gift suggestions), I am always pleased to present the wonderful space music of Mark C. Petersen, doing his thing as a premier space music composer since long before any of those OTHER guys under the nom-de-studio, GEODESIUM. You can sample his works and find many good places online for downloads and mail order from the main Geodesium.com page.

No matter what you end up purchasing, always consider the gift of time to teach others about your love of the universe. It  might be something as simple as teaching a friend about the constellations. Or taking your children to the planetarium for a show. Or, starting a blog about your observations of the night sky. The possibilities are endless, and you have an entire universe to explore!

I’ll have other gift suggestions as the holiday season progresses, so do check back!