When was the moment you recognized the greatness of the cosmos? Were you a kid at camp for the first time, looking up at a sky full of stars? Were you an adult, chasing an eclipse or a meteor shower? Or are you still looking for that moment of awe? Great news: It can hit you at any time. From night to night, the skies offer a map to the changing seasons, giving us a glimpse at what shines beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
“You may have to wait for ski season or mountain biking, but you don’t have to wait to look up at the night sky,” says Justin Willette, an astronomy enthusiast who’s been leading REI Co-op Experiences starlit hikes at the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve in Austin, Texas, since 2017. “You don’t have to plan for it either. “It’s always up there.”
The sky’s the limit? Here’s our ultimate kit for reconnecting with the wonders of the universe through stargazing.
GCI Outdoor Zero Gravity Chair
Stargazing can involve anything from a couple minutes of looking up at the night sky to several hours of viewing. If you’re hoping to catch more than the moon and the brightest planets, you should plan to be outside for a while. “Patience and time are two important ways to see the best the night sky has to offer,” says Willette. “You’ll want to be there for a while because the longer you’re outside, the more likely you are to see something interesting.”Anything that can help make your neck more comfortable can help you have a more enjoyable experience, Willette says. For example, the Zero Gravity reclining chair from GCI Outdoor can help you avoid neck strain caused by looking straight up. It doesn’t have a galactic name for nothing: When reclined all the way, the chair mimics the feel of weightlessness in space by elevating your legs above your heart, providing extra lumbar support. It reclines easily into a lounge chair with an adjustable headrest and folds up for portability—but note that at around 17.5 pounds, you likely don’t want to have to lug it too far. $93
Jade Yoga Rug
Another good way to look at the sky is to lie comfortably on Earth. The Yoga Rug from Jade is a multipurpose mat that’s designed for yoga but is perfect for other exercise, car camping, lounging on the beach and, of course, stargazing. Used on its own as a light, non-slip textile surface or layered on top of a yoga mat for a cushier feel, the handwoven, organic cotton rug is conveniently compact and cold-water hand-washable. $89.95
Petzl Swift RL Headlamp
The Bortle dark-sky scale classifies the darkness level of the sky from darkest (Bortle 1) to most light-polluted (Bortle 9). Going somewhere remote opens up a far greater number of celestial viewing possibilities, and it’s important to keep the lights low when you arrive in order to let your eyes acclimate. “If you are hiking, or if it starts to get dark, you may need to use your headlamp for safety or navigating,” Willette says. “Use your red light [setting] so your eyes can get accustomed to the dark.“ Your eyes will also better adjust as it gets darker and darker. Willette advises to plan for at least 30 minutes of simply sitting and looking up. “In time, more stars will pop out that maybe you didn’t see at first,” he says. A red-light feature makes for ideal after-dark eye behavior, and our favorite is the light-as-a-feather Swift RL Headlamp from Petzl, which has a continuous red mode for night vision. This rechargeable lamp’s 7-hour average run time leaves you plenty of time to gaze upward, and when you’re ready to see the planet you’re on instead of the ones “out there,” another setting offering a max brightness of 1100 lumens can help you come back down to Earth. $139.95
YETI Stackable Cup with Mugslider Lid – 20 fl. oz.
They call it “stargazing”—as opposed to, say, “star chasing”—because there’s a lot of sitting around and staring. Coffee or tea can keep you warm and help you stay awake if you’re waiting for after-midnight constellations or meteor shower viewing. Meanwhile, on warmer nights, electrolyte drinks can keep you cool and hydrated. It’s easy to forget that insulated cups are good for both, but the double-walled Stackable Cup with Mugslider from YETI keeps any drink the perfect temperature. Stack ‘em to save space in your kit, and dishwash them when you’re home. $30
Natrapel Lemon Eucalyptus Pump Spray Insect Repellent – 3.4 oz.
Part of the beauty of stargazing is that the sky isn’t the same-old scene every night. “It changes throughout the year, so when you’re running a stargazing trip in the summer, you get a whole different view than stargazing trips in the winter,” Willette says. “Not everything is in the same place at the same time.” Whether you’re in Texas, Alaska or Massachusetts, mosquitoes can be a buzzkill. DEET-free Lemon Eucalyptus Pump Spray Insect Repellent from Natrapel is a plant-based bug spray that uses essential oils to repel mosquitoes for up to six hours. It’s safe to use on clothes and gear, so spray liberally to avoid coming home with “constellations” of your own on your skin. $8.75
Ignik Hand Warmers – Multipack
Once the sun sets, temps can drop quickly. For chilly-season stargazing trips, you can never have enough spare hand and foot warmers. Disposable versions are great because they don’t require a charge, and air-activated Ignik hand warmers are our top pick. Each warmer provides up to 10 hours of heat, but you can extend the warmth by zipping them into their resealable AirBarrier
pouch to keep air out and make them last for up to 72 hours. $6.95 for four
REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket (Women’s & Men’s)
In places where it’s generally hot, nighttime stargazing can come as a relief, serving as a good way to get outside and beat the heat. But, when the sun goes down, it can be surprisingly cool almost anywhere. The Trailmade Fleece Jacket from REI Co-op is a member favorite as a standalone layer or under a shell. Full-zip coverage and a windflap provide extra protection from the chill, and it does not surprise us that reviewers call the midweight, relaxed-fit jacket a “Goldilocks choice” for its versatility, softness and value. $59.95
REI Co-op Campwell Camp Wrap
Some of the best star viewing happens on crisp, clear nights. When you want the warmth of a blanket but would like to keep your arms free for gripping binoculars, a monocular or telescope, the Campwell Camp Wrap from REI Co-op is our go-to. Get cozy with 120 grams of 98% recycled polyester fibers and a generous hood that can keep your neck and/or head toasty all evening. If the clouds take over suddenly, don’t worry: The wrap has a nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) coating that helps rain bead off rather than soak through. $99.95
Waterford Press The Night Sky 2nd Edition
Take yourself on a tour of the night skies with a guide book. The Night Sky by James Kavanagh and Raymond Leung, from Waterford Press is a 12-page, pocket-sized helper with detailed info about celestial events, planetary placements, moon phases and more, with glow-in-the-dark seasonal star charts. (Charge them quickly with your headlamp on a higher white light setting.) “As you build up your knowledge and see patterns and trends, you’ll be able to start to identify things,” Willette says. When giving a discussion, he says he likes to pick one constellation and move from there. “I find that’s easier than jumping around across the sky,” he says. In time, you may be able to learn and tell a story with the constellations you understand. For example, in the fall and winter, one of the northern hemisphere’s most recognizable sky features is Orion, named for a mythological Greek hunter who appears to be pointing a bow at a bull named Taurus. In the summer, the Big Dipper is higher in the sky and easily noticeable, and can be useful for helping to find the legendary North Star, particularly in autumn. “People will remember things a little more through stories than they will by just learning the names of random constellations,” Willette says. And when you’re looking, don’t forget about the satellites—or more rarely, the International Space Station. “They’re both easy to spot which makes it fun for everybody,” Willette says. $7.95
Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube 8 x 32 Monocular Telescope
Some telescopes can be challenging for beginners, often due to optical components which are difficult to operate and master. But the Zoom Tube 8 x 32 Monocular Telescope from Nocs Provisions is surprisingly ultracompact, weather-resistant and simple for almost anyone to take on a stargazing trip. REI Co-op Member-reviewers praise the scope’s light weight—it fits easily in a purse or backpack—and powerful magnification, which can help you see the grandest of sights or night lights. Twistable eye caps help glasses-users get a comfortable view, and a threaded tripod adapter on the frame offers the potential for added stability. You can also turn your monocular into a zoom photo lens with the photo rig from Nocs Provisions ($35, sold separately). It’s smartphone compatible and holds the camera lens in place, making it a breeze to find the center. Related reading: Photography Tips: Photographing Stars at Night. $75
REI Co-op Trail 25 Pack
No kit list would be complete without a versatile backpack to haul it all in. For night trips without camping or backpacking, the Trail 25 Pack from REI Co-op is our favorite, weighing in at just under 2 pounds. A nonfluorinated DWR coating provides protection against light rain, and the pack holds a hydration reservoir (sold separately) to keep water secure and accessible. Stash smaller gear like snacks in two side stretch pockets and a first-aid kit or map in the zippered front pocket. If stargazing is part of a longer trip or requires backpacking in, you’ll want to invest in a larger bag that can hold several days’ worth of supplies, plus night-sky-searching gear and the Ten Essentials. Outings of a week or more might call for a 50- to 80-liter pack. But for overnights at a drive-in campsite or even a backyard tent, packs starting at 30-liter capacity will be your best bet. (Related reading: How to Choose a Backpack)
The most important thing is just being outside. “Stay curious, and look up at the night sky,” Willette says. “The more you learn, the more you want to know.“
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