10 Holiday Gift Ideas for Space Lovers

The holiday season is in full swing and if you're like us then you've still got a few gifts to purchase for a Secret Santa, white elephant exchange, or just someone who made the “Nice List” this year. Choosing what to give can be perplexing, but fear not, we’ve come with tidings of gift recommendations for the astronomy enthusiast or spacer lover in your life. 

Astronaut Ice Cream

Did you know they still make this stuff? Freeze-dried ice cream was all the rage during the Space Race Era and it’s still just as tasty as it was half a century ago. It’s the novelty of the item that’s the real treat here. The edible delight makes a great stocking stuffer or white elephant gift for the ugly sweater party you've got coming up. 

Find Astronaut Ice Cream on Amazon

Outer Space Socks

You know you’ve hit adulthood when you’re genuinely grateful for a gift of socks. Bring someone this imponderable joy by giving them a pair of space-themed socks from the Sock Spot. The site has a bespoke collection featuring astronauts, planets, constellations, UFOS and beyond.

Find outer space socks at the Sock Spot 

NASA Gear

NASA is really having a moment. The next time you’re out in public look around and you’re guaranteed to find someone decked out in a T-Shirt, hoodie, jacket, or other apparel brandishing the iconic NASA logo. The gear is hot right now so grab an item off the Official Kennedy Space Complex site and show your love for America’s favorite agency. 

Find NASA Gear at the Space Shop

Moon Pop Socket

For the uninitiated, those little circular doodads some people sport on the back of their mobile phones are called pop sockets. They’re ostensibly used to improve one’s grip on the device – plus, they’re on trend. We’ve found a Moon pop socket that is particularly stylish and the perfect stocking stuffer for your Gen X or Millennial space aficionado. 

Find the Moon Pop Socket at PopSockets

500 Piece Mars Puzzle

There’s nothing like a good puzzle to keep the gang entertained while hunkering down during a snowstorm or waiting for holiday dinner to commence. This 500 piece puzzle of the Red Planet is challenging, stunning, and comes with a Missing Piece Guarantee so if you ever misplace a piece, the company will send you a replacement. Can’t beat that. 

Find the 500 Piece Mars Puzzle on Amazon

Model Rockets

This one is a no-brainer for aerospace lovers. Building and launching a model rocket is a great way to spend some free time and Rocketarium offers a great selection of model rockets for all skill levels. So if you’re gifting a novice rocket builder or a legit aerospace engineer, you can find the right model in their catalog. That said, we’re partial to the Cluster rocket ourselves. 

Find Model Rockets at Rocketarium 

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

If your hobbyist astronomer is also a bookworm then might we suggest Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry? In his acclaimed book, the celebrity scientist explains complex astrophysics concepts in simple terms that you don’t need a PhD to understand. There’s also an easy-to-read children’s version for “young people” in a hurry.

Find “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” on Amazon

Lego Apollo 11 Lunar Lander

No holiday list is ever complete without some sort of Legos entry, and we think this Apollo 11 Lunar Lander is a must-have for that someone who's into space and building things. This 1000+ piece building set was developed in cooperation with NASA to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and intended for big kids and adults.

Find the Lego Apollo 11 Lunar Lander on Amazon

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Celestial Buddies' Earth Plush Toy

Not only is this plushy little guy très adorable, there’s a bit of fun history behind it that makes it a great conversation piece. In March 2019, SpaceX sent one aboard its Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS on a mission of great import. The Earth plush toy served as a "zero-g indicator", and we’ve unearthed video of the anthropomorphized planet performing its serious duties. 

Find Celestial Buddies' Earth Plush on Amazon.com

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The Planet Mug 

True coffee consumers love a good coffee mug, and we’ve found one that’s perfect for holding while gazing up at a starry night sky. The Planet Mug may seem like a humble beverage container, but pour in a hot drink and, like invisible ink, the outside of the mug reveals fascinating tidbits about planets, their moons and our galaxy. This is sure to become anyone’s favorite cup. 

Find The Planet Mug at My Science Shop

If you’ve found a great gift idea for space lovers then find this post on our social media channels and let us know. And if you're shopping for a CNC professional, check out our post on gift ideas for machinists. Happy Holidays!