Here's a great way for amateur astronomers to get started in the study of stars, planets, and other celestial objects. This handsomely packaged kit provides stargazers with the following items:

• A Planisphere—a 9" diameter laminated double disk with a night sky star chart on the base disk and a movable top disk providing directional bearings and scales that mark hours of the night and months of the year
• an Astrotorch—a small flashlight that gives off a beam of red light, allowing star watchers to study charts when they're outside on a dark starry night
• Mapping the Skies—a 128-page spiral-bound book of sky maps and charts
• The Star Guide—another 128-page spiral-bound book of full-color sky photos, illustrations, and a lively text that explains the science of astronomy

Lucky owners of this kit will be off to a great start in understanding what they're seeing when they gaze up at the night sky. It's also a great teacher's tool for science class.