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Have a stellar celestial night without getting in the car!
Tip #1:Download a smartphone app to identify stars, or grab a star-finder wheel like Night Sky by David Chandler Company ($12, davidchandler .com for stores).
Tip #2: Head to the backyard with a flashlight, a thermos of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket, like the Zip-n-Go, which has a waterproof underside ($59, zipngoblanket.com)
Tip #3: Cover your flashlight with red cloth to cut glare and help your eyes adjust to the dark, then "touch" the stars with a MiracleBeam Green Laser Pointer ($30, amazon.com).
