Stock is running low as the last hours of Amazon Prime Day run through retailers. so make sure to nab these last-minute deals below quickly before they warp into another dimension.
Cameras are a great tool for astrophotography and we really like the Panasonic Lumix S5 Mirrorless Camera, which is $500 off at Amazon right now (opens in new tab). Save 25% on a photo that excels in video and photo capturing. Note that this is the camera body only, but we have some accessory suggestions below to build your arsenal.
The best telescope deal right now is the Celestron 114LCM computerized Newtonian telescope, which will save you nearly $76 (opens in new tab). The fully computerized Alt-az mount telescope can automatically Go-To celestial objects at the press of a button, making it ideal for beginner and intermediate astronomers alike.
Budget-friendly binoculars are on sale in numerous brands. Our favorite is the Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars on sale at Amazon (opens in new tab) for just $133.18. At 22% off, you can get one of our best binocular brands and get a wide field of view for skywatching use. If you prefer to zoom in on your target, the more powerful Celestron Nature DX 10x42 Binoculars is on sale at Amazon (opens in new tab) for $129.72.
For Lego-lovers there are also double VIP points (opens in new tab) on purchases throughout the Amazon Prime Day event so you should be able to get back around 10% of all purchases.
If you're new to Prime Day, here's what to expect. It's Amazon's biggest sale every year and inclusive for members of its Prime subscription service. If you're not signed up, you can get access to more general deals live today and coming next month with a 30-day free trial of Prime (opens in new tab). After that, make sure to complete the Prime Stamp Card to get a free $10 coupon (opens in new tab) for Prime Day spending.
Amazon Prime Day 2022 will be big. While final numbers are being tallied, know that last year Adobe Analytics (opens in new tab) found that online retail sales in the US were more than $11 billion during last year's Prime Day in 2021, even more so than Cyber Monday and Prime Day in 2020.
While inflation has hit hard on products, along with supply chain issues, we still do continue to see good deals in binoculars, telescopes, Star Wars bundles and other major space franchises ranging from games to Lego sets. We also do appreciate that for those facing budgetary challenges, great deals are more valuable than ever, which is why we will keep a close eye out to get you the most value for your money.
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- The best Star Wars deals and gifts
- The best Lego Star Wars deals
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What is Amazon Prime Day?
Prime Day is Amazon's hugest annual sale, taking place over two days. It's usually performed in the summer months and is a complete exclusive for Amazon Prime members. Yes, you may be able to find a selection of non-Prime offers throughout the sale, but the best discounts come from membership.
To get all deal eligbiliity, you need to sign up for Prime membership (opens in new tab). It's currently $14.99 per month, or $139 per year. You can also start a free 30-day Prime trial (opens in new tab) , as long as you haven't been a member in the past.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A FREE 30-DAY AMAZON PRIME TRIAL
1. Go to Amazon Prime (opens in new tab)
2. Select: Start your free trial
3. Follow the instructions
4. Start browsing deals (opens in new tab)
Prime Day first began in 2015 to celebrate Amazon's 20th anniversary and to encourage consumers to open their wallets outside of the traditional holiday spending season, between October and December. The online retailer says (opens in new tab) its only goal in having Prime Day was to "offer a volume of deals greater than Black Friday."
The annual sale is now huge, attracting other retailers who try to compete with their own deals, and we'll keep you posted throughout the event. We'll show you what's going on at Amazon as well as other big retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Target.
Pro tips for Prime Day preparation
Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events of the year and as such, a little bit of preparation will pay off. The six tips below will help you keep your energy up while looking for the best deal possible with the time you have.
1. Use the Amazon Prime free trial
This is great if you haven't had the chance to try out Amazon Prime in the past. Since Prime Day is for Prime Members only, first-time subscribers can snag a 30-day free trial of Prime (opens in new tab).
2. Watch other retailers, too
Since other companies want to get the customers that Amazon is vying to attract, it's common for Walmart, Best Buy and other big box stores to get in on the action. Make sure to shop around at these companies as well to see if what they are offering is even better than Prime Day. The advantage of going outside the Amazon ecosystem is you don't even need Prime to participate, too.
3. Know what you want to buy
Make sure to consult our buying guides here at Space.com to make sure you're ready for the big event. Our best telescopes will show you which devices are best to spot planets, galaxies and other objects. Our best Star Wars gifts will help the Jedi in your life, while Lego deals will get builders of all ages together. We'll continue to update these pages in the weeks before Prime Day to keep you up to date.
4. Stay flexible
We'll do our best during Prime Day to show you different versions of the same product, or equivalent products, to help you make the best choice available. Deals can expire quickly, so make sure not to get too connected to one particular product. More flexible buyers tend to be happier ones.
5. Start early
Gate-crashing deals are often the best ones to be found as the event begins. Especially for those big-ticket items with limited stock, like new Lego sets or certain binoculars or telescopes, you'll want to grab these items quickly before they disappear. Smaller gifts might not have as much demand, but if you really want a particular thing, it's better to jump on immediately.
6. Check back regularly
Amazon does update its pricing rapidly throughout the event, and we at Space.com will as well. What we often see is amazing deals popping up in the last hours, as stock suddenly gets released or new entries pop up on the Amazon website. So keep refreshing our pages and we will do our best to guide you through the hectic two days that make up Prime Day.
Prime Day, or wait for Black Friday?
Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday are both popular opportunities to offer sales on the big-ticket items space fans enjoy, like binoculars, telescopes, Star Wars kits and board games. Deciding when to jump is a careful consideration.
If you're an Amazon devotee, you'll likely want to stick to Prime Day as your big shopping event. While there are other stores that jump in, like Best Buy, Target and Walmart, those stores tend to hold back for Black Friday. Also, Prime Day has a more limited audience than Black Friday due to its membership, so you'll have an advantage when shopping for sales.
Naturally, if you want to get your items sooner, Prime Day is the time to jump. But if you want a wider range of retailers to consider, we will also keep you apprised of Black Friday opportunities when they come up. Stay tuned to Space.com in the weeks before Black Friday to see our coverage of the best space deals, all the way through to Cyber Monday.
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