Captain's Pick 21 · The Unexplained
DwarfLab Smart Telescope
Photographs galaxies and nebulae from your own driveway, controlled by your phone — setup in two minutes, first light the first night.
See it on Amazon →What it is
DwarfLab's smart telescope is a compact, app-controlled telescope that finds objects in the night sky and captures images of them for you.
Why it's on my list
Under dark desert skies, it turns stargazing into something the whole family can watch on a phone screen, no astronomy degree needed.
Best for
Dark-sky road trips and families curious about what's up there.
Captain's tip
Check a dark-sky map before your trip and plan around the new moon.
More from The Unexplained
Read the full guide: Stargazing & Desert Road Trip Gear: The Unexplained
Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
Rechargeable, with the red-light mode that preserves night vision — standard issue for a desert stakeout.
See it on Amazon →Read Captain Ron's review
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
The science-fiction skincare that's real now — salicylic acid and papaya enzyme, clinical-grade, no gimmicks.
See it on Amazon →Read Captain Ron's review
Theragun Prime
High-end recovery hardware for people planning to be around for the disclosure.
See it on Amazon →Read Captain Ron's review