My nephew still uses this kids' star projector every night — get it for just $15 at Amazon on Prime Day

A small toy shaped like an astronaut can turn any bedroom into a galaxy filled with stars and laser lights. Called the Astronaut Starry Sky projector, it sits on a shelf or dresser and beams colorful lights across the walls and ceiling. Right now, during Amazon Prime Day, you can buy it for just $15.19. That is a great deal for a toy that has wowed kids and adults alike.

The writer first reviewed the projector four years ago and gave it to his nephew, who was just one year old at the time. Now the boy is five, and he still asks for the projector to be turned on before he goes to sleep. The toy fills his room with lights and lasers for up to 90 minutes, then shuts off on its own thanks to a built-in sleep timer. That automatic shut-off is a big plus for parents who do not want to sneak back into a dark room to turn off a toy.

When the writer first tested the projector, he was not sure it would be very good. He thought it might be a cheap novelty item that would break quickly or look dull. But he was happily surprised by the solid build quality and impressive light show. It turned out to be a wonderful night light that helped soothe young children to sleep.

The model on sale today for $15.19 is not exactly the same one the writer reviewed back in 2022. The biggest difference seems to be the color of the astronaut's knee and elbow pads. However, it appears to have all the same features, and nearly 1,500 Amazon customers have reviewed it, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you want the exact model from the original review, that one is also on sale for $27.99.

The projector has several cool features that make it stand out. It uses both LED and laser lights, comes with a remote control, and the astronaut's head can rotate to spread the lights in different directions. It plugs into a wall outlet, so you never have to worry about batteries dying in the middle of the night. When it is not projecting, it even looks like a neat space decoration just sitting on a shelf.

There is one thing to keep in mind before you buy. The projector creates a beautiful, magical light show, but it does not show real star patterns from the actual night sky. If you want a projector that teaches you where real stars and constellations are, you would need a different kind called a disk-based projector. One example is the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector, which costs $79.99 and is designed to show more realistic views of the universe.