Telescope
Telescopes exist in The Sims and The Sims 2. They can be bought in buy mode.
Sims 1
The Horrorwitz 'Star-Track' Outdoor Telescope is a good way of increasing your Sim's Logic. However, if your Sim spends a long time looking through it (two or three points wihout taking a break), he or she will be abducted by aliens! A blue sphere will appear and your Sim will vanish for a few hours. When they return, their personalities will have turned upside down and they will think about aliens for quite a while afterwards.
Sims 2
In The Sims 2, there are 2 telescopes, one cheap and one expensive. The Astrowonder (§550) and the Farstar e3 (§2100). But the price isn't the biggest difference - Sims using the Astrowonder won't ever be abducted, but with the Farstar it's possible.