This is better than a Barbie doll, play-doh, makeup, etc but which one to buy?? I dont want a super cheap one that does not work very well but hate to spend a fortune on something that could be a passing fancy.
Any recommendations for anyone????
Little IBD wants a telescope for Christmas.... :roll:
This is better than a Barbie doll, play-doh, makeup, etc but which one to buy?? I dont want a super cheap one that does not work very well but hate to spend a fortune on something that could be a passing fancy.
Any recommendations for anyone????
This is better than a Barbie doll, play-doh, makeup, etc but which one to buy?? I dont want a super cheap one that does not work very well but hate to spend a fortune on something that could be a passing fancy.
Any recommendations for anyone????
Replies
23
SoWal Insider
Little IBD wants a telescope for Christmas.... :roll:
This is better than a Barbie doll, play-doh, makeup, etc but which one to buy?? I dont want a super cheap one that does not work very well but hate to spend a fortune on something that could be a passing fancy.
Any recommendations for anyone????
Mango should be along soon...she is the telescope expert. Tell Lil' IBD I'm coming over to star gaze too.
Or better yet...bring it over to the tower.
SoWal Expert
God luv that little stargazer! I don't have any advice, but I DO want to hear the stories of her discoveries!
SoWal Expert
Bdarg suggests a small inexpensive one to look at the moon, which is easy to target. She can also use it to look at birds, trees, neighbors, etc. 
To see stars and planets, you need a fairly decent telescope if you want them to look like anything other than specks. It doesn't really hold their attention long at this age- Kate used to go to astronomy club meetings with Bdarg and Will, and was rather bored, even though the club telescope cost about $1200 and you could see the rings around Saturn.
Also, you need to know what you are looking at- I suck at looking at the charts and figuring out the star and constellation locations- it is difficult.
To see stars and planets, you need a fairly decent telescope if you want them to look like anything other than specks. It doesn't really hold their attention long at this age- Kate used to go to astronomy club meetings with Bdarg and Will, and was rather bored, even though the club telescope cost about $1200 and you could see the rings around Saturn.
Also, you need to know what you are looking at- I suck at looking at the charts and figuring out the star and constellation locations- it is difficult.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Mango should be along soon...she is the telescope expert. Tell Lil' IBD I'm coming over to star gaze too.I will bring it to the tower, I PROMISE....MAYBE you, LATBeach and I can spot a streaker...
God luv that little stargazer! I don't have any advice, but I DO want to hear the stories of her discoveries!I am sure she will have some....
Bdarg suggests a small inexpensive one to look at the moon, which is easy to target. She can also use it to look at birds, trees, neighbors, etc.I told Mr. IBD that I would get a stargazing for Dummies book and he completely agreed.
To see stars and planets, you need a fairly decent telescope if you want them to look like anything other than specks. It doesn't really hold their attention long at this age- Kate used to go to astronomy club meetings with Bdarg and Will, and was rather bored, even though the club telescope cost about $1200 and you could see the rings around Saturn.
Also, you need to know what you are looking at- I suck at looking at the charts and figuring out the star and constellation locations- it is difficult.
I would think that there are beginners books out there. Rings around Saturn would be cool but $1200, 
SoWal Insider
I will bring it to the tower, I PROMISE....MAYBE you, LATBeach and I can spot a streaker...
We're gonna need a bigger telescope.
SoWal Expert
I think bdarg is on to something there. I had a simple one as a kid, and in college astronomy classes, we had access to some pricey electronic telescopes. They move accordingly with the Earth's rotation so that you remain focused on the stars. Of course, remember that Little IBD is probably going to be asking you to set it all up for her, so get one that you can handle.
Beach Fanatic
There are several different technologies. For a layperson maybe go to Amazon and read the reviews..get one that can position itself. I looked a lot last year and never pulled the trigger for fear of having an expensive hatrack in the corner.
SoWal Expert
I will bring it to the tower, I PROMISE....MAYBE you, LATBeach and I can spot a streaker...
We're gonna need a bigger telescope.
SoWal Expert
What about binoculars? The things you can see through binoculars are way more exciting to a first grader than looking at flecks of light through a telescope. You can even see moon details with an average set of binoculars! They would be great for viewing wildlife at the beach and at Bunker too!
SoWal Insider
I will bring it to the tower, I PROMISE....MAYBE you, LATBeach and I can spot a streaker...
What about binoculars? The things you can see through binoculars are way more exciting to a first grader than looking at flecks of light through a telescope. You can even see moon details with an average set of binoculars! They would be great for viewing wildlife at the beach and at Bunker too!
OK....binoculars would work for this too!
SoWal InsiderAuthor
What about binoculars? The things you can see through binoculars are way more exciting to a first grader than looking at flecks of light through a telescope. You can even see moon details with an average set of binoculars! They would be great for viewing wildlife at the beach and at Bunker too!maybe so....and they are smaller than a telescope!!;-)
SoWal InsiderAuthor
What about binoculars? The things you can see through binoculars are way more exciting to a first grader than looking at flecks of light through a telescope. You can even see moon details with an average set of binoculars! They would be great for viewing wildlife at the beach and at Bunker too!
OK Mango, ya gonna chime in?????
SoWal Expert
I'm liking jdarg's suggestion even better than bdarg's. But get a good pair, not the pocket sized. I've owned a few of those small ones, and they just don't work nearly as well. I have a couple pair of the larger ones, and they are incredible. The smaller ones are good for looking at a bird in the tree overhead, but you want a large pair when looking at anything in the distance. When you look at the Moon using a large pair, you will go WoW! Did I mention that they will last you a long time? I still own a pair which were a Christmas gift when I was about 10 years old -- keep them right beside my back door and use them often.
Beach Fanatic
I saw this on cnn.com today ... http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/11/30/stargazing/index.html
Here's a blurb from that article ...
The kind of telescope to buy depends on where you live and how you're going to use it. If you live in the city, Pitts said, buy a light, portable telescope that you can tote to locations with less surrounding light. If you live outside a city and have the space, you can permanently set up a larger telescope for viewing.
Chester recommends reading "Backyard Astronomy" by Terence Dickinson before you buy a telescope. The book and related Web site include an overview of telescope manufacturers, a guide to eyepieces and filters, as well as tips for using a telescope.
A reflecting telescope about 4 inches in diameter is a good choice, Thomas said. "It will cost about $150," he noted. Anything costing less than that is "junk," in Thomas' opinion. "You're wasting your time with toys."
And here's another article ... http://physics.weber.edu/planet/telescope.html
Here's a blurb from that article ...
The kind of telescope to buy depends on where you live and how you're going to use it. If you live in the city, Pitts said, buy a light, portable telescope that you can tote to locations with less surrounding light. If you live outside a city and have the space, you can permanently set up a larger telescope for viewing.
Chester recommends reading "Backyard Astronomy" by Terence Dickinson before you buy a telescope. The book and related Web site include an overview of telescope manufacturers, a guide to eyepieces and filters, as well as tips for using a telescope.
A reflecting telescope about 4 inches in diameter is a good choice, Thomas said. "It will cost about $150," he noted. Anything costing less than that is "junk," in Thomas' opinion. "You're wasting your time with toys."
And here's another article ... http://physics.weber.edu/planet/telescope.html
Edited
SoWal Insider
OK Mango, ya gonna chime in?????
Just saw this this morning. For starter astronomers, I recommend astronomical binoculars if you go that route. You could use a standard camera tripod at home and disconnect it if you want. The difference between regular binoculars and astronomical binoculars are field of view. You use both eyes for the AB vs. one eye for regular binoculars which is easier for kids IMO.
Here is a link to one that's priced very competitively at telescopes.com
$69.00. This one goes to 80, although 100 is better, but at this price, she probably will not notice the difference.
I have 2 sets of binoculars by my kitchen window, and the first thing my nephew whose little IBD's age grabs is the binoculars to see the moon or look at birds.
In the Telecope Dept.
Here's a telescope I saw the other day and I couldn't believe the price. I also found it at telescopes.com
Zhumell Tabletop 30mm Refractor telescope. $19.99 No I didn't miss a number. Only $19.99. Practically disposable, but will give you an idea of her interest and it looks cool!
Celestron ExploraScope 100. Looks indestructible and has excellent features for a starter telescope. $ 96.00
Both telescopes come with a removeable tabletop stand. I like this feature for kids, they can sit down and view.
Whatever you decide to get, I would recommend buying a piece of plywood as a base to avoid tipping, especially in the sand.
There are also lots of web sites for kids to go to learn about astronomy.
To get started, here's a link that has a printable constellation map based on the time of year and it's free.
I hope this helps based on your budget and how far her interests will go with astronomy.
Edited
Beach Lover
IBD, a pair of binoculars and a descent ( steady) tripod would probably be more of the first step. A pair of 15 power binoculars mounted to a steady tripod would give little IBD a lot of fun as well as others wanting to look. They would not have to be real expensive, but you do not want to by cheap because with optics cheap is just no good at all. If the subject she is looking at is not moving she can adjust the tripod to see it and step back and say look at this. I am sure she would have a lot of fun, and it could lead to her wanting to get into telescopes.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Thanks for the info everyone......I have to go to Destin today.
SoWal Insider
I'm liking jdarg's suggestion even better than bdarg's. But get a good pair, not the pocket sized. I've owned a few of those small ones, and they just don't work nearly as well. I have a couple pair of the larger ones, and they are incredible. The smaller ones are good for looking at a bird in the tree overhead, but you want a large pair when looking at anything in the distance. When you look at the Moon using a large pair, you will go WoW! Did I mention that they will last you a long time? I still own a pair which were a Christmas gift when I was about 10 years old -- keep them right beside my back door and use them often.Exactly, I have an expensive Meade telescope but break out the binoculars often to avoid set up.
It can get a little tiring holding binoculars up after a while, so I suggest a rotating table top or larger tripod for kids.
Thanks for the info everyone......I have to go to Destin today.Good luck! and it's time for another Mango Music Mix for the Holidays and star viewing.
SoWal Expert
My family has found that dad's hunting "spotting scope" with tripod shows us all we need to see. It's more like a telescope than binocs, but does the job. We use it for stargazing, watching sailboat races, checking out what is going on on the lake etc.
Grandma got a fancy schmancy telescope, but it was so heavy/hard to finesse that it didn't get used.
Grandma got a fancy schmancy telescope, but it was so heavy/hard to finesse that it didn't get used.
SoWal Expert
In addition to the binoculars, if she wants to see stars, show her how to use Google Sky (found on Google Earth). She can see close ups of stars. WoW! I'm guessing they use some of the Hubble Telescope pics.
Beach Fanatic
I bet the folks at Perpetual Imagination would be able to help; in one of their threads didn't they mentioned they were getting some telescopes in soon?
SoWal Expert
I bet the folks at Perpetual Imagination would be able to help; in one of their threads didn't they mentioned they were getting some telescopes in soon?
Alternate gift idea - PI has these machines that project the constellations on your ceiling. It comes w/ constellation software so you can choose any location or time and project that on the ceiling.
bean
Alternate gift idea - PI has these machines that project the constellations on your ceiling. It comes w/ constellation software so you can choose any location or time and project that on the ceiling.
This would be great. We have a Meade telescope that I think was around $400 and we can see Saturn's rings really well. ( the only thing I was really interested in) Mr OL is the only one patient enough to fool with it. It takes forever to set it up and get it just right. You program what you want to see and it automatically goes to it in the sky. Having one at the beach would be so cool though but you would have to love it like Mr OL to really get the use out of it. Walmart has a variety of telescopes this time of year.http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...y=telscope&ic=24_0&Continue.x=22&Continue.y=6
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.