Get him the dvd set of the "Universe" and other astronomy related videos. On Jul 7, 2015 9:12 AM, "Joel Stucki" <joel.stucki@gmail.com> wrote:
I have two suggestions:
1. Binoculars. It doesn't get simpler or more comfortable and you can see a great deal. I love to lie on my back and scan the stars as this is a very easy way to hold them steady. Planets not as much as they don't have a ton of magnification, but great views of larger nebulas (Orion, Lagoon, etc), globular clusters (Hercules), open clusters (beehive), some double stars, andromeda Galaxy. As you use both eyes you get a lot more light than you might think for the aperture. This may also help with older eyes that have cataracts forming as the two eyes together do a lot to compensate for weaknesses in individual eyes. I recommend Celestron 15x70 which are about $65 online. Given his age, combine these with a good tripod. Photography tripods work well although tripods don't work well in general for objects high in the sky. You can actually rig something pretty comfortable with a monopod lashed to something extending over a lawn chair to see near the zenith.
2. Get a tabletop scope with goto. There are many models to choose from. Far less bending. Light wieght to move. Might be possible to cover it and leave it in place. If someone helps get it aligned well there is little to learn. You can see a ton of things with 4-5" aperture especially under dark skies. I don't think eye pieces will matter much for beginners of any age. I would stick to a quality set of entry level eye pieces such as Orion or Celestron sell as packages.
On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 7:47 AM, Marlene Egger <marleneegger@ymail.com> wrote:
Just before the Bryce astrofest, I visited a very old friend in Kingman AZ. He is 85 or maybe a little older. He has great dark night skies in his own backyard but not much cash, and he expressed a desire to own a telescope. He gets dizzy if he leans over too far, so a Dobsonian mount is out. But he and his son could wheel a telescope right out of their garage if needed. My many siblings would probably be willing to chip in buy a telescope for him, for $1000 or so. What advice can you give me? As a new stargazer myself, I have a lot of questions. How well can an elderly man generally see, when it comes to astronomy, and what does that mean for eyepieces? What would strike a balance between a simple learning curve and less effort to take a closer look at the sky? I think he would like looking at planets but would not stop there, as he says (and I agree) that the stars in his backyard are so bright that it looks like you can reach up and pluck them. However, these really are his later years: he is not going to start learning astronomy in any intensive way. He wants enjoyment, not 'lessons'. How can I optimize what he gets for the money? (Used equipment is a good idea, of course, but I need to know what to be looking for.) best regards, Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".
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