Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman
Seven is still a bit young for a telescope, IMO, at least unsupervised. But it depends on the child. I started astronomy at about that age, with a 60mm refractor. Kids and reflectors don't mix well, from my experience. What's the budget? On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 1:05 AM Joe Bauman via Utah-Astronomy < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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I would recommend a short f/l refractor, even a spotting scope. A refractor is less fiddley than a reflector and is probably a better choice for such a young child. The short f/l gives a nice wide field of view making it easier to find objects. If a spotting scope isn't selected, then for sure get an image correcting diagonal. That way he can enjoy terrestrial as well as celestial views. In my opinion, the mount/tripod should be as simple as possible. Mat -----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 1:05 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] A child's interest Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman _______________________________________________ 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".
I’d suggest binoculars. Easier to explain how to use, and easier for a kid to understand. Anything on a tripod they are going to want to touch, getting it off the target. If it’s meant to be held, then it gives them something to focus on. Especially if they are interested in terrestrial things—in a ‘scope, it’s going to be upside down without extra attachments. Source: parent of a 7 year old. He’s a sharp kid, but he’s still a kid. Dan -- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin
On Feb 19, 2019, at 8:30 AM, Hutchings, Mat <mat.hutchings@siemens-healthineers.com> wrote:
I would recommend a short f/l refractor, even a spotting scope. A refractor is less fiddley than a reflector and is probably a better choice for such a young child. The short f/l gives a nice wide field of view making it easier to find objects. If a spotting scope isn't selected, then for sure get an image correcting diagonal. That way he can enjoy terrestrial as well as celestial views. In my opinion, the mount/tripod should be as simple as possible.
Mat
-----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 1:05 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] A child's interest
Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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A binocular is a good idea, I suggest either a cheap model or a very rugged model. It WILL get dropped and knocked out of alignment. Also make sure it can accommodate the small interpupilary distance of the child. As soon as the kid gets their first smart phone, that's the end of interest in binos and telescopes, I'm guessing. Source: Parent of a 26 year old that used to like observing with her dad until she hit jr. high. LOL! On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 9:29 AM Daniel Holmes <danielh@holmesonics.com> wrote:
I’d suggest binoculars. Easier to explain how to use, and easier for a kid to understand. Anything on a tripod they are going to want to touch, getting it off the target. If it’s meant to be held, then it gives them something to focus on.
Especially if they are interested in terrestrial things—in a ‘scope, it’s going to be upside down without extra attachments.
Source: parent of a 7 year old. He’s a sharp kid, but he’s still a kid.
Dan -- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin
On Feb 19, 2019, at 8:30 AM, Hutchings, Mat < mat.hutchings@siemens-healthineers.com> wrote:
I would recommend a short f/l refractor, even a spotting scope. A refractor is less fiddley than a reflector and is probably a better choice for such a young child. The short f/l gives a nice wide field of view making it easier to find objects. If a spotting scope isn't selected, then for sure get an image correcting diagonal. That way he can enjoy terrestrial as well as celestial views. In my opinion, the mount/tripod should be as simple as possible.
Mat
-----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 1:05 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] A child's interest
Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman
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Seven is really young. When they turn eight they could decide what they really want is an aquarium. Our advice when asked this question remains a good set of binoculars. It's amazing the cool stuff in the night sky you can see with them. Orion Nebula, Galilean Moons of Jupiter, Hercules Cluster, Andromeda Galaxy, etc. A tour of the summer Milky Way with binoculars is an amazing experience. Binoculars will be useful for a wide variety of purposes for a lifetime. Then get the book "Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe" by Terence Dickenson. It's the perfect companion to a good pair of binoculars, and it's also a perfect cloudy night book. When you and the child find yourselves looking through binoculars and you're straining to see Saturn's rings, the crescent shape of Venus, or the Ring Nebula then you'll know you're ready for a telescope. Seth -----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> On Behalf Of Joe Bauman via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 1:05 AM To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] A child's interest Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman _______________________________________________ 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".
Knowing how you feel about the library loaner program, I'm loathe to suggest it, but it's an excellent choice in this instance. The parent checks out a 4-1/2" F/4 portable telescope from teir nearest county library. The whole family can enjoy the experience and the kid gets more than a taste of astronomy - free of charge. So if the kid is satisfied and not inspired, no harm no foul. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 1:04:42 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] A child's interest Here's a question for the group: a friend has a seven-year-old grandson who wants a telescope and loves birds and stars. What's a good recommendation? Thank you, Joe Bauman _______________________________________________ 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".
participants (6)
-
Chuck Hards -
Daniel Holmes -
Hutchings, Mat -
Joan Carman -
Joe Bauman -
Seth Jarvis