Soon time for Christmas presents. If you want to interest your child with the subject of space or make yourself a Christmas gift, read this article. Here are some tips that will help you avoid disappointment and loss of money.
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In a word, I would like to say that the telescope is an optical device, therefore it requires high quality materials and unfortunately it must cost. Therefore, when we have such an idea, it is better to make some money and buy a real low-class telescope than any other, which is just a toy. I Will tell you what to look for and what to buy for the young explorer, and what if the gift is for an adult daddy.
Telescope for children
Source: Pixabay link [CC0 license]
An astronomical telescope is often chosen as a gift for a larger child. It is often a holiday or birthday present. In order for a child to develop his or her interests in this direction, he or she can't get disappointment and become frustrated with this passion. Many children dream about a telescope, often without knowing what they will actually see. Parents ignorance is costly in this case, because the market is full of bad counterfeits, toys and equipment not for children, so it's easy to make the wrong choice. Let's say that buying a telescope doesn't make sense for children under the age of 8. For 10 years old kids, you can buy an easy-to-use astronomical telescope on azimuth mounting. Such a telescope is light, requires no special settings and can be used for observing the sky as well as the landscape. Here are the recommended models of real (non-toy) telescopes of this kind: SKY-WATCHER (SYNTA) BK804AZ3 or Bresser Messier AR-80 80/640 AZ NANO.
Telescope for adults
By Vedran V link [Public domain]
If we're talking about buying a telescope for an adult or teenager, then we can focus on getting the best image at the lowest price. That is why the best choice for visual observations is the Newton telescope on the Dobsonian mount, visible on the picture above. The minimum diameter of such an adult instrument is 6 inches (150 mm), but 8 inches (200 mm) is recommended as the optimal size for maximum experience and maximum mobility. Larger telescopes are already significantly heavier. Of course, if you intend to observe with your child, he can use this telescope with your help. It will see a lot more than in the telescopes typically given for self-service by children. The Dobsonian 8-inch telescope is the most profitable offer on the market. Here are the recommended models of telescopes for adults: Sky-Watcher N-203/1200 SYNTA 8 or GSO Dobson 8 "DeLuxe 203/1200.
Differences between a real telescope and a toy
Telescope | Toy |
---|---|
Built mainly of metal, possibly wood | Built mainly of plastic |
Supports 1.25 inch eyepieces (world standard) | It only supports attached toy eyepieces with a diameter of 0.965 inches |
Has a finderscope 6x30 or bigger | It has a finderscope 5x24 |
Finally, let me mention that it is worth choosing only those stores that have extensive experience. I hope that my tips will help you in shopping and make learning about the night sky become your passion. Astronomy can be the passion of the whole family. Watching the moon through a telescope is a great experience for children. Maybe your children will be interested in the cosmos thanks to this. Thank you for reading and I encourage you to follow my astronomy profile.
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Will open a youngsters mind. :-)
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