Does anyone know anything about telescopes?

Mumolulu

My 3 year old is very keen to learn about the moon and sky etc etc :rotfl:

It is his 4th birthday in a few weeks and today we saw a telescope reduced from £12 to £9. It said on the box something to do with magnify 30 and 60?? can't remember exactly what it was but it was definately those 2 numbers.

It has aged 8+ on the box, this is not something I'm concerned about, but I just wondered if, for this price, it would be 'good enough and what we would expect to see through it? (Sensible answers only please!!!)

Can anyone offer any advice please?

TillyTrippit

Hi Mumolulu
Your request struc a bit of a chord with me - well not me, but Mr. Trippit knows a thing or two about such matters so I asked him - this is what he typed - he did tell me first but I didn't have a clue so made him type it for you.:rolleyes:

What was the make of the telescope? For any telescope that sort of price is unbelievably low! The numbers you give make it sound like a refracting telescope (one with lenses instead of mirrors) and I'm guessing the box will say something like 600mm refractor. As an entry level telescope these are great - you'd be able to see craters and mountains on the moon, the moons of jupiter and the rings of saturn through it. (Don't let him look at the Sun though - however old he gets!) It's the type of telescope I started with when I was 10 - I've been an astrophysicist for over 20 years, so be warned what could happen!!:D Hope this helps.

Hope this is ok for you,
Tilly
xx

bunbun2

Mumolulu wrote: »

My 3 year old is very keen to learn about the moon and sky etc etc :rotfl:

It is his 4th birthday in a few weeks and today we saw a telescope reduced from £12 to £9. It said on the box something to do with magnify 30 and 60?? can't remember exactly what it was but it was definately those 2 numbers.

It has aged 8+ on the box, this is not something I'm concerned about, but I just wondered if, for this price, it would be 'good enough and what we would expect to see through it? (Sensible answers only please!!!)

Can anyone offer any advice please?

we bought our ds (age 8) a national geographic one from Argos (£25). According to OH it was absolute rubbish and even looking at the moon you couldn't see a thing. we took it back in the end. he bought him a more expensive on which works alot better - the only problem is it is SO big!