Expert: Jesse Martinez - 12/26/2009

Question
Hi,

I bought a set of Nikon 7x50 binos and a Celestron Star Map for my 8 year old nephew this Christmas.  He is thrilled and cannot wait til this evening.  Originally, he told his mom he wanted a telescope, but she and I discovered that binos might be the way to start for a budding amateur astronomer.

That said, I suspect he'll stick with it and eventually want a telescope he can grow into...any suggestions???

Thanks so much,

Cheri

Answer
Hello Cheri,

There are two basic tiers of telescope quality for beginners. There are the mass produced lower quality models that come with shaky tripods and two and three element M.A. eyepieces, and slightly better models on sturdier tripods that come with good plossl eyepieces. I would recommend a reflecting telescope (mirror). The Newtonian type is the best buy for the money. I will mention a specific brand, but other brands offer very similar or identical models.

Meade offers the kinds of telescopes I am writing about. Check this site, then check other brands for comparison  http://www.meade.com/starterscopes/index.html
The EQ series is the lower tier. The DS series is the better buy. Even though the EQ's are cheaper, I would have recommended replacing or adding a high quality eyepiece, increasing the investment by 50 to 60 dollars. I do like the fact that the cheaper telescopes are manual. That alone would force the learning of some actual basic astronomy grunt work. Had your nephew been older, like 12, I would say buy him something like anything on these starter telescope pages.

But since he is 8, don't invest that much yet. In this case you would want a refracting telescope (lens). There is a chain of stores called Hobby Lobby, that sells a Meade 70 mm refracting telescope that can be had for as little as 60 to 70 dollars when on sale or with their online coupon for 40% off. Start there for now if he shows greater interest. Other similar scopes in the 60 mm range can be bought at departments stores and online.

The objects he will be able to view with the binoculars is kind of limited and is not likely to impress an 8 year old much for more than a few weeks. The planets and moon are best viewed by a telescope at magnifications of 50x to 100x (no higher with a small scope. Claims of extremely high magnifications are meaningless and useless).

DO NOT let him use any scope or binoculars to view the SUN, even with a sun filter!

From age 8 to age 13, I never saw anything with other than a regular 60 mm department store telescope. I got introduced to astronomy by my cousin who received such a telescope as a gift. I got my own scope a year later for Christmas. At age 14 I got upgraded to a 4.5" reflector like the ones in the Meade ad (without computer control of course). It has become a lifetime hobby.