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Old 09-09-2020, 09:26 AM
paulsmithy (Paul)
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paulsmithy is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1
Best Choice for a child

Hi all

My daughter is about to turn 9 years old. All she wants for her birthday is a telescope! She just loves looking at the stars - she gazes out of her bedroom window every night when going to bed and if she can't sleep she'll just sit there and look at the stars with wonder. It is truly delightful.

At this stage she doesn't have a massive fascination or indeed understanding of all that's out there - it is just a pure pleasure at stargazing.

So I am really after some recommendations what to get her. We live in Sydney (NW suburbs) so could visit a store to try a few things out if that would be best.

Happy to spend around $200 (but more if worthwhile). This will be for space gazing, not bird watching etc so I am not concerned about multi use. But I desperately don't want to get what is essentially a kids toy. I think ideally she would love to clearly see craters on the moon and rings around Saturn, that sort of thing. It might be used in her room but probably mainly outside.

I know that kids can sometimes struggle with a telescope and using one doesn't come naturally to them. So is there one that would be good for her that anyone can recommend?

Otherwise would binoculars be better? Even high magnification ones to use with a tripod to steady them?

I really want to nourish this interest and know you guys will help out. Thanks in advance.
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