oh no - in laws bought my son an aldi scope :(

[Fairlane]

Oh god, my in laws overheard my son saying he wants a new scope so they went out and bought him one from Aldi yesterday without telling me...

Im afraid its gonna be so crap that my son will scoff at it and never get into astronomy again. but if i say anything, i might offend them (heart is in the right place)

sigh

[Poita]

The scope isn't actually that terrible if it is the mini dob.
Put a decent eyepiece in it and give it a mechanical go-over and it can perform.

[John0z]

That's ok. I got my niece one of those too!

When they come back from holidays early next year, I expect to see it again and will help them out with any problems they encounter - hopefully not too much.

-John

[chrisp9au]

Well, if ever there was an opportunity going begging!

Nip out and buy him a C11, then you can say he already has one! :D

Happy Christmas! :thumbsup:

Chris

[asimov]

If it's the little DOB, and with it nicely collimated with some nice EP's I suspect it'll give reasonable views..

[pmrid]

Just make sure they get to see something interesting first thing. Moon, Jupiter etc. If they're interested, that will get them off and running.
Peter

[asimov]

Well I started with a 40mm refractor terrestrial spotter. Terrible views! but it got the juices flowing..:)

[PeterM]

Peter is so very correct in saying let their first view be something they will long remember, as he says Jupiter or the Moon.
People knock many of these small department store telescopes yet many of us started with them. I am not defending them just saying we got a start somewhere and its the encouragement behind it from parents etc that can make the difference.
My first Tasco 66T gave me a view of the Moon and Saturn that obviously had a long lasting effect, now I like to find stars that blow up.
The best telescope you will ever own is one that you use.
Peter

[Stardrifter_WA]

I agree Peter. I started, at the age of 10, with a crappy 60mm, on the worst mount possible, and, although I lost interest in quickly, the first time I saw Saturn and the Moon through it, I was enthralled and was interested in astronomy from that point on. Although I lost interest in the scope, two years later, I was taken up to the Perth Observatory, by the then Director, Dr Ivan Nikoloff, After that night I was hooked for life. :)

[Fairlane]

seems like all is not lost according to some posts here! First thing i think i want to point it at is the moon or Jupiter...

Just need to work out collimation and a way to find Jupiter with the scope :rofl:

[Steffen]

It certainly has potential. The biggest issue for me was getting the secondary centred under the focuser tube. Just wait till Gary makes Argo Navis encoders for it :rofl:

Later, when your son gets his first SDM Dob he can use the little Aldi one as finder scope ;)

Cheers
Steffen.

[slowflow]

I purchased one too, it is usable with the eyepiece supplied but not too good.
Digout a good eyepiece and it works well. My ES 6.7 makes the moon look great. It is a great start to get the kids hooked, if you can't lend him your TVs, try a TMB from vti optics, express post you will get it just after Christmas. Encourage & enjoy the journey.