What 'scope buy youngster for xmas?

[fringe_dweller]

Hi All!
i apologise if there is similar up-to-date thread here atm, but couldnt find it with quick perusal..

i'm so out of touch with all this gear!, .. but a good friend has asked me what telescope could i recommend for his 7 yr old son for christmas, pretty clear doesnt want a dob, definitely wants a tripod mounted unit .. as far as budget well under a 1000, and still good/reasonable optically .. is this possible? and to not be disappointing or troublesome viewing for his youngster.. is bintel and the other online shop (cant remember name right now?) still be place to purchase one?
TIA
cheers

[Poita]

Check out andrewscom.com.au For $899 you can get an 8" Newtonian on an eq5 equatorial mount.
Click on telescopes and then on Guan sheng and scroll down to the white newts.

Otherwise you could get an ed80 or similar on a decent mount for under a grand. If looking second hand, the a 2nd hand C8 or similar would be within reach.

[iceman]

Hey Kearn, long time no see! How's things?

[dannat]

Extra vision has a celestron 90mm refractor on altaz mount for 300 in there scratch/dent section . The kid des not have To worry about collimation then

[stephenb]

I've recently went through this with an 8yo. I ended up with an 8" BinTel Dob and I put fitted 'wheelbarrow' wheels/handles and small roller caster wheels on the base to make it easier to move around.

[Allan_L]

Based on the fact that you said definitely not a DOB and to eliminate the hardship associated with an equatorial mount, that leaves a fork mounted SCT or MAK.

The Celestron 4SE is only $799 from Andrews and can be table mounted, but includes a field tripod.
It is computer controlled.

What more is there to say?

Good Luck with it
Al

[Poita]

Or the Celestron 80GTL refractor from ExtraVision for $250 with AZ Goto mount.

[bmitchell82]

I must be one of those crazy dads :P but my ive aquired 10" newtonian optics and on my trip up north to see the family my father my son and I will be making a truss dobsonian so we can fold it up and pack it in the car on our little trips out into the wilderness. It has the added bit that we have all made it together which makes it a very special and treasured instrument to which im lucky to be able to build.

As for your question the only thing that may become a bit tiresome will be that unless your boy is a giant then he is going to have to take steps out with him to get to a newt, possibly a refractor will be the easiest way to go as the eye piece will be at a more respectable height.

An easy Alt Az mount will be the best way to go about it do not get a GEM they are bloody hard to drive as they have few axis that they move on and if you don't get it roughy pointing in the right direction eg South Celestial Pole SCP it will be a nightmare to track objects.

so a little 80mm refractor on a ALT AZ mount will be the go, you can get them for well under 1000 dollars and in that make sure you get him the Almanack so he can see whats up every month with a few star charts, and possibly one of those little cards that has a twisting wheel inside that you can spin it around to the rough time and date and it shows you the stars that should be up. (ive forgotten its name). A little red head light torch so he can sort things out in the dark.

I always find making it special so a little box to all the goodies in makes the whole thing exciting because its "his" box for "his" astronomy equipment :P matirialistic little buggers they are!

Brendan:thumbsup:

[fringe_dweller]

tons of great advice here! thanks so much guys!
ExtraVision is cool site, i dont remember ever seeing that one before .. will pass on all info here to Nicolas's dad

Gday Mike, i'm Ok thanks, hope all is good for Salway clan and extended IIS family!
yes, few lifestyle changes and different priorities have seen me take a long break from skygazing, when i have more time again, sure will get back into it at some stage, :) i hope the stars are still shining! ..that upcoming TLE sounds good!
cheers