[The_bluester (Paul)]

Yeah, that is a bit odd about a minimum age. I was allowed to take home the school 'scope when I was 14 in year 7. To my knowledge the only one ever allowed to take it home, which is a pity in itself.

While life got in the way and stopped my proper stargazing for many years, I am really glad I was allowed to take it home as it was my first, chance, glimpse of Saturn at 14 years old which really stirred the interest in astronomy that I still have at 42! If I never took that scope home it is very unlikely I would have the interest now nor the general knowledge and wonder at the universe I do. My life would be all the poorer for the lack.

The scope by the way was a 4.5" Meade Newt on a GEM with a rediculously heavy base. Somehow I managed to get my head around the concept and get it aligned well enough at 14 to make it not a complete frustration to use.