Telescope for my 9 year old - Skywatcher SW708

[JordanWindebank (Jordan Windeban)]

Hi guys,

I am just starting to read up on telescopes as my 9 year old son has asked to get one. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money yet as I have no idea if he'll like it or not.

I found the Skywatcher SW708 at Bintel for $229 and was curious if it is a good scope for a beginner. At a minimum all he would really want to look at to start with is the moon and planets.

Will this suffice or is there a better alternative for the sub $250 mark?

Appreciate any advice.

[ozskywatcher (Josie)]

Jordan,

I haven't used that telescope so I can't comment on what it is like. Going on the specifications and the picture, it does appear to be a very good choice.

The thing that it does appear to have which cheaper telescopes don't have is a stable mount. Speaking as someone who has used a variety of small telescopes, having one with a mount that doesn't wobble is crucial. You can buy a $50 telescope from Dick Smiths which will show the rings of Saturn but it wobbles like crazy. That will put a small child off using the telescope very quickly.

The other model that would be worth considering (on the Bintel site) is the Orion SkyScanner 100mm Table Top Telescope at $199. The dobsonian mount is very easy to use and the red dot finder (that it comes with) is very easy for a beginner to use.

Regards,

Paul Floyd
www.nightskyonline.info

[erick (Eric)]

Jordon, I recommend that you go into the Bintel shop at Camberwell and have a talk with them. I'm sure they will help. Eric

[M54 (Molly)]

Hi Jordan,

Erick's suggestion of going to Bintel and having a talk is a very good idea.

But don't be talked into an equatorial mount, they're a pain to use unless it has a 'go to' on it. An altazimuth mount or a dobsonian mount is
easy and perfect for a 9 year old, but a dob will need collimating, so maybe the refractor is the right idea for a child.
Ease of use = encouragement.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Another option is binoculars. Not the telescope your son may be looking for but very effective for learning the sky.
Look for a model that can be mounted on a camera tripod.
The camera tripod can double as a camera tripod.
The binos can be used for terestial viewing if the astronomy bug does not catch.

[astro744]

Good choice as this one can be used during the daytime for terrestrial viewing and is very lightweight. Note though to get a good image scale on planets you will need a 2x Barlow coupled to your 10mm eyepiece giving 100x magnification. (A 3x Barlow+10mm will give 150x with this telescope; the practical limit). I also recommend the 90 deg mirror star diagonal for more comfortable viewing of objects up high. Note mirror diagonals reverse the image so for terrestrial viewing use the supplied 45deg prism diagonal.

Note 2x & 3x Barlows can be added later as separate gifts as can extra eyepieces. My son has an 80 x400mm version of the same telescope and loves it and uses a 10mm+ 3x Barlow on planets giving 120x. With the SW708 you would get 125x with a 12mm eyepiece + 3x Barlow.

[csb (Craig)]

I agree about the altazimuth mount which is straightforward to understand when moving the telescope - turn a knob and the scope goes up&down, turn the other knob and it goes left&right.

I see the SW708 has the altazimuth mount.

Equatorial mounts are more popular, especially for adults, but for a child an equatorial mount can be very confusing when you want moving the telescope around. They are just another type of mount to move the scope around but are necessary when taking long exposures images.

If you are now wondering about these 2 type of mounts then visit the shop and you will see.

Skywatcher also have a 70mm X 900mm on an altazimuth mount, which will give you increased magnification. The longer the telescope tube is, the higher the magnification. For a child this telescope will look like what they usually think a telescope looks like. At Andrews price is $179 http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm

[ArcaneMagik (Craig)]

Yet to be talked into something at Bintel (Sydney store at least). Regularly they talk me out of buying things, and instead suggest cheaper alternatives or explain why.

I would second the binoculars. From personal experience, binoculars served me well as a kid and were infinitely more useful when I fell out of Astronomy. Now getting back into it I enjoy the start they gave me and understand why I want a telescope over them.

Either way, Bintel is great place to go.