Need quick advice

[Tel]

I urgently require advice, I have been around and around trying to decide what will be the best starting point for my sons (10) interest in astronomy After reading many suggestions I have decided on a Skywatcher 25x100 astro binoculars (hoping for the most bang for my buck) on a alt-azmuth mount total around $700 would this combination offer us some rewarding experiences?
Willing to take on board suggestions, I don't have time to visit clubs at this stage (his birthday is next week) and have looked at alot of telescopes in this price range but am unsure if the optics are up to the binoculars.
thanks in advance.

Tel
p.s sorry if this information is posted elsewhere

[Nevyn]

I'm not sure how well binoculars compare, but as far as bang for your bucks would go I would be looking at a small dob mounted newt ( Dob ) in the 6 or 8 inch area. As far as operating them goes it really couldn't get any easier. Point and look! And cheaper. Check out either Bintel or Andrews Communications, where you'll save some money for accessorising eg. red light, chair, a planisphere and a collimating tool.

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm
http://bintel.com.au/

Cheers Brad

[Alchemy (Clive)]

its often a matter of personal choice , ther will no doubt be fans of binos for their portabilty and dual use... could use them for terrestrial persuits.

for purely astro use id go for that money a 10 inch dob , you can change eyepeices for planets like jupiter and mars , or go widefield for other objects...this is not so easy with binos , if they have eyepeices you will need to double up... keep in mind neither of these are particularly suited for photograhpy.

[Tel]

Thanks, portability is the biggest consideration. we are balcony dwellers and have a small car.

[iceman (Mike)]

Do those binos have the diagonal in the eyepiece?

[Tel]

All the info I can find on them no pic.Skywatcher Astro Binoculars 25x100 BAK4 Prisms & Fully Multi Coated

[rally]

I would add in some books, skycharts, planisphere, posters

No point giving him the tools without the recipe and a bit of motivation and direction - unless your experience with the sky is already there.

Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars by Patrick Moore
It covers both hemispheres though

Plus maybe Atlas of the Southern Sky - by Massey and Quirk

and something that is astronomically pictorial . . .

He can read the books every day but he can't view everyday and he will need to learn his way around and understand what he is looking at - and give him some sense of purpose, otherwise it might just become a boring exercise of looking at more stars !

Maybe the books can come from others.

Maybe others could add some better choices here

Cheers

[Tel]

Cheers Rally

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Those binos are very cumbersome to use. Mounting them is not trivial. For $700 you will not get a well mounted user-friendly pair of 25x100. Better off with a hand-held low power pair, e.g., 7x50, 8x40, 10x50 and an 8 or 10" Dobsonian. The GSO or SkyWatcher/Saxon Dobs are very good scopes, best bang for buck around. Will give you great closeups of the moon and planets too which the big binos will not do.

[peterbat (Peter)]

As you have a small car, you might want to consider a small dobsonian of the truss tube design. This breaks down into a fairly compact package for moving around, and might suit. An 8 inch would be around the same sort of price you've been talking about...

Peter

[programmer]

I doubt your 10 y.o son (I have one also) could manage a 10" dob or even an 8. Either go for some binocs or get a 6" dob or (possibly better for balcony, not knowing the nature of yours) an EQ mounted newtonian or smaller refractor.

I would've loved something like this at 10! (From Bintel website):-

Skywatcher 80mm with Push Button Control https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Images/spacer.gif The Universe is at your fingertips with the Skywatcher 80mm Auto Tracking telescope.
A great choice for the budding astronomer - just as good for a balcony with a view.
Enjoy the wonderful images and simplicity of this compact yet powerful telescope.
ONLY $395 while stocks last!

[dannat (Daniel)]

if you are on the balcony i would second the auto tracking refractor or similar refractor on an Alt/Az mount. you could also get an erecting diagonal allowing you to look at ground based things from your balcony. with the Dob the kids would need to have an idea of what to look for as they are pushing it to the direction. A 6" is preety small though and will fit - if you get the 6" I suggest you download stellarium - it is a free program - Melb is saved in the locations and it will show you what the sky looks like above you at a particular time and tell you hwere the planets are also.

[Tel]

Have looked at the
Skywatcher Auto Tracking Telescope 80mm x 1000mm Auto Tracking Maksutov

would this be a good choice?
Balcony is only 1.5mm but we have a park with very little light so would carry tripod down stairs on good nights.
The duel application and compactness appealed.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

you'll get a diversity of opinions on a forum like this.

Some say 8" Dob is great for their 6 y.o. some say it's too big for 10 y.o. I think it's about right for 12+ y.o. It's quite a handful for 10 y.o. IMO but will grow into it. And he will be ecstatic blown away by the sheer size of it - I'd have to say though that balcony scope it is not. For the local park it's perfect.

Some will say get a computerised mount some will say keep it simple and put money into mount and optics. I'd be inclined to say the latter though see there are convincing arguments for both. If you want really small compact I'd say get a Vixen Porta (or one of the clone) AZ mounts and an 80mm refractor (an ED 'apo' preferably, but a good (semi-)achromat is okay to).

80mm Mak not a good choice IMO. Narrow FOV and not enough aperture for good detail on planets at high powers. Best to go along to star party / club night / or even just go into the shop and get some hands-on with some gear. I'd have a chat to Roger at Bintel - he is very helpful and straight down the line IME - and no he is not paying me!

[Tel]

Thanks, think I will talk to Roger.
cheers
Terry

[Tel]

Thanks to alls advice, went to Bintel, now the proud owner of a SW135 short tube. Now the questions will really start.
cheers