Reflectors, 6 year olds and step ladders

[Dom1975]

Complete newbie so treat nicely please.

Want to get a telescope (probably solely for planetary viewing)

Some questions please:

1. Although its for me - keen to encourage a budding interest from my 6 year old boy. Looking at reflectors (namely the SW 130P), am I correct in that viewing is done from the higher top of the scope - worried it might need a stepladder for my son (!) - or am I missing something? Would a conventional refractor (SW Evostar 90) be more height appropriate?

2. Any (model specific) tips for a sub £250 telescope for planetary viewing. Open to anything!

Thanks

Dom

[Bizibilder]

If you can, I would go to an astro shop and actually have a look at the sizes of the scopes and accessability of the eyepiece. Most tripods can be set quite low (or high) and you can get them to set the scope up for you. Don't forget to take 6yo with you!

Otherwise I would suggest a refractor as the eyepiece will be more accessable and can often be used by an adult when sitting down - so it should be fine for your son. If you go for the Evostar 90 get the EQ3-2 mount (the bigger more solid one) it will make a huge difference!

[GazK]

I have a 5" mak on an AZ4 mount and set at minimum height, it's ideal for my 7 year old, and she's small for her age. I paid £140 for the mount (new) and bagged the tube for £120 second hand. Even a 3" mak would be nice on moon/planets.

[Saleratus]

I had no problems using a dob with my daughters when they were 6. Actually the eyepiece height was almost perfect for them, and easier for them to look through in a way, because of the lack of a diagonal.

You'll see more planetary detail if have a bit more aperture than a small refractor provides. I think 8 inches aperture is a sweet spot with reflectors, but 6 is great, too. I'm sure almost any 6-year-old would be tall enough for a 6 inch dob.

[Diego Sartori]

I have a 5" mak on an AZ4 mount and set at minimum height, it's ideal for my 7 year old, and she's small for her age. I paid £140 for the mount (new) and bagged the tube for £120 second hand. Even a 3" mak would be nice on moon/planets.

How does she cope with the fact that observation is done with one eye?

I am worried my kid will have issues with that exact issue, hence why I was considering getting a Binoviewer.

Diego

[knobby]

my 9 year old uses my 150p skywatcher dob, sometimes on a stall !

depends on the angle

Skywatcher 150p dob approx £210

good luck

[GazK]

How does she cope with the fact that observation is done with one eye?

I am worried my kid will have issues with that exact issue, hence why I was considering getting a Binoviewer.

Diego

It doesn't bother her at all. She used to look through my 10" dob using a step stool before I got the mak. The 6" dob suggested above would be another good option. Or make one of these:

[Saleratus]

Sometimes children have a harder time with binoviewers than with single eyepieces. To use most telescope eyepieces, your eyes have to be positioned just right. Binoviewers have TWO telescope eyepieces in them. So the interocular distance has to be adjusted perfectly for your child, and he/she has to position his/her eyes perfectly to use it.

One eyepiece will be easier, especially if you spend some of your money on some better eyepieces. Look for long eye-relief and wider fields--these will be best for children.

By the way GazK, that's a super cute picture!

[knobby]

It doesn't bother her at all. She used to look through my 10" dob using a step stool before I got the mak. The 6" dob suggested above would be another good option. Or make one of these:

Hi Gaz

what is that?

P.s. your daughter is cute!

[knobby]

Isn't it a sad world when you have to think twice about saying 'your daughter is cute ' without second guessing yourself ... does it sound ok or should I not say that!

Sorry rambling now ...

[GazK]

It's a portabowl 4.5" reflector - a DIY project. There's more info and instructions here: http://www.spogastro.co.uk/?page_id=867

Sent from my HTC Legend using Tapatalk

[knobby]

Cheers Gaz, I'm looking now... what sort of performance do you get?

[GazK]

Ok to good if you block out any local lights. Easy to do with a jacket over a chair. Useless otherwise due to lack of tube.

Sent from my HTC Legend using Tapatalk

[umadog]

I've done outreach with kids and have noticed few problems with them seeing through the eyepiece. I had a five year old at the scope last month and he did just fine.

[mart rich]

I have a 5 and half year old boy and together we have used a cheapish 70mm refractor (with diagonal) and my new 200p reflector.

He always stands on a chair to view which generally puts him at the right height for viewing, and seems to work with a bit of care.

Given the short attention span at that sort of age the relative comfort of the viewing position is probably less important. As long as they can see into the eyepiece without knocking the scope off alignment then that's half the battle!

Good luck with your choices

Martin