Best telescope for a 6yo

[Lillyjane15]

Hi, I'm totally new to this, but my daughter keeps asking about stars and planets, so I thought I would get her a telescope for her birthday. But which one?! There are hundreds!! I have been looking at celestron first scope or sky watcher 76, can anybody recommend a simple to use but fairly decent scope to look at the moon, saturns moons etc thank you in advance

[JKB]

I bought my daughter the Celestron First scope and she loves it. Not expensive and easy to use.

Cheers

Jamie

[bingevader]

They're similar 'scopes. The SW heritage 76 has had good reviews on here as a beginner's 'scope for a child, they're much better than the Pingu things, more stable and with more features.

Cheers

[ronin]

Presuming that you do not want to go overboard on budget then either of the first 2 on the RVO site here:

http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/refractor-series.html

The 70 would be better, simply bigger.

As normal I would not expect the supplied eyepieces to be much use so perhaps an inexpensive plossl as an extra item, say  a 10mm or 12mm.

Do not expect the supplied barlow to be of much use, it might be that would be the exception.

Also check Sherwoods: http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/

Page: http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/sky_watcher/skywatcher_refractor.htm

Think same scope is a bit less. (£75)

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Hello Lillyjane, welcome to SGL.

Going off topic slightly, did you know that there is a stargazing event this Saturday not too far from you?

http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/outdoor-recreation/parks-and-countryside-sites/severn-valley-country-park/events-at-severn-valley-country-park/

I bought my 6 year old niece the SW Heritage 76 which she has enjoyed using on the rare occasions that you can see anything other than clouds in the sky.

[Langy]

Also a little off topic, I know how bright and good on computers the yougsters are today download the Stellarium software. It's free and if you take a look first at how it works to help if needed she will have some more interest and information on what to look for and what she is seeing.

Have a hunt around on YouTube to find some appropriate short videos that may also help with her interest, kids love to see a quick walkthrough on the planets etc in 5 minutes.

Another quick website I've found which my daughter liked to explain where the planets all are is http://www.theplanetstoday.com/ you can even change the time or speed it up to see how the planets all move around the solar system.

As with all things with kids you have to dangle the interest in front of them and do a lot of work yourself, so when other items come around to see in the sky if you know about them and can see them yourself you can get them interested again.

Good luck I'm sure she will love the present.

[PlanetGazer]

How about  this telescope ?

It was a good starter for me and my little sisters. I bought a separate tripod as the one provided is very flimsy. Overall it's not one of the best telescopes, and you get what you pay for, but for a 6 yo , it will diffidently do it.

I still use it as a secondary scope when camping, just to keep others busy from my 130 SW it provides good vision for the moon! 

[cantab]

I like my Heritage 76. The biggest minus for a child may be that it's ill-suited for terrestrial viewing. Also the planets may be a bit of a let-down (Jupiter will be at best a stripey dot with the supplied eyepieces). The Moon and the Milky Way should more than make up for it though.

[Lillyjane15]

Hello Lillyjane, welcome to SGL.

Going off topic slightly, did you know that there is a stargazing event this Saturday not too far from you?

http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/outdoor-recreation/parks-and-countryside-sites/severn-valley-country-park/events-at-severn-valley-country-park/

I bought my 6 year old niece the SW Heritage 76 which she has enjoyed using on the rare occasions that you can see anything other than clouds in the sky.

Great thanks, I'm going to book and see how we get on. Fingers crossed for a clear night!