What would be a good gift for new telescope users- please help!

[dcmb2018]

Hello everyone, we recently purchased a Skywatcher Explorer 130 EQ2 telescope and, having got used to it, my son and husband love it. It came with:

• Highest Practical Power (Potential): x260
• Diameter of Primary Mirror: 130mm
• Telescope Focal Length: 900mm (f/6.92)
• Eyepieces Supplied (1.25"): 10mm & 25mm
• x2 Barlow Lens
• Red Dot Finder
• EQ2 Equatorial Mount
• R.A. Motor Drive (D.C.) with Multi-Speed Handset
• Aluminium Tripod with Accessory Tray
• 30% more Light Gathering than 114mm

 I wanted to buy something as a gift, related to the above, and would be very grateful for any advice on what I could buy with a £100 budget. They're keen to take photos (but I am planning to buy something more expensive that will allow them to do this)- anything you could recommend would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[Owmuchonomy]

I would look no further than this. I still have mine from 2007 and it still offers me lots of encouragement and advice.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/turn-left-at-orion-book.html

[dcmb2018]

This is great, thank you for the reply, really appreciate it.

[vlaiv]

I second suggestion for a good book on stargazing, and since it is well within a budget, I can suggest a few additional bits that you can choose from, that would be useful and fit well within given budget alongside said book.

Nebula filter is great little addition - it gives more contrast on many emission nebula (makes some nebula really pop out at eyepiece):

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/uhc-oiii-visual-filters/uhc-filter.html

Additional high power eyepiece for lunar / planetary observation (well we are almost at the end of planet season for this year, but Luna is always around and fun to observe).

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-5mm-ed-eyepiece.html

Maybe something to let you dip your toe in astro photography:

Phone adapter - lets you shoot image at eyepiece with your phone camera:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter.html

Or equivalent for compact camera / small DSLR:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/universal-camera-adapter.html

Maybe go with a bit of Solar observing (although current Solar activity is low and no transits or interesting solar eclipses for this year):

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/astrozap-baader-solar-filter.html

 

 

 

[domstar]

I agree with Turn Left at Orion. A 32mm eyepiece would show more sky and make star-hopping easier. Gloves, hat and a chair are useful and definitely matching eye patches. Very exciting.

[dcmb2018]

these are all great ideas, thank you. The glove, hat and chairs made me laugh- but very true I suppose!