|
|
Post by frankcor on Feb 20, 2008 23:25:15 GMT -5
My telescope is about 5 times more powerful than most binoculars. I didn't even try with the binoculars I have. They're okay for opera glasses but not if you want to see cleavage down on the stage.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Feb 20, 2008 23:50:06 GMT -5
Now, that's a really good lawyer.  Swimmy, did you get my return response the other day? Not sure if I hit the right key to send it to you. Was very late that night when I noticed yours. |
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Feb 20, 2008 23:51:52 GMT -5
frank, you're such a little piggy.  I know, I know, "it's a man thing,"  |
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Feb 20, 2008 23:56:25 GMT -5
Thelma, I'd agree with you because I know I've reached the senior citizen age, just can't remember how I got here. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Ralph on Feb 21, 2008 0:02:22 GMT -5
I had to work so I missed it! WAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!  |
|
|
|
Post by kim on Feb 21, 2008 7:54:22 GMT -5
My son wants a telescope. What kind of telescope is good for a 6 year old boy? I don't want to get him a toy...if I get him a telescope I'm going to get him a nice one that really works, but on the other hand, he is only 6, so I don't want a really expensive one and it needs to be sturdy.
|
|
|
|
Post by frankcor on Feb 21, 2008 8:21:56 GMT -5
Get the lowest power one you can. The higher the power, the smaller the field of vision and it increases the difficulty of finding objects in the sky. (it took me a minute to just find the moon last night) With a higher power, even the slightest jiggling will cause him to lose the target. If you center on the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter with a high power scope, for example, and then back away so your son can look, by the time he gets to the eyepiece, it may have moved out of the field of view with a large scope. And he'll also probably bump it as he approaches the eyepiece.
I'd spend more money on a higher quality tripod and mounting than on the telescope itself. Most inexpensive telescopes come with cheap gimbals, focus and adjustment gears on the tripod that make it real hard to make the fine adjustments needed to follow objects in the sky as the earth rotates. Look for one with the adjusting knobs on flexible cables and not attached directly to the tripod. It's easier to avoid bumping the tripod as he aims the scope.
Also, I would suggest a "terrestrial" telescope, one designed for seeing things on the ground. They have an extra lens to flip the view so that everything is right-side up. Star gazing telescopes invert the image and it's hard for a child to get a handle on that. He'll need to practice on ground objects during the day before trying to find the moon or planets. Stars will definitely be boring for a 6-year old. Along those lines, get some software for your PC so he can look up a planet to see where it will be in the sky at the time he's going to look for it.
If you get a high quality tripod and your boy shows a real interest, you can always upgrade to a higher quality scope as he gets older.
Bottom line, for a kid, get a cheap scope and high quality tripod.
|
|
|
|
Post by kim on Feb 21, 2008 9:02:54 GMT -5
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by dgriffin on Feb 21, 2008 9:28:11 GMT -5
I like a 6x or even 8x by 80 to 100 mm pair of binoculars. (Mine aren't near me at the moment, but I think they are 8x100. The second number is the more important, higher the better, it's the size in mm of the objective (Light gathering) lens. You can buy a mirror stand for them, so that you sit down at the picnic table, get comfortable and, as if looking in a microscope, scan the skies in the evening. Frankcor is right, too strong magnification produces nothing of interest (except Saturn's rings), whereas wide-field views are more interesting. Gee, this brings back memories.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Feb 21, 2008 11:10:11 GMT -5
I had a telescope when I was a teenager, and all I remember was that it was a night like last night, and I froze my ass off attempting to observe one eclipse or another in zero weather.
Should have come down to Kims to watch. I imagine it was warmer in NC than in NY, haha..
Frank, I thought you sold the telescope when the beauty queen across the road bought a shade for her bedroom window???LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by thelma on Feb 21, 2008 11:32:38 GMT -5
Bobbbiez & Swimmy - thanks for the invitations, but I watched how beautiful the eclipse was on the 11PM local news. It was certainly beautiful and only wish that my GD could have seen it in the real world rather than on TV. Oh, well, hopefully she will get another chance to do so in December 2010.
|
|
|
|
Post by kim on Feb 21, 2008 12:35:21 GMT -5
It was warm yesterday, but it's friggin' cold now, and we're supposed to have freezing rain tonight. I wonder if there will be school tomorrow. These snow days are cutting into summer vacation!
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Feb 21, 2008 12:41:55 GMT -5
Ohoh, Frank hasn't got back with a smartass reply! I might be in trouble. He is probably thinking, and we ALL know what happens when he does that!!!!LOLOLOL
When and if he replies, I better be well braced for a witty retort that will make me wish I hadn't busted his chops, hahaha
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Feb 21, 2008 12:57:15 GMT -5
Don't worry Clipper, I hear frank's writers are still on strike. He's out there looking for an independent one. That'll take him some time so we're safe for now. |
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Feb 21, 2008 13:13:37 GMT -5
WWhheeeew!!!! Thanks Bobbbiez. I guess I am safe for now. I should be more careful though. Matching wits with Frank is like matching reflexes with a lightening bolt, haha. I hate to take a butter knife to a gun fight! LOL
|
|
