smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin) (11/05/84)
What {characteristics,brand,etc.} of telescope would be appropriate for
a 6 year old who is showing some interest in astronomy, and has expressed
a desire for a telescope? I've been told that the price range is ~$100,
but with a fair amount of margin. The instrument would be used from a
suburb of New York (I know, awful viewing conditions) and from an area
quite free from serious light pollution. I suspect one thing that would
be helpful would be a guide to what features could be seen with what size
telescope.
Please reply by mail; a summary will be posted to the net if there's any
interest.
--Steve Bellovin
{ihnp4,allegra,most of BTL,ucbvax}!ulysses!smb
P.S. While I'm at it -- any suggestions on what I should buy for myself to
use when Halley's Comet comes around?eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya) (11/09/84)
> What {characteristics,brand,etc.} of telescope would be appropriate for > a 6 year old who is showing some interest in astronomy, and has expressed > a desire for a telescope? I've been told that the price range is ~$100, > but with a fair amount of margin. The instrument would be used from a > suburb of New York (I know, awful viewing conditions) and from an area > quite free from serious light pollution. I suspect one thing that would > be helpful would be a guide to what features could be seen with what size > telescope. > > Please reply by mail; a summary will be posted to the net if there's any > interest. > > --Steve Bellovin > {ihnp4,allegra,most of BTL,ucbvax}!ulysses!smb > > P.S. While I'm at it -- any suggestions on what I should buy for myself to > use when Halley's Comet comes around? This is a subject I feel rather strongly about. I wanted to be an astronomer since a young and impressionable age myself. DON'T BUY A TELESCOPE, UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO! (Even for Halley's comet). When I was younger, I didn't have the purchase a decent scope (my parents bought a poor one). My suggestion on both counts is: locate a nearby community college or planetary, there are lots around. I used to commute 20 miles to the Griffith Park Planetary in Hollywood, CA: absolutely terrible professional seeing conditions, but they had several instruments larger than an amateur could afford (most amateurs) such as a 12 inch. They typically come with an observer (a volunteer) who will be quite knowledgeable. Lots of other observatories have free public nights (I know Lick does near Santa Clara). The viewing in an instrument of good size is so much better than most anything you will want to buy (except the serious person), that your experience will be better. Friends have a 36 inch which is available for special private viewing when not used for research; I have see the ring of Lyra (M57) in color with the eye! Use the money for your kid's college education. --eugene miya NASA Ames Res. Ctr. {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,vortex}!ames!aurora!eugene emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA