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How to Choose a Beginner Telescope

April 6th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are new to astronomy, the first investment you need to make should be a beginner telescope. Of course you could buy a telescope with all the advanced features with a big price tag, but we would suggest that you start with a telescope that is a little less complicated, easy to use, and more affordable.

Why Start With a Beginner Telescope

The reasons we suggest that you start on a smaller scale is that you want to avoid the frustration of attempting to use an advance telescope without training and experience. A beginner telescope will afford you with a great number of opportunities to view the stars and planets while you learn the basics of stargazing.

While you may find telescopes with all the “bells and whistles” you could ever imagine, making your choice of a beginner telescope should be an educated one. Avoid spontaneous decisions and do your homework – it could be the difference between starting a new exciting hobby and losing interest and wasting money.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing a telescope can be a difficult process for the novice. If you do not make the right choice, you may lose interest, or worse yet, your child may lose interest in astronomy forever. Choosing a telescope that allows for optimal viewing of celestial bodies and entering the amazing world of astronomy is an important step. Since knowledge is important in choosing the right telescope, we suggest that you first determine what you will be using the telescope for – general viewing of the heavens, a photographic journey of the stars, or watching the neighbors (just kidding!).

Telescopes can be a very affordable investment. If you are searching for a child telescope, you may want to stay with a low-end model. If you are looking for a beginner telescope for an adult, you may want a few more features. For just a little more money, you might be impressed with the results.

Recommendation for the Novice Astronomer

The Meade 114EQ-ASTR telescope provides a nice balance of price and features. This is a great child telescope, (preferably an older child), and will let the budding astronomer grow into all of its features.

However, it has many of the features of the more expensive telescopes and is perfect for the adult to get them started on their new hobby. You can read more about this very affordable beginner telescope by reading our Meade 114EQ-ASTR telescope post.

Meade 114EQ-ASTR 114mm Equatorial Reflector Telescope Review

March 1st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

This Meade reflector telescope is ideal for the novice astronomer because of the features packed in this very affordable telescope. The large 114mm-diameter mirror in this model can gather 361% more light than a typical 60mm telescope, giving you the ability to see fainter, more distant stars and planets in far greater detail.

If you are looking for a great child telescope for your youngster, you should take a hard look at this Meade model. It is designed for easy operation, yet has a number of features generally found on far more expensive models.

One feature that stands out is the equatorial mount on the Meade 114EQ-ASTR. Because the earth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours, celestial objects move rapidly through the telescopic field, particularly at higher powers. This feature, the equatorial mount of the Meade 114EQ-ASTR, greatly facilitates object tracking: simply turn one or both of the control cables.

Other features include:

• 114mm Aperture (4.5″)
• Focal Length - 1000mm
• Focal Ratio - f/8.8
• Rack-and-Pinion Focuser
• Equatorial Mount w/Slow Motion Controls
• Setting Circles
• Latitude Control w/Scale
• Two 1.25″ Eyepieces - 9mm and 25mm
• Red Dot Viewfinder
• Aluminum Tripod w/Accessory Shelf
• Astronomical Software and Instructional DVD

At present, Meade is offering a free electronic eyepiece with the purchase of the Meade 114EQ-ASTR, adding even more value to this extraordinary telescope package.

The beginning amateur who intends to use a telescope regularly will find the Meade 114EQ-ASTR a valuable investment in astronomical enjoyment. You may want to read more about this fine reflector telescope at our recommended merchants, Shoptics.com or Amazon.com, and read reviews by actual Meade 114EQ-ASTR users. These same users have rated the Meade reflector telescope an excellent 4.5 Stars (out of 5.0).

A Child Telescope for Your Young Astonomer

February 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you wish you could show your child the universe in a whole new way, a child telescope may be the pathway to discovery.  The scientific community is always trying to promote science and astronomy to the younger generation.   Exploration of the heavens will peak a child’s interest in the cosmos, so why not help your young astronomer with a child telescope?

How Is a Child Telescope Different?

The telescopes made for kids are generally simple to operate, with few if any intricate features and options.   They are generally designed for rugged conditions and ease of use.  A child telescope is usually quite affordable and can make for an exciting present for birthdays or holidays.  Of course, your first child telescope need not be overly expensive nor should it be too cheap.  The child needs to perceive the telescope as a special tool or instrument rather than just another toy in their toy chest.

How Do You Introduce Your Child to the Cosmos?

There are a few things that you need prior to getting a child telescope and your beginning endeavors into astronomy. Astronomy need not be a confusing and difficult subject to understand.  While it may take a little studying, the use of a kid telescope could help you begin to get your child interested in something that can help them develop new skills and new attitudes.

How Much Will a Child Telescope Cost?

A child telescope can be as expensive or inexpensive as you like, but can certainly fit into most people’s budget.  And if you are willing to put a little time into researching telescopes, you can easily determine what model fits best into your budget and will be best for you and your child. Once you have selected a telescope, spending a little time understanding how to use and spending time with your child could help the child telescope be a more stable part of your life.

Finding the ‘Right’ Child Telescope

You may worry that you need to be part scientist to understand the difference in telescopes and that the child telescope needs to wow and amaze your youngster.  The truth is that developing an interest in the universe and the stars is key to peaking your child’s interest.

So if apertures, lens, mirrors, or reflectors confuse you, it may be better to start small, make sure that astronomy and the child telescope catches his or her imagination and interest then proceed into better equipment with more options.

The worst thing that many parents experience in buying their children things is the lack of interest that comes after a few months or weeks of starting a new hobby. Yet you could extend that interest by making short term goals and helping them gain more interest in the hobby through your own interest

There are sites on the internet (including our A1-Telescopes.com) that can help you understand what you need to look for in a child telescope. Our best advice is to 1) Start small, and 2) develop the interest and knowledge of stars, planets and the universe.

A Bonding Experience

You never know, but just sharing an interest with your youngster may bring you closer to them while developing a real interest in science and the universe.  Sure beats the heck out of watching them sit in front of the television for hours playing video games.  And remember – it could all start with the purchase of your youngster’s first child telescope!

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