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.
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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).
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How to Select a Kids Telescope
February 15th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
If your child is showing interest in astronomy, or just enjoys gazing at the stars and moon, a kids telescope may be a great idea. A beginner telescope can get your youngster involved in a new hobby without needing to make a large investment. You can’t say this about too many sports or activities these days!Giving your child a kids telescope will tell them that you support their interest in astronomy and believe it to be a worthwhile endeavor. A beginner telescope, even without all the features, can give your child or grandchild a head start in learning about the universe and star systems.
What Will a Kids Telescope Cost?
Even though a beginner telescope can be purchased for under $50, these are usually considered more of a toy than a functioning astronomy telescope. A basic beginner telescope can be purchased for around $100 depending on features.
If you wish to invest a little more, a good starter telescope with some of the more advanced features, will cost anywhere from $200 to $300. This will provide your young astronomer with a quality piece of stargazing equipment.
Tips for Buying a Kids Telescope
Many astronomers and educators recommend a telescope with a longer focal length and separate viewer. This allows the child to find objects much easier and reduces the frustration that can result for the novice astronomer.
There are many cheaper models that offer a focal length of only 30mm or 50mm and will provide a more generalized view of the night sky. However, if you want a telescope that will provide a more detailed picture of the planets, moon and constellations, a 70mm or higher focal length is strongly recommended.
Kids telescopes are available from a number of top-rate optics companies like Meade, Celestron, Bushnell, Orion and many others. Even the Discovery Channel offers an affordable 70mm lens kids telescope with easy set-up and easy-to-use features.
The Right Way to Use Your New Telescope
Reading the instructions for your child’s new telescope can’t be stressed enough. Even the basic kids’ telescopes can be confusing to use the first few times. It is advisable for the parent to read through the instruction manual and help the young astronomer learn the basic operations of the telescope.
Starting with a kids telescope is only the first step in a child’s adventure into exploring the universe. Why not take a look at our site reviews and choose the telescope merchant that best suits your needs. Both have a great selection of telescopes at extremely competitive prices.
And while you’re at it, check out the Meade 114EQ-ASTR at Shoptics.com. We found it to be an exceptional beginner telescope for only about $150. It features a 1000mm focal length with four and a half inch aperture, and is also capable of being attached to a 35mm camera body for photographing the images. The Meade is really a lot of telescope for the money and makes an ideal kids telescope with room to grow!
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