Re: suggestions for binoculars for 10 year old

On 2006-05-08, LeAnne Parker <leanne@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
A friend's son is asking for a telescope for his birthday. I suggested she
look into getting him a good pair of binoculars instead and if the
fascination continues, invest in a telescope at a later date.

Hmmmm, see below.

Can anyone suggest a good pair of binoculars that can be attached to a
tripod which might not cost them an arm and a leg to get their son started
on his night viewing? Also, any suggestions on things they might look for
in a pair of binoculars that would make them more suitable for astronomy use
would be helpful as well.

Many thanks in advance.


There's a PDF you can download entitled the "Binocular Certificate
Handbook" produced by the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies
that lists 110 objects (not the Messier ones) and includes finder
charts for them.
However, most of the objects will only appear as fuzzy blobs, if you
can see them at all. You will need a dark sky (i.e. well out of a
city) to see any evidence of a lot of the listed objects.

Here's the Hmmmmm.
Planets are a big disappiontment in binoculars - there's just not
enough magnification to see any detail. Fortunately the moon comes
out pretty well and a lot of people spend a lot of time exploring
the nooks and crannies on it's surface, though mainly through a
telescope.

You're right about the need for a tripod. The more powerful the
binoculars, the more they magnify any shakes and wobbles. The same
holds for a telescope, too. Whatever he gets, he'll need a tripod
from day #1.

Pete

--
...........................................................................
.. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch .
.. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England .
.. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly) .....................................

.

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