Telescope for beginner
Discussion
Good evening chaps. As PH is the font of all knowledge, and sound base for advice could I ask a little advice?
Mini wijit's birthday coming up, and he has started t show a lot of interest in the solar system, stars, planets and the like. I got ahim a cheap and cheerful National Geographic telescope a while back, but it is very limited.
We've see the following (Celestron Astromaster 130EQ-MD) on Amazon, and as it has reviews all over which cover all ends of the favourable/ unfavourable spectrum I was hoping some of you may be able to offer guidance?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-31051-Astromaste...
It is pretty much around the budget we were looking at, ideally we would get an adaptor to fit my Olympus DSLR on too, although this is more of a bonus that a necessity.
Mini wijit's birthday coming up, and he has started t show a lot of interest in the solar system, stars, planets and the like. I got ahim a cheap and cheerful National Geographic telescope a while back, but it is very limited.
We've see the following (Celestron Astromaster 130EQ-MD) on Amazon, and as it has reviews all over which cover all ends of the favourable/ unfavourable spectrum I was hoping some of you may be able to offer guidance?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-31051-Astromaste...
It is pretty much around the budget we were looking at, ideally we would get an adaptor to fit my Olympus DSLR on too, although this is more of a bonus that a necessity.
Thank you ever so much, chaps. Having discussed it with Mrs wijit we have decided to go for this and the book. The way I figure it, even if it's just a passing phase if it expands his mind it will be money well spent. If it encourages him to go on and take it up as a more serious hobby then it is money well spent. I only see a win/win situation.
I will post back here when he gets it, and give progress updates,whilst also taking up the very kind offer of further advice and assistance.
Once again, the community of ph rises above.
I will post back here when he gets it, and give progress updates,whilst also taking up the very kind offer of further advice and assistance.
Once again, the community of ph rises above.
Just a quick update. Mini-wijit's birthday yesterday and the telescope went down a treat! He has had a quick look through the book and is just waiting for the sky to be clear enough. I half set it up tonight, there are a couple of slightly difficult bits setting it but nothing I feel are serious enough to worry. The motor will not be mounted the right way up and I seem to have a spare little piece of metal. Triangular with a hexagonal hole in one corner and another, round hole, in another. It's not mentioned in the instructions (which are not too easy to follow for a total novice) and so will sit in a safe place until I discover that it was, in actual fact essential.
Also, once the battery was in, and because it was already in the "on" position, the motor started whirring although it didn't move anything. I'm guessing once set up properly that will sort itself out.
It hasn't been used to look at the sky yet, but so far so good. Really looking forward to my son looking through it. I might invest in the smartphone mount for it so he can try to take pictures.
Also, once the battery was in, and because it was already in the "on" position, the motor started whirring although it didn't move anything. I'm guessing once set up properly that will sort itself out.
It hasn't been used to look at the sky yet, but so far so good. Really looking forward to my son looking through it. I might invest in the smartphone mount for it so he can try to take pictures.
Well, we had a try tonight. Not a great success, it has to br said. I had to remove the motor as I simply don't quite understand it. But that's something I'll read more about that until I get it right for my lad's best viewing.
We couldn't really make out any sort of detail on planets, but my son was massively impressed at the countless stars he saw using the telescope which he had no idea were there with the naked eye.
So far, not amazing, but enough to maintain his enthusiasm to keep trying.
We couldn't really make out any sort of detail on planets, but my son was massively impressed at the countless stars he saw using the telescope which he had no idea were there with the naked eye.
So far, not amazing, but enough to maintain his enthusiasm to keep trying.
We'll be trying again tomorrow evening, probably just before sunset through as long as we can (probably match of the day!). I've shown him pictures of M42 and M45. I don't think it's worth looking for them just at this stage because after the pictures I think he'd struggle to connect what he would actually see with what hey really are. But what I would say is even though he can't see them it helps to keep his interest and as I said earlier in the thread, even if this is just a fad it is worth it just to expand his mind. If he takes it up as a serious hobby then it is even more worth it.
We will refer to the book tomorrow, and hopefully figure out where to look in the sky. When you're absolute beginners it is and even bigger sky than we imagine, but hopefully we'll find a few things to look at. He's asked for the attachment which would allow him to use his phone to take pictures. As it's only £55 I think we'll get that to add on.
We will refer to the book tomorrow, and hopefully figure out where to look in the sky. When you're absolute beginners it is and even bigger sky than we imagine, but hopefully we'll find a few things to look at. He's asked for the attachment which would allow him to use his phone to take pictures. As it's only £55 I think we'll get that to add on.
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