Re: Looking for a good beginner's telescope, suggestions?
From: Ken S. Tucker (dynamics_at_vianet.on.ca)
Date: 11/10/04
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Date: 10 Nov 2004 09:12:03 -0800
Alexander Avtanski <avtanski@ispwest.com> wrote in message news:<cmrsg10309m@enews3.newsguy.com>...
> Ken S. Tucker wrote:
> > mtmr02@yahoo.com (Mark Roberts) wrote in message news:<6e74a1a1.0411091126.1df78925@posting.google.com>...
> >
> >>Hi folks! My 12 year old son has been very interested in astronomy
> >>for the past year or so, and has been doing a lot of star gazing with
> >>the naked eye and a decent set of binoculars. I'd like to upgrade him
> >>for Christmas and get him a good beginner's telescope. (My definition
> >>of good would be probably run the middle between price and quality, as
> >>I don't want to go overboard and buy something expensive and then end
> >>up having him not use it!) He's primarily focused on the moon and
> >>constellations before and would like to check out the planets and
> >>maybe other objects further out. Anyone have any suggestions on what
> >>to get him? I would appreciate any information those with more
> >>experience than I could give. Thanks so much! - Mark
> >
> >
> > If you're boy has a good IQ, and takes geometry serious
> > then ask him if he understands what an "EQuatorial Mount"
> > is and how it works.
> > Usually an interest in astronomy is indicative of
> > high intelligence and spatial understanding.
> > Ask him if he would prefer an EQ mount or a less
> > expensive Alti-azmuth mount, to see if he knows the
> > diff. If he doesn't a week later, then you'll know
> > to get a cheapy Al-az department store job.
> > OTOH if a 12 year old can explain to you why an
> > EQ mount is better, then the geometry lesson alone
> > for him polarizing an EQ is a cheap lesson.
> > The scope oughta be a refractor at 60mm or a bit
> > more, to keep portability. Much larger will be
> > tough on a 12 year old, and reflectors are less
> > tolerant of abuse. That'll keep him busy until
> > next X-mas.
> > Anyway, talk to him and get back to us about
> > what he think's he knows. ok?
> > Regards
> > Ken S. Tucker
>
> I tend to disagree here on a couple of issues.
>
> First, the EQ mount has both advantages and disadvantages. One
> cannot just say "EQ is better", because it is not. I'm not saying
> that it is worse, it's just a different beast.
If at 12 years old, if he's intelligent enough to
know the advantages of an EQ mount, then he should
have an EQ mount.
> Second, I don't agree with the recommendation for a "60mm or a
> bit more" as a first scope. A decent 60mm refractor on an EQ
> mount (as proposed) would not be more portable than a decent
> small reflector on an alt-az mount. The second will probably
> provide much better performance at possibly fraction of the price.
Depends on the boy, performance is not that
important. There's plenty of real good stuff
a 60mm EQ can do, like astro-photography with
a motor accessory.
> Just an example is Orion's StarBlast - a 4.5" newtonian, alt-az
> tabletop mount (very stable and easy to operate). For $169 you get
> an excellent scope that can keep you busy for years. I have this
> one and I'm tired of recommending it to people, so this time I
> won't, :-) No, seriously, IMHO it's a great scope and beats any
> 60-70mm entry-level refractor, and some not so "entry-level" ones.
Sure it does, but I'm bet you'd rather
have a motorized EQ mount!
> There are several similar scopes to the StarBlast. Any of these
> can do and (again IMHO) would be far better than a 60mm refractor.
Ok, going from a 6mm pupil to 60mm or 120mm
is a thrill, and is not as crucial as the mount
if the son understands mounts.
> - Alex
Regards
Ken
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