Re: Starter scope for 9 year old: StarBlast or SkyQuest?

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 03:44:11 -0600, "Fan (-) (o)" <synco@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

LurfysMa wrote:

You could buy him a telescope in the future. For now, a decent pair of
binoculars mounted on a lightweight tripod is an excellent way to start
backyard astronomy.

Would any binoculars compare to the XT6?

--

Not that he could lift and you could afford!.

It sounds like you agree that binoculars are not a good choice for my
grandson.

The xt6 is about the bottom of the barrel at inflated prices.

If you are talking about the barrel of telescopes that are at least
adequate for reasonable stargazing, we are in the same barrel. ;-) I
am looking to get him started. That is, an entry level scope. That
would usually be at the bottom of the barrel, no?

Or are you saying that the XT6 is a useless piece of junk?

There
are no other good choices open to the average person.

Then I should get the XT6, no?

Affordable
decent quality telescopes for the beginner do not exist any more.
They left with affordable health care and jobs.

Yes, well, I guess we are in the world we are in. That's a different
barrel. I'm just trying to get my grandson a decent telescope, not run
for congress.

You could just do
nothing and wait until he's 30 and can afford his own scope!

Then what do I get him for Christmas this year? He asked for a
telescope and my daughter asked me to help. Somehow a card saying
"Merry Christmas, now go buy your own when you are 30" won't go over
too well with anyone. ;-)

Buy
him some good astro software or a good book instead.

He already has the books and I do plan to get him some software, but
he asked for a telescope.

Then get
him to an area club where they do have telescopes he can experince.

I am not close enough to do that with him.

Save up and buy him a good used C8 with mount and electric drive
starting at $450 used on Astromart. Thats what I would do -

Aha. So there are "other good choices open to the average person".

The C8, if I am not mistaken, is on an equitorial mount, whatever that
is, right? This has been suggested to other in the past asking for
similar advice. The responses have almost always been that equitorial
mounts are too difficult for a beginner to manage. What say you?

--
.

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