Comments on: Which kind of telescope would be best for a 7 year old?

By: Geoff G

Geoff G — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:36:32 +0000

I frequently bring my telescope to school and public “star parties.” I’ve found that young children have great difficulty seeing anything through even a high quality telescope…it often becomes a very frustrating experience for them. Like others here, I’d recommend a small binocular instead, 6×30 or 7×35. This will be useful in a much wider range of activities. I know I used my father’s 6×30 binoculars a lot at that age, and had a wonderful time with them.

If you buy her a telescope, you are going to need to learn a lot about astronomy to keep her interested. She’ll be able to find the Moon, and maybe, with luck, a planet or two, but otherwise the sky will be a big unknown without a knowledgable adult to guide her. This is where an astronomy club might be useful, though most of them are oriented towards adults.

By: iridflare

iridflare — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:53:20 +0000

It’s probably not a good idea to get a 7 year old a telescope - children are fascinated by astronomy, but the views through any sensibly priced ’scope just don’t interest them. There are practical problems too - young children tend to hang on to the ’scope and move it off whatever you’re looking at. They also tend to look across the eyepiece, rather than through it, and so they don’t see anything even when it’s pointed in the right direction.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:33:28 +0000

Binoculars are a far better choice for someone that age. This is the cheapest decent telescope I can recommend, and it’s $300.

Cheaper telescopes than that are so difficult and frustrating to use (they have flimsy mounts) that the appreciation of astronomy will be destroyed.

The best binoculars for a 7 year old will be a bit smaller and lighter than those for an adult. As with telescopes, really cheap ones will just be frustrating to use.

Here’s a recommendation.

If she wears glasses, these would be better (the difference is the “eye relief” specification, how far back your eyes are from the binoculars). As a bonus, these are waterproof and more rugged.

there are cheaper 7X35s, of course, but once again, going cheap is not a question of how good the view is, it’s how much interest will be sustained. Go with a brand name you recognize, and don’t spend less than $50. If she wears glasses, you need an eye relief of 15 or more.

This book will be useful:

By: water_skipper

water_skipper — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:00:14 +0000

I think a pair of binocculars would be better for someone that young.

By: amansscientiae

amansscientiae — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:21:55 +0000

A telescope is not a really good idea for a seven year old.

First of all, how long can she be up at night?

Are you living in a dark location without street lights making it nearly impossible to use a telescope?

Are you willing to drive your daughter out to a dark spot at night, set up, observe, disassemble and drive home?

Is your daughter old enough to accept that the telescope will not show the colorful pictures she has seen on the internet but rather dim more black and white looking impressions of celestial objects?

By: faesson@sbcglobal.net

faesson@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:03:05 +0000

Buffy… I mean ‘B’ has a good suggestion, also you might try a local observatory. They have ‘open nights’ where the public is welcome and THAT is a lot of fun!

I used to work at one and was amazed at the skill of these ‘amateurs’.

By: Boatman1

Boatman1 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:26:11 +0000

A 4 inch Dobsonian——— sort of like this one.

Here is a review on CloudyNights about a 4 ” DOB telescope for a 7 year old:

EDIT—– the Astronomy club suggestion above is a good one.

By: B.

B. — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:48:58 +0000

I would like to suggest that you first join a local astronomy club or astrological society. That way you can attend star parties and check out first hand all the various types, brands and price ranges of scopes with your own eyes and you can make the best decision for you. EVERY pair of eyes are different and there is not one scope that is best for everybody. The club might also have loaner scopes that you can borrow until you find the one that is the best for you. The members can also help you to get the most use with your new scope once you have made your purchase.

I personally am an Orion fan.

oriontelescopes.com

Do not buy from places like Costco, Walmart, Target, ToysRus or any other discount store. Those are junk scopes and not worth the plastic they are used to make them.

Best wishes to you.