Telescope help - total newbie

[Little Dutch]

All right folks. I want to get a telescope so I can nurture my kids interest in the sky, They are too small to hold up my binoculars.
I?ve done some reading, and done some more reading. What I?ve decided is I need to just buy a cheap telescope for now. Get into it and get my kids into it.

I need you to tell me what to buy. A total amateur with 2 small children. I want to stay under $200, I need to stay under $400. There?s some wiggle room if that?s not realistic, it just will take some extra time to gather funds,

Thanks.

[Sawin]

I just let my kids look through my spotting scope, but it’s a good margin more than you’re hoping to spend. Just thought if you already have one, it’s worth a try for starters.

As for cheap ones for kids, a quick amazon search shows a lot of options with great reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=telescope...ss_ts-ap-p_3_9

[bellavite1]

Started with my spotting scope, got me a telescope, returned it the day after...
At that price point not enough improvement over my spotting scope to justify the extra expense (and yes, the spotting scope does work well enough, I can see Saturn rings and some of Jupiter's moons).
Even my wife, a notorious Sci-Fi hater, is fascinated...

[O2HeN2]

Small kids? I'd suggest a table-top reflector. Portable, not too expensive and good resolution.

https://www.telescope.com/Telescopes...0/p/130922.uts

O2

Ps. I'll warn you, the problem with buying a telescope is that in a short time you'll want to upgrade to the Hubble.

[O2HeN2]

....also if you want to pick some brains, go to the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society's dark sky night on September 18th:

Florissant Fossil Beds Dark Sky Program, Friday, Sept 18th, 7:30 ? 9:30 PM

I've been meaning join CSAS again. I might be there that evening.

O2

[MrPrena]

Confession time: I studied many hours (to years) of astrophysics and I have zero interest looking at the space with visual light specturm.

That being said. When I was a kid, my dad had zero knowledge in astrophysics and he was fascinated with telescope, Hubble space telescope and one that is in Griffith park observatory in CA. Zzzzzzzzz



Going back to the topic:
That 200 to 400 range will get a telescope that will get the kids to enjoy the space and bring many excitement and curiosity of science.
I would also look at the used ones as well.
At that price range, I would get the one that kids likes more and not worry too much of chromatic aberration, optical clarity, etc.

[electronman1729]

PM sent

[Aloha_Shooter]

....also if you want to pick some brains, go to the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society's dark sky night on September 18th:

Florissant Fossil Beds Dark Sky Program, Friday, Sept 18th, 7:30 ? 9:30 PM

I've been meaning join CSAS again. I might be there that evening.

O2

Event cancelled due to Wuhan Coronavirus concerns (of course they don't use the placename). I agree with MrPrena -- look at used telescopes. I picked up an old Celestron 8-inch for a little over $300 and that's more telescope than you need (or probably want) at this stage. There are a lot of people who pick up decent scopes then get bored or who decide to upgrade and then sell the scope just to get it out of the house.

[O2HeN2]

Event cancelled due to Wuhan Coronavirus concerns...

Darn. I thought that maybe that was going to be the first one to happen after the 'rona.

O2

[Little Dutch]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions everyone, I appreciate it.

PM sent

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