which telescope is better for a 10 year old?

Question

I just bought 2 telescopes from my son from toys r us. i didn't want to spend too much money on something i wasn't sure he would like. I bought two because i didn't know which would be better. I don't know the difference and i need ur help. one must be returned..

Edu Science Astro-Gazer-70 Telescope 188x power
54" Aluminum tripod w/ Quick-Release Mount;6x 25mm Finderscop w/crosshairs; soft rubber eyecups; 19mm x 20mm 1.25" Diameter Eyepieces; 2 Barlow lens; Cybersky CD-Rom & "Getting the Most From Your New Telescope" DVD; Star Chart; Fully Illustrated Instruction Manual; Padded Carry Case

2nd one..
The refractor telescope features a precision optical glass lens with a maximum magnification of 288x when using the lenses, a diameter of 50mm and a focal length of 600mm. The convenient carry case protects all the pieces including a 1x erecting eyepiece, 4.3x Barlow lens, diagonal viewer, 2 interchangeable eyepieces (9mm and 18mm), 6x 25mm

Answer 1

Considering that both of these are toys, the first one sounds like it might be better, especially if the "70" indicates a 70mm objective. The star chart and other extras that come with it are also a nice touch. The power ratings are meaningless, as neither scope will be usable at the maximum power stated.

It's possible that neither of these scopes provides a clear enough image to be worth using; if possible, try them out first. If your son gets serious about astronomy, or if you can spend a little more, consider getting a real telescope from Orion (http://www.telescope.com/ ) or other telescope store.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, if you take a look at Telescope buying advise given in this section, your telescope purchase has all the elements of what we tell folks NOT to do when buying a Telescope. The scopes are advertised by their magnifying power which is pure meaningless hype and a sure indication of a junk Telescope.
You bought it from a Toy Store of all places and it comes with a mount so shaky that it is pure dumb luck if you can ever see anything through it.
The best advice given here is to return these scopes and then purchase one from a reputable Telescope dealer such as Orion Telescopes.Even a small Telescope bought from a dealer such as this will at least do the job it was designed for. Although my recommendation would be a 4.5" Dobsonian for a young fellow of that age. The catalog also explains all about Telescopes, so you can make a good decision.
More young people are forever lost to this great hobby by getting totally frustrated by junk telescopes such as the two you mentioned here. And who knows how many young scientists end up choosing a different career path.

Adolph

Answer 3

I would return both of those. Edu science makes toy scopes scopes assemble almost entirely from plastic, and you can do better then a 50mm no brand. Right Now Walmart has a $25 tasco 60mm refractor (just order it online and request local delivery to your store) that is miles ahead of either of these. But, if you really want a serious instrument, it would be best to get away from the department stores and go find a real telescope store.

Answer 4

I'll agree with the others who recommend returning these if at all possible. I've seen these things at Toys'R'Us, and that's all they are: toys. I can see nothing but frustration for your son in either of these.

Consider instead a good pair of binoculars, 7x35 or 8x42. These will be useful for astronomy, but also for a lot of other things 10-year-olds are interested in. I know when I was 10, I got enormous pleasure out of my father's 6x30 binoculars, without the hassles of a telescope. Because of its higher magnification and smaller field of view, a telescope is much harder for a kid to operate.

If you are set on a telescope, consider one of these instead:
http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=starter_scopes;jsessionid=F30320EC5AA29C1B5FD550C117349E93.ivprod2

I'd particularly recommend one of the first two because of their better optics and more solid mounts. These are scopes that a10-year-old can handle, but will still be using in five years. The Toys'R'Us scopes will be lucky to hold his interest for a week!

Answer 5

Please do your son and yourself a favor and return both of those scopes. Any scope that sells itself by its power 188X or such is garbage. Its the eyepiece that determines magnification of a scope, not the scope itself. the scope only collects the light. if you want to learn more go to astronomy.com, a very reputable publication for amatuer astronomers.
In fact most of us amateurs usually observe at less than 100X magnification. If you want a good scope that will bring hours of enjoyment, you will pay more than you would in a department store, but it is well worth it.
Also look on the web for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
I hope you decide on a better quality scope. I just purchased a 6 in newtonian reflector (after years of waiting) for about $600 cdn, the manufacturer is Celestron, which makes good quality scopes in a variety of price ranges. Also look for Meade, another quality company.
Keep in mind that the type of scope you ultimatley buy will also depend on what kind of objects you want to observe. Do some research, and PLEASE, return those 'garbage' scopes.
Actually the best scope to start with is a good pair of binoculars, low mag, easy to use, and LOTS to see.
Good luck.

Answer 6

It would seem the best way to decide which is best is to take them both out and use them for a while and simply see which one you like better. I hope they'll still be willing to take one back.

I think you'll discover that you'll not be using high magnifications much. That just makes things big and fuzzy. And you'll find that the steadiness of the mounting is a big thing -- a nice image will be no good unless the mounting keeps it from dancing around.

Good luck!

Answer 7

It would be best if you could return them and buy something like this.


http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/reflecting-telescopes/celestronastromaster114eqreflector.cfm

or this

http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/reflecting-telescopes/celestronastromaster130eqreflector.cfm#navbar=a