Nothing beats looking at the sky at nighttime. For some, it might not be the most relaxing thing to do given that there’s so much light pollution in the cities they live in; that’s why they might be forced to go out and have an adventure. For others, it might be just the right thing either because they live in a remote area or they simply have nothing against taking a trip to the outskirts of the town so that they get a clear picture of what’s going on in the sky.
If you are a budding astronomer and would like to instill the love for stargazing in your child, as well, we have some tips. Of course, investing in a model destined for kids is rather daunting as there are many to choose from and even more factors that one ought to give some thought to.
One of the first pieces of advice that we can give you is to do a little research on this subject. While it does take some time, we strongly suggest going through some reviews and the opinions of other parents like you so that you can find out what models they have selected for their children. Unfortunately, it would not be a good idea to allow your toddler to fiddle with your powerful telescope, and that’s simply because kids can be a little clumsy from time to time, without even wanting to.
The child’s age should be one of the core determinants when it comes to buying a new telescope. While some are made like toys and they might do little to nothing in terms of magnification, others are manufactured from quality optics and have excellent magnification, as well as a proper mounting system that can ensure that the device is stable at all times.
There’s always the option of building your own telescope if you don’t plan to invest in something that’s likely to get broken ahead of its time. You can find a lot of tutorials on the topic and they might genuinely help you achieve your purpose.
While a telescope designed for a kid aged 6 or under needs to be fun and entertaining, things are a bit different with children who have a grasp on some scientific basis. For instance, if you decide to spend some quality time with your kid and explain to him the simplest notions of optics and magnification, it’s very likely that they will become engrossed in the topic. Propagation of light can be explained with the help of a simple magnifier and you could delve into interesting topics like how the Greek used a huge mirror to burn the ships of their enemies.
As the saying goes, the sky’s the limit when it comes to using a telescope, and so why wouldn’t you give it a try? If you have little to no knowledge when it comes to utilizing one, you can learn along with your kid, which makes it even more entertaining as you will both experience the same learning curve.
James Hendrickson is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek. When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College. He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.
