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With the impact of space travel and a rapidly increasing knowledge of our universe there is a huge interest among children in investigating the infinite mysteries to be explored 'out there'.  Perhaps an inhibiting factor is the cost  -  or rather, the 'perceived' cost  - of buying telescopes for children. Fortunately it's not nearly as expensive as it sounds to get started. Let us have a look at this'


Certainly, a child's telescope can be bought for under $10 but this would really be just a toy. Beware of cheaper models if your child has expressed (and preferably proved) a serious interest in the subject  - the cheaper children's telescopes will simply not generate that extra enthusiasm that comes from a new and exciting experience.


For a child older than about eight or nine (or one who shows evidence of an established interest) a more substantial telescope will encourage a stronger and longer lasting pursuit. It would be unfortunate to dampen an otherwise strong interest by skimping on a 'cheap and cheerful' product that cannot develop and satisfy a child's growing curiosity.


Some models are available for less than $100 but these tend to give only a generalised view of the sky. Much more exciting would be one with a greater focal length (in excess of 70mm) which would enable you to zoom in on planets and constellations. The 114EQ-ASTR, available from Meade for around $150, has a 1000mm focal length and can be attached to a 35mm camera to photograph the images.


Regardless of the type of telescope you buy for your children it will be necessary to set it up according to the instructions. Failure to do this may result in not being able to see anything and the assumption that it is faulty. Any parent buying telescopes for children should take care to see that this set up procedure is done correctly so that you can share the enjoyment of your new telescope together with your children.


To return to your child's needs, equipment good enough to develop a child's interest in their new telescope after the initial spark has been fanned would be a good investment. This should include a couple of 'extras' that will certainly enhance the enjoyment of the telescope and its performance, one such extra is a "finderscope".


A 'finderscope' rides piggy-back on the main telescope and its function is to locate the particular celestial body you are looking for. Without the finderscope it can be extremely difficult to do this and so it will save you hours of frustration.


Another important item for your child's new telescope is a tripod. An unstable or flimsy tripod will cause the image in the telescope to jump around all over the place. This makes it very difficult to observe and can render a high quality telescope almost useless.


A couple of other considerations that bear thinking about are portability and storage. If your child's first telescope is a heavy instrument that is difficult and time consuming to set up, it will detract from their enjoyment and you will find them using it less and less. If it does take some time to assemble it would be a god idea find somewhere you can keep it partially set up and thus save time and effort.


In conclusion, buying telescopes for children can be frustrating and time consuming but remember that astronomy is a fascinating and challenging area of interest that can be enjoyed by a growing child for many years. Start small (but not too small) and let the subject itself spark your child's curiosity. But buy an instrument that does the job properly otherwise frustration and a lack of achievement will wear you down.