The following three telescopes are Bintel’s recommendations for a first telescope for children, at increasing cost depending on how much you want to spend. All three are good of course, but we wanted to speak to all budgets. These telescopes will all provide great views of various objects but only the Celestron 4SE at the end will provide a computerised/powered telescope that is a great option for those kids who a really keen on learning astronomy – and we know a lot of them are!
Recommendation 1 – For Parents on a Budget
First cab off the rank, Celestron Astromasters. Portable, light weight, easy to assemble refracting telescopes; making these the perfect budget beginner telescope for kids of all ages. These simple telescopes produce bright, clear images of the moon and planets; including the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn! Bintel carries two sizes of the AstroMaster series: the LT 70AZ (700mm focal length) and the slightly longer 70AZ (900mm focal length). Both telescopes come with two eyepieces and a red dot finder; everything you need to start viewing the wonders of the sky today! AstroMaster LT 70AZ.
https://bintel.com.au/product/celestron-astromaster-lt-70az-telescope/
Recommendation 2 – Value for Money
Next, a Skywatcher Dobsonian. Although the large size may be intimidating at first, Dobsonian telescopes provide views of the universe like nothing else. Their easy to use design makes them the perfect telescope for kids and adults alike. Dobsonian telescopes come in many shapes and sizes. Starting at 6 inches and going all the way to a massive 16 inches, Bintel stocks a large variety of Dobsonian’s. Whether you need one that is collapsible for storage or one that will easily find even the faintest objects in the night sky, we have a Dobsonian that is right for you!
https://bintel.com.au/product/skywatcher-6-inch-dobsonian/
Recommendation 3 – Best in it’s Price Class
Finally, for the really keen kid who wants to sink their teeth into something with much more substance, The Celestron 4SE. Since the 1970’s, Celestron’s Cassegrain Telescopes have been taking amateur astronomers by storm. Combining quality Cassegrain Optics with a smooth computerised altazimuth mount, the Celestron NexStar SE line is perfect for beginner astronomers of all ages. With top of the line computerised star finding technology (StarSense), navigating the night sky is as simple as a push of the button! It’s simple fork mount design makes traveling with a NexStar SE a breeze. Bintel stocks the NexStar 4, 5 and 6 SE, depending on your viewing needs. For quality and useability, you can’t go past a Celestron NexStar SE!
Part 3/4 Coming Shortly – Buying a Telescopes for a Teenager!