The universe is fascinating for children as well as adults. Often they wonder at an early age what all there is outside the earth. A telescope is therefore a great gift to give children the fun of exploring. To make your purchase decision easier and to give you a better overview of the different models, we have taken a closer look at telescopes for children and compared individual products.
We have compiled the best models in our product recommendations. You’re sure to find what you’re looking for in these telescopes for kids.
- Children under 6 years of age usually cannot see anything through the telescope eyepiece yet, or can only see blurry images.
- Children up to 10 years should use telescopes only under supervision/guidance.
- Astrophotography makes sense from about 14 years, when the child can already operate the telescope.
- They are rather narrow and can therefore be transported more easily and thus used on the road. The operation is also somewhat easier here.
- They are suitable for viewing planets, sun, moon and are often used in urban environments.
- Lens telescopes are robust, insensitive and easy to use.
- The images are rich in contrast.
- It has a diameter of about 80 mm and about 1000-1200 mm focal length.
- The aperture is 100 to 120 millimeters with an eyepiece of 10 mm and 20 mm.
- There are two types of mount: the azimuthal or dobsonian mount, also called a table mount. This one is simpler.
- Then there is the equatorial or parallactic mount, which uses a tripod to secure it. This is more complicated.
- Lens telescopes are more expensive than reflecting telescopes, but have the same power.
- Reflecting telescopes are suitable for viewing the sun, stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies (deep sky).
- They are usually used in rural environments.
- They are somewhat more complicated to operate than lens telescopes.
- The instrument needs time to cool down.
- The diameter is about 114 mm, and the aperture is about 60 mm.
- The telescope has one to two high quality eyepieces, including wide field eyepieces.
- It has Barlow lens for eyepiece magnification.
- Again, there is an azimuthal or dobson mount/table mount (simpler) and an equatorial or parallactic mount/tripod with a fuse (more complicated).
- A high quality telescope is needed. So it is not a beginner’s model.
- There are only equatorial or parallactic mounts.
- The mount is made on the telescope tube, on the counterweight bar or on the eyepiece focuser.
- For SLR cameras , universal camera adapters and T-rings are needed.
- Color filters for observing planets.
- Lunar filters, neutral density filters, gray filters attenuate light and thus enhance contrast for lunar observation.
- Solar filters must be used for observing the sun, otherwise eyes can be damaged.
- Rotating star chart for orientation in the night sky.
- Red light in case light is needed. It takes time for the eye to become accustomed to darkness. A brief exposure to light, e.g. from a cell phone or laptop, is enough to ruin the adjustment.
- Flashlight for a night hike with children who are still too small for a telescope.
Table of contents
Recommended Telescopes For Children
We have collected the best and most interesting telescopes for children.
Tip: You can find many recommended microscopes for kids in our The 10 best microscopes for kids guide.
The Best Sellers Of Telescopes For Children
In a list of bestsellers, we have compiled the most popular telescopes for children for you.
Tip: You can find many great kaleidoscopes for kids in our The 10 best kaleidoscopes for kids – guide.
Current Offers Of Telescopes For Children
The best current offers of telescopes for children can be found in this list.
FAQ About Telescopes For Kids
How does a telescope work?
A telescope collects the faint light of the stars better than your eye can. With a telescope, you can discover many things in the sky that you couldn’t see with the naked eye. But not every telescope is built the same. There are two types of telescopes, reflecting telescopes and refracting telescopes.
A telescope mirror with a diameter of eight meters collects about one million times more light than a human eye fully adapted to darkness with its pupil wide open. With such a telescope, our sun could still be seen from a distance of up to 60,000 light years.
When observing planets, one primarily wants to see details that require sharpness and contrast in a telescope. Long focal length reflecting telescopes, such as Maksutow and Newton from f/6, are good and popular planetary observers.
From a price of about 300-350 Euro there are useful telescopes for beginners to buy. These are Dobsonian telescopes (i.e. reflector telescopes). If you are more inclined towards refractor telescopes, you should plan at least 500 Euro for the telescope.
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