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Good luck!
Jon
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Good luck!
Jon
Seeing Saturn and its rings is quite the marvel to see for the first time. I think the minimum aperture to see it is 4". With a decently powered binocular or telescope, you can see Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon. Mars will just look like a small red dot and won't be shiny if you use filters, but you still won't see details at all. the only other objects that are visible to the naked eye with binoculars or a scope are two Deep Space Objects- Pleiades and the Great Orion Nebula.
Also for kids, the non intuitive movement of image may be difficult to manage, a refractor is more straightforward.
One example in the same price range ( not vouching for this specific model)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RMV88BD
Review, comparison of some reflectors & refractors, and recommendation for a low cost scope.
https://youtu.be/S9AjNOCv-4I
Spoiler, the surprise winner for under $100 was a 60mm refractor (might be hard to find this specific one though)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CTZAC
Yeah - it depends on the observer's expectations. I first saw Saturn's rings through a 60mm Tasco refractor at 60x and that was special enough. Low power is king for deep sky objects (Orion, Pleiades, etc.). Outside of those, the Ring & Dumbell nebulae are good viewing because they are compact. The other objects I like are globular clusters. They're just faint, fuzzy blobs that are best seen with averted vision. With reasonably dark skies, a lot of objects can be seen without too much aperture, as long as the magnification is low enough (say 20-25x for a small scope). Makes it easier to find objects as well, and they don't move as fast for tracking purposes.
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Also for kids, the non intuitive movement of image may be difficult to manage, a refractor is more straightforward.
One example ( not vouching for this specific model)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RMV88BD
I have the exact opposite recommendation. At this low price point refractors are all junk. Optics might be theoretically better but you won't gather much light at all with them. One thing to really keep in mind is form factor. I've had this scope and have taken it with me to view a few lunar eclipses, the convergence of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. And the highlight was the total solar eclipse from a few years ago. I was able to pack this thing up very compactly compared with a refractor. Plus storing a smallish box is much easier then finding a place for a refractor. You'll keep this scope for years to come even if you outgrow it or don't use it much anymore. It's always nice to have to as an option. But of course temper your expectations. This is not a powerful scope and can be difficult to find things. Forget about finding things you can't already see as it would be impossible to find anything. The moon looks stunning through this scope and is it's best use case. At this price you really can't go wrong.
Yeah, this is probably the first scope I have seen on slickdeals that is actually worth the money. Would still suggest to get something like this but bigger, but this wouldn't be a waste of money like most refractors you see here.
I'm buying one to keep in my Jeep for a grab n go sky watcher! Should be great for next decent comet that comes by!
In fairness, I went to a 'Star Party' public event at a local park a few years ago. After you see the moon, planets and stars through multi-thousand dollar telescopes, things like this seem very very boring. With this, you can see the moon, but everything else just looks like blurry dots.
A good quality mirror can be manufactured for a fraction of the price of a good quality refractor lens, which is why newtonians are the standard "best bang for your buck" telescopes.
You also mention magnification? Magnification is a factor of the eyepieces, which every astronomer purchases more of as they become experienced. It's not even a factor in the decision. Besides, I do my best observation at about 35x magnification in my 8" dobsonian. The best magnification is a factor of whether you're studying planets or deep space.