So, realistically...

Moon is nice target. Also planets and binary stars can be observed anywhere

I think what you need is sky polution filter (CLS) or something similar. Make sure it fits your telescope first.

Hi There,
So you think the "sky polution filter" will really make much difference? Honestly, I haven't seen a great sky in Dublin ever. Down the country in Kildare was exiting with the naked eye when I was young, and Doolan one night after the pub a few years ago was awe-inspiring. It was almost as if we were IN space it was so clear.

It's hard not to shake the feeling that really, you need to have a pretty good knowledge of what's up there to get excited about it when you're basically seeing tiny dots through a 40-50mm scope.

Next time we're in the countryside we'll definitely bring a scope with us.

(The moon does indeed look amazing via the brother-in-law's scope)

Five is awfully young. Introducing the WOW! factor with the limited scopes that you have is of value but - I suspect - not something that can be pursued with ongoing profit.

I'm absolutely for the encouragement of a young enquiring mind. For the child to develop an interest there must be ongoing rewards. There must be a personal interest of the child in this subject or the child would need to be mentored - which means that you would have to develop to some degree with the child. There are some very fine books for the young on astronomy (I was impressed with one while waiting at a dentist's surgery).

I'd suggest that - yes - give the child one or more WOW! experiences with seeing what's up there - but I wouldn't invest anything significant until the child clearly developed a self-motivated interest.

I'd caution (but I am not a parent so that's a caveat) that we can't (or shouldn't) shoe-fit children into any "narrow-band" perceptions of what's good for them. Encourage the enquiring mind in any (and every) direction that you can find. This includes art and maths based subjects (patterns and the value of numbers). And I really value (but am under educated in) music - some of the brightest people I've ever worked with - or met - have had some form of musical training.

Look up at the sky with the child and in-still a sense of difference (patterns) - that star is in a different place with respect to the moon than it was yesterday - can we think of why that is?

Why are there more faint stars than bright stars?

Do you see a difference in colour between, say, that star and that other star?

Remember that really bright star we looked at on your birthday - why do you think we can't see it tonight?

Very difficult task - but full support in your endeavours.

Please forgive the rant - but I'm mindful of the fact that the young of today are going to determine my morphine levels at exit - and I want them to be as well educated as we can achieve!


Mark C.

Hi Mark,
I wouldn't call that a rant! It was thoughtful and helpful - many thanks. You put a lot of effort into it.

You're right and I think you can see that I suspect the same myself. Johnny loves Star Wars and is curious about the night sky. After looking through binoculars and seeing - basically sod all - he'd keep asking to go out and have another look. So, I thought a telescope would be good idea. BBC's fascinating and fun Skywatching programmes last week were largely ignored by him and we didn't really get to enjoy them either!

I think books, drawing, talking about it and going along to the special observation events as mentioned by Paul would be best for now - if he's interested. We can still have a look at the moon from time to time and as I said, we'll bring the better of the scopes with us when we're on holidays in the countryside.

Thanks Mark and everyone,
John

Hi Johnny,

Congrats for getting your 5 year old looking at something real and not plonked infront of a DVD like 99% of the rest of the population.

As for your disappointment at seeing just another dot, I hear you.
Yes, on one level that's all you see, another dot. Amateur astronomy can be a disappointing hobby. Many things conspire against us including the weather, massive distance and expense required for a good view.

Technically, a better scope, clearer skies and binos will all help. Regarding binos, it took me three nights to find M33 in my 8.75inch telescope (a galaxy the same size as the full moon) despite the fact that with my €20 Aldi binos I could see it fine! Problem with binos is the need to crane your neck back is awkward.

One thing I would say is that it takes time to get your eye in. What I mean by this is that visual observing (astronomy, birdwatching, geology) is always much more subtle than is shown in books or tv. This fact continues to catch me again and again.
A couple of years ago I went fossil hunting in Lyme Regis, Dorset. I had read about it and was told that the place was literally built from fossils. There were plenty in the gift shops, but I wanted to find one of my own on the beach. After about 40 minutes wandering slowly down the beach I was getting frustrated because I couldn't see ANYTHING. I assumed I was in the wrong place. Then I saw a faint impression in the rock, then another and another. At this point I realised that I had been literally walking over a carpet of fossils for half a mile before I got my eye in.

With astronomy, a similar process happens with faint nebulae. You think they are just not there until you see one, much fainter that you thought. Then you wonder "Why am I looking at this faint smudge?" Then you remember that that faint smudge is all that remains of a star that exploded in 1054 shining so brightly that it was visible during the day. Then you swing over to Betelgeuse, a bright orange dot in Orion, and recall that it is a red supergiant larger than the orbit of Jupiter and is about to explode itself, maybe in a million years, maybe tomorrow night.

Now as regards your five year old, it's hard to imagine any five year old with the patience required for anything other than the moon. Then again, the moon is a pretty spectacular thing to look at through a telescope. Combine this with stories, DVDS about Apollo etc and this should be an exciting to anyone. Jupiter is another pretty good target at the moment, clear in even in light polluted skies and it is high in the sky early in the evening, before bedtime. You can see the moons and then go back inside to see bigger pictures in a book or on the net. Saturn too, if you get up early on a clear morning, but I think your scope may be too small.

Clear skies to you both!

Philip

Fascinating Philip!

I really enjoyed your post. I know what you mean about "getting your eye in". An archaeologist said to me that if he walks across a ploughed field in an area that was settled in neolithic times - he'll probably spot something of interest amongst the stones within a minute or so.

I also recall when I lived in Kildare that many times I would see a faint cluster of stars only through the 'corner of my eye' - I could never then look directly and see them at all. I'm sure you have a term for this phenomenon.

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I must find out how charts work as I honestly haven't a clue where to look. I suspect the prominent, low 'star' that seems to follwoing the moon at present is probably venus but that's about the extent of it apart from being able to find Orion. Oh, and that big moonlike thing: the moon.