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Category: family

November 26, 2017

Which Telescope Should You Buy a Second Grader?

If you’re in the market to get your child a first telescope, and you don’t really know what you’re doing, welcome to the party! The good news is I’ve collected enough intel to make a decision. At the very least, my journey of telescope exploration should help you narrow down your own choices…

It feels like at least twice a year, there’s a once in a lifetime comet, meteor shower or eclipse that beckons the use of a telescope. My family comes rushing in wanting to see it up close… and I don’t have my telescope ready to go.

Actually, I have a bigger problem…
I don’t own a telescope.

And I’ve been meaning to fix this little glitch…
Because the next time there’s an amazing object in the sky that won’t return for decades, I want to be ready!

I’ve tried twice over the past year to do my research under the pressure of an upcoming celestial event. Both times, I failed to come up with a decision by the deadline.

Now, it’s time to try again.
And I’ve adjusted the equation a bit.

I’ve decided to buy the telescope for someone else…
My seven-year-old son!
The holidays are coming up, and I think he would love getting one.

Hello, Meade Instruments!
In doing my research, I looked for suggestions focused on the eight to ten-year-old crowd.
(My second grader will be there soon enough.)

There are still a dizzying number of choices at different price points. You can pick up a starter telescope for kids for only fifty bucks. You can also find telescopes for older children or adult beginners at the $200 and $400 price points.
(And you can certainly spend a whole lot more…)

On my last attempt to get the ‘family telescope,’ I zeroed in on a manufacturer named Meade Instruments. This company kept getting mentioned by many of the reviewers out there.
(There are others well-regarded names like Celestron and Orion.)

But my deadline was too tight to get to the finish line.

Narrowing Down the Choices
Now, let’s pick up where I left off.
Meade Instruments… check!

I want a ‘refractor’ model, which is more durable and able to handle a little rough use.
(Just being practical…)
And this design is also usually good for terrestrial viewing.

I will try to cap my spend to the sub $100 market, which is a tough one, because I don’t want to end up with a toy. The telescope needs to sufficiently handle the moon and planets…and whatever else might be passing by.
(Deep galaxy exploration will not be among my son’s first missions.)

But as a parent, I don’t want to buy an overly complicated and delicate device either!
Otherwise, it will just become a one-time-use non-starter for him.

And if his first telescope does work out, I can always get him a more advanced model down the line…

Infinity 70mm Altazimuth Refractor
So, I reinitiated my research again and guess what?
One Meade telescope keeps showing up:

 

 

 

 

 

This Infinity 70mm consistently gets called out on starter telescope lists for kids.
All right then. I’m done, right?
Well…
(There is where I start going down the research rabbit hole.)

Another Option
There’s also the step-up Polaris line to consider:

Huh?
So, it’s only thirty-five bucks more to upgrade to the next level telescope?
What’s the difference besides being heavier?

  • Infinity has an Altazimuth mount.
  • Polaris has a German Equatorial mount.
    (Yeah, I didn’t know what that meant either.)

I’m still not 100% positive, but I know enough to say this:
The equatorial mount design is better to more easily track the planets that are always moving through a telescope’s field of view, but it’s harder to set up and use. If you know what you’re doing, it’s the only way to go,
…but I expect a lot harder for kids who’ve never done this before.
So, I’m sticking with the Altazimuth mount for my son.

Please cancel the Polaris option and forget I mentioned it.
Let’s move on.

So, now, we’re really done, right?
I’m getting the Infinity 70mm.
Uhhhh…

Portability and Ease of Break Down
One reviewer mentioned that it was difficult to break down the Infinity 70 to put away, because of the accessory tray. So, I downloaded the assembly instructions and took a look…

The accessory tray screws into the center of the tripod legs, indeed making it somewhat inconvenient when you want to quickly break it down.
(There’s unscrewing to do.)

However…
The 80mm and 90mm models use a different accessory tray attachment design that just requires rotation to lock it in and then out of the tripod legs.
So, that makes it much easier to disassemble.

Infinity 80mm Vs Infinity 90mm
Okay, let’s spend a little more time with these two options that while more convenient to take apart are also more expensive…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both the Infinity 80mm and 90mm telescopes come with three eyepieces as opposed to the two that come with the Infinity 70mm.

Sure, the Infinity 80mm and 90mm models are more powerful than the Infinity 70, but that’s not so important to me as a first telescope.

Ease of use is what matters…

Who Am I Really Buying the Telescope For?
I think the Infinity 70mm would be totally fine as a first telescope for my son.
But it’s not as easy to break down, because of the way the eyepiece tray screws into the tripod legs.

If you don’t mind leaving the Infinity 70mm set up in a corner of a room, then I’d say you’re done.

But what if you’re like me and want to disassemble the telescope after every use and place in neatly away in a closet?

Then, the Infinity 80mm would do the trick. It’s smaller and a tad lighter than the Infinity 90mm, which I think would both be relevant factors for my son.

So, I should buy the Infinity 80mm.
Right?

How to Upsell Yourself
With the Infinity 80mm, I would shatter my $100 price barrier by over 30%.

Is it worth blowing the budget for more convenience and ease of use by little hands?
Well…probably.
(We’re only talking $35.)

And parents…let’s be honest.
Wouldn’t it also be nice to also get a little better telescope for the whole family?
And by the whole family… I mean me.
(Not that my wife wouldn’t enjoy a clearer shot of Jupiter.)

I’m not going to give my kid the Infinity 80mm and then say, “Go have fun with it!”
I’m the guy who’s going to be there with him helping to set it up and operate. It’s going to be a group activity for a while.

So, for a ‘family telescope,’ I’m prepared to say that the Meade Instruments Infinity 80mm definitely hits the sweet spot…for my son…and me.

Hey, if I were shopping only for myself, I’d be looking at the
Meade Instruments StarNavigator 102.
(Recommended by David Brody on space.com.)
$400 on Amazon
(Drool)

Get the Bag
You should also consider getting the carry bag for this telescope so you’ll have something to store it in when you put it away:

  • Meade Instruments Carry Bag for Infinity 80/90/102 Telescopes
  • $39.95 on Amazon

Astronomy 101 Begins Now
Even though I’ve never owned a telescope… nor have I really operated one all by myself,
I’m ready to learn, and I’ve done my research.

And I’ve made a decision!
(Phew)

I’m happy to report that after a year of trying, I’ve finally landed on the Meade Instruments Infinity 80mm Refractor Telescope as our ‘family telescope.’
(That said, I’m still open to other thoughts. Any other recommendations out there?)

Happy planet and stargazing, and don’t forget your Tang!

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November 19, 2017

The Perfect Portable Night Light for Children

Putting your kids to sleep on the road can have its particular set of challenges. If being able to create dim lighting for the perfect sleeping conditions is important to you, then you no longer need to look beyond the moon for your solution…

My seven-year-old son is a great sleeper. One variable that’s contributed to this happy state (For him as well as my wife and me) has been the use of a night light in his room over the years. It just helps him go to sleep. We’ve used different night lights and currently have one from Pottery Barn Kids that’s constructed into the ‘Rowan Base’ of his bedroom lamp. So, the lamp has two light bulbs… one regular… the other a night light.
(Clever)

But as you might imagine, sleeping elsewhere can create something of a challenge to create the same dim-light ambiance for him.

Of course, you can always take the same night light with you on your travels, but that’s not always a practical choice.

More often than not, I’ve had to figure it out in the moment whenever we’ve entered a hotel room.
(It’s not been beyond me to do a little redecorating.)

I should also mention that the whole night-light equation has become less of a critical issue of late. A slightly cracked door to the bathroom with its light on is now just fine for him.

Of course, it is… now, that I’ve found the perfect solution.
So, for those of you parents out there who are still trying to figure out an ideal portable night light to take with you, here it is…

Moonbase Alpha
It’s called ‘Moonlight,’ and it’s a battery-driven illuminated plastic moon the size of large grapefruit.

It’s not exactly cylindrical since it’s got a flat bottom, but that allows you to safely place it anywhere.
(As you can see in the photo at the top of the page)

Made by a British company called Paladone, it’s constructed of a rubbery material that makes it a little squishy. And it quickly ‘reinflates’ after being squeezed by curious hands.
(My son has demonstrated this ‘trick’ to me several times.)

The Moonlight weighs almost nothing.
It runs on three LR44 button batteries.
It fits easily into a suitcase.
And It throws off just enough light.

It’s seemingly indestructible.
It’s perfect.

And It’s $13.63 on Amazon Prime.

Q.E.D.
(Quite easily done!)

Click.

Next Generation
My son’s Moonlight showed up as a gift, and as I marveled at the little orb, I decided to do a little more research on this great concept. Of course, I found some competitors on the market…

The primary difference is rechargeable technology that allows you to plug in your moon instead of having to replace the batteries. That’s obviously a more environmentally friendly choice.

These rechargeable models appear to all be created with ‘3D printing’ technology. So, they’re not going to be squishy like my son’s Moonlight.
Also, they’re completely cylindrical, which requires you to use the included stand if you don’t want them to roll off their night table.

And they have different brightness and color settings, which is nifty.

LOL is No Joke
All of those enhancements of course make them more expensive.

For example:

LOL claims you’ll get 4-20 hours of illumination on one charge depending on the brightness setting.

Goodnight Moon
So, for occasional use, I think that any of these wonderful little orbs will get the job done. But if it becomes an often-used item in the bedroom, you’re going to have to consider the convenience of having to regularly recharge or replacing the batteries.

Unless…
…Your child’s moon also goes to sleep during your check-in before you hit the sack.
(Turning the Moonlight off after my son has entered dreamland has worked just fine for me…and him, and it really cuts down on battery drain.)

But for one-off uses as a portable night light on the road… these glowing moons are perfect!

Happy ZZZs.

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October 22, 2017

Star Trek: Discovery Has Dropped the F-Bomb

I’m sure Kirk and Spock would be a bit more than a tad surprised if they heard some of the bad language coming out of the latest “Trek” iteration.

“Star Trek” has always been about breaking down barriers.

Remember that ‘first’ interracial kiss between Kirk and Uhura in the 1968 “Star Trek” episode “Plato’s Stepchildren?” And the “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” kiss between two women (Dax and Lenara) from 1995’s “Rejoined” episode.

Now, “Star Trek: Discovery” has one of those barrier-breaking scenes that Trekkies will talk about for generations to come. It’s from the “Choose Your Pain” episode.

No, there’s no kiss in this fifth episode of the young series, but we see Lt. Stamets and Dr. Culber brushing their teeth together in their quarters and articulating some clearly intimate feelings. We have our first openly gay crew members. It’s a gentle and charming scene in a show that’s bombarded with harsh uncertainty. It’s well written and another important “Star Trek” moment that supports and builds on its universe of inclusion.

Bravo.

That, in itself distinguishes this episode as one to remember.
And it’s all I should be writing about.
(Other than we are introduced to a young Harry Mudd.)

But unfortunately, that’s not all that differentiates it.

Star Trek and the Four-Letter Word
In what actually felt pretty awkward to me, the writers also decided to throw some bad language into the script.

Variants of the four-letter ‘F’ and ‘S’ words, to be precise.

What???
(I had read this would be coming, but dropping the F-bomb still felt a little shocking.)

Look, I know that “Discovery” is a more gritty and edgy series, and there’s clearly a lot of violence.
So, what’s the problem with a few four-letter words?

We’ll, first off… it just seemed gratuitous. It didn’t feel any more significant except to inform viewers that the universal translator for this “Trek” doesn’t restrict *uck and *hit.

There are no CBS broadcast censors to worry about here.
(Hurray?)

So, I guess anything goes.
I feel it was clearly a message more than anything else.

Message received.

Daddy, What’s that Word Mean?
Suddenly, “Star Trek: Discovery” just became off limits to some younger viewers who aren’t allowed to consume R-rated content.

How inclusive is that?

Are the producers so desperate to distinguish their pay TV niche to attract only adults who enjoy their “Game of Thrones?”

I get the value proposition that if you’re going to pay for your “Star Trek,” the producers have got to give viewers more than what’s available on broadcast television.

But R-rated profanity? Really??

What’s interesting is the writers waited until the fifth episode to sprinkle in the three words at issue.

Hmmm… Actually, how bold is that?
If there’s going to be bad language here…. it should be present… front and center from the beginning of the series.

The Orville Surges Ahead
Speaking of trying to boldly go where no one has gone before, “Discovery” has another challenge to deal with. It continues to be scooped by the spoof over at Fox.

“The Orville” established its own onboard male couple (Bortus and Klyden) in its second episode. Sure, it’s a little different, because there are no females in their alien species.
(Well, not exactly)

And I’ve got to give some kudos to this “Star Trek” wannabe, which is rocking with some big-time guest stars – Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron.

I’m also really tickled how Seth MacFarlane is weaving in references (or boldly borrowing) story elements from some science fiction I grew up with… like “The Starlost” TV series from 1973 with Keir Dullea and 1989’s “Millennium” movie with Cheryl Ladd and Kris Kristofferson.

All of this is to say that “The Orville” in all of its silliness is showing lots of promise.

For Adults Only?
“Star Trek: Discovery” has promise too.

On a lark, I decided to take a look again at the first episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
(CBS All Access gives you instant access to all “Trek” episodes.)

Whoa!!
Those first awkward minutes from “Encounter at Farpoint” have not aged well at all. We Trekkies really gave that series a lot of leeway until it found its footing.

But it was a series that everyone could watch.

All I’m saying here is I hope “Discovery” doesn’t continue too far down its path of targeting adult viewers only.

A Child of Star Trek
There has always been a younger generation of fans who were inspired by each version of “Star Trek.”

I was among the first wave, and honestly, I can’t imagine being told by my parents that I couldn’t watch “Star Trek,” because it wasn’t appropriate for kids.

Now, it’s true you can make the argument that “Discovery” is already too violent for children, but you wouldn’t find universal agreement on that point.

But you just can’t get around the F-bomb.

Right?

Retain the Universe of Inclusion
I just don’t think “Discovery” viewers need the naughty language.
(One Trekkie’s opinion)

That particular barrier doesn’t have to be broken.
It will just put up another one for younger viewers.

Message to “Discovery” writers:
Please clean up your potty mouth!

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