Talk

Agree not to get a toy one, they are useless.

For a beginner I'd look at getting a 'refractor' type rather than a 'reflector' telescope because they are relatively smaller (but sometimes longer) and the optics are less likely to be dislodged/damaged during handling. They are not so good at looking at deep space objects, but are fine for moon/planets.

A decent levelling tripod should be a must, but it may not make that much difference to a 9 year old.

I'd say these ones are probably pitched at the right beginner level.

I think it's brilliant that she's interested, so I found some links for you, hope they help!

http://stargazing.suite101.com/article.cfm/goodtelescopes_forkids (American, but if you can get them here then still applicable)

http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/Products/Telescopes/telescopes-GB.asp (A range of prices, but be warned, they don't get cheapcheap)

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=17323 (A discussion thread on this very subject!)

Hope you find something for her!

Thanks, those links were really helpful.

Currently considering this one:

www.scopesnskies.com/prod/skywatcher/telescopes/heritage-76.html

OMG, fifty quid, and you get all this....

"Even at low-power the "seas" and highland craters of the Moon will be seen (too many to count) as will the four large moons of the giant planet Jupiter. The phases of Venus (much like the moon) can be observed. At the higher power and at favorable observing times, Jupiter will appear as large slightly oblate disk in the eyepiece and it will be as big as half the diameter the full Moon appears to the unaided eye, and the central bands in its dense gaseous atmosphere will be discerned. The rings of Saturn can even be seen with this scope. At its highest power the telescope shows the Moon as an incredible ancient landscape of impact craters and intricate rills and valleys with views of the most spectacular mountains in the solar system (and all from your back garden and for less than £50!). Deep-sky targets like the Great Orion nebula star-nursery and the giant M31 island galaxy in Andromeda (over 2 million light-years away from Earth!) are unforgettable views in the Heritage 76. "

I might get one too!!