beginners' telescopes and microscopes

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

DS (nearly 7) has gone science-mad this year and decided that he would like a telescope and/or microscope for Christmas or birthday. I have no knowledge of either:

Will he be able to use them at this age?

Re: telescopes, we live in a city - will he even be able to SEE anything through the light pollution?!

Are the cheaper ones (telescope and microscope) not worth having?

Will also post in "Products" too I think.

Thanks

DS1 (just 6) got this microscope for Christmas last year.

Although its small and cheap its fab.
He can use it by himself and it works really well.
No experience of telescopes sorry.

Thanks, iloveblue - that looks amazing - so many great reviews on Amazon. I am going to go for that one!

Now just to hear from someone who knows anything about telescopes!!!

I am marking my place to find out all about telescopes!
DS (age 9) really wants one, he loves anything to do with space - wants to be a cosmologist when he grows up
However, I have heard that they are v difficult to use

Most cheap telescopes are a load of rubbish. Anything you buy in toys r us etc will be a complete waste of money so I really wouldn't bother

The celestron first scope is probably your best bet for less than £50, if your budget is bigger the skywatcher 130 heritage is a good little scope.

I boughtt my 5 year old a secondhand scope and she enjoys looking at the moon through it. It's not worth spending. Lot of money on a Childs scope as with the best will in the world they get manhandled. I don't let my dd use mine !

Biboculars on a tripod might be better ? They are selling bresser 10x50 binoculars in lidl at the moment for £14 and the moon looks great though them and with a tripod you can see 4 of Jupiters moons.

Miasm I really need to pick your brain!
We DH is looking at spending up to £150 on a telescope for DS. DS (or should that be DH?) really wants one!
DS loves space, has been looking at Jupiter out of the window recently, and reads books on space all the time (v square - lol!)
We are taking him to an evening at Greenwich Royal Observatory in december when you can look at the night sky using their telescopes.
Any info much appreciated!

There are lots of different types of telescopes and lots of different mounts to put them on, I can't tell you what you should buy without know what you want.

You can buy a decent telescope for £150 though, a scope that you will all be able to use and will be able to see a lot with.

this is what I'd buy but you would need to be able to adjust the optics (collimate) as thags not someting a 9 year old would be able to do but is supposed to be easy enough ( I don't have to do it to either of my scopes as they are different types)