Take it from me, someone who bought her kids educational toys for too many years.
When my kids were about 10 or 12, I wanted to get them an educational Christmas present. You know, the mini-science lab that leads to a hobby. I had been reading about incredible observational feats of 17th-century astronomers (like viewing the moons of Jupiter) with a very rudimentary telescope. Hummm, a telescope might be fun.
I called an astronomy professor, who spoke to me at great length. He asked what we wanted to view, but then the conversation quickly went beyond my basic understanding. He advised a reflector.
--I hope this won’t be another telescope that sits in a closet!
--Oh no! I assured him.
Of course, we encountered problems with the telescope. Too much magnification meant we could see surface features (not the entire celestial body). We also had a problem with calibration. Very quickly, that telescope went in the closet but all the kids’ friends had action toys that still worked.
Just this fall, my daughter and I were clearing out a closet in France.
--Do you know what this is? She pointed to long, narrow box.
--No. . . .
--The telescope!
Not only had I bought the kids an educational present, but I had moved it to France, where we had the perfect conditions for night time viewing (e.g., no light pollution) but no one to help with calibration.
So before you consider purchasing that perfect educational gift, check with me. I’ve still got a telescope in my closet. . . .
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