I am a fifth grade teacher, and I am looking at starting an after school class in astronomy. I am taking a course with Project Astro for the actual curriculum this summer but my principal approached me about buying some equipment for the class. I am a novice astronomer with a lx-90 , a etx 90 and a pair of 15-70 binoculars on a parallelogram mount. I am willing to use my etx and the binos and sometimes the lx-90. I have around $1000 to $1500 to spend. Most of the classes will be right after school with a few night time star parties. I was planning on buying some software, and a solar filter for any telescope /s I might buy. I lust to get a PST just so I could use it but I am not sure that is practical. I don't know how many kids may be in the class but I would probably limit it to only 12-15 per session that I will teach. Any of you that have worked with the Project Astro program your advice is welcome.
Equipment for a 3rd -5th grade class
Started by jgrebed, 04/29/2005 05:03PM
Posted 04/29/2005 05:03PM
Opening Post
Posted 04/29/2005 07:08PM
| Edited 04/29/2005 07:11PM
#2
I will throw my $.02 into the ring. I have participated in many school star parties with our club. I find that a scope with Go-To or at least tracking will have a great advantage. Without the tracking you must constantly go to the EP to realign the scope.
A nice SCT with a Solar filter and a few EPs would provide you with Solar viewing as well as planetary and DSO viewing. It is smaller, lightweight and quick to set up. The EP can be brought down to the level of the smaller children better than a Dob or a refractor with the adjustable tripod height.
I have used most types at star parties and the kids seem to gravitate toward the SCT with Go-To as they are fascinated with the movement and information the scope provides though its computer. Any child can be shown how to punch in the object desired and all they have to do is wait for it to be in the FOV. The makes it easier, more fun and allows them to see more objects in a given time.
Any Go-To would be good however, even a refractor, but Dobs require a step for shorter kids and this can be a hassle.
A nice 8" SCT can be purchased new for this kind of money.
http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=4&pid=4590&m=
And it can be found used for an even greater price and maybe get all the accessories with it, like this ad for instance.
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=348398
A nice SCT with a Solar filter and a few EPs would provide you with Solar viewing as well as planetary and DSO viewing. It is smaller, lightweight and quick to set up. The EP can be brought down to the level of the smaller children better than a Dob or a refractor with the adjustable tripod height.
I have used most types at star parties and the kids seem to gravitate toward the SCT with Go-To as they are fascinated with the movement and information the scope provides though its computer. Any child can be shown how to punch in the object desired and all they have to do is wait for it to be in the FOV. The makes it easier, more fun and allows them to see more objects in a given time.
Any Go-To would be good however, even a refractor, but Dobs require a step for shorter kids and this can be a hassle.
A nice 8" SCT can be purchased new for this kind of money.
http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=4&pid=4590&m=
And it can be found used for an even greater price and maybe get all the accessories with it, like this ad for instance.
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=348398
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