I am always looking to find fun ways to spend time with my family. In a perfect world my wife and I want to assist in our kid’s passions where it is educational as well as exciting. As my kids get older it is hard to do, but there are certain ways I can accomplish that goal. One subject that my kids have enjoyed since their preschool days has been astronomy. Ever since they went to the planetarium my kids always have been looking up at the sky at night trying to find constellations and other objects in the sky.
So when we talk about the universe and all the amazing things that come from the cosmos my kids are all ears. We would talk about what it would be like to live on Mars or the recent eclipse or what place in the world would be the best place to look at the night sky.
When I was their age I wanted to be an astronaut and I even took an astronomy class in college because I wanted to take my knowledge of the universe to another level. Now as a father I am able to use my passion and what I have learned to teach my kids about our universe.
We have picked up books and videos on the solar system in the past which is great, but I wanted up our game. I recently got a telescope from Orion Telescopes. Why did I go with them? Well since 1975 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been offering telescopes and the quality of their products are second to none.
I really like the fact that Orion has telescopes for every level. You can use Orion’s Telescope Buyer’s Guide helps you decide which telescope will be a perfect fit for your family. For me since my kids are young and are looking to start on the beginner side of things we picked up the Orion FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5″ Reflector Telescope Kit. Orion was kind enough to provide the telescope kit (along with a moon filter) — about $170 worth of astronomy gear — to me at no charge so I could use it to write this article.
The Astro Dazzle sells for a great price and has a bunch of features that made the telescope easy to use not just for my kids, but for me too. First and foremost I am happy to say that we are exploring the night sky without using an app, smart phone or tablet. We unplugged and go outside and turn our gaze into the sky.
With the Astro Dazzle we were able to see clear images of the Moon and planets. My kids were cheering when they were able to look at the Moon and see it up close and personal with their own eyes. They were amazed and so was I on how much detail we could see on the moon using the telescope. The Astro Dazzle uses it’s 4.5″-aperture parabolic primary mirror and 500mm focal length to help us be able to see planets and stars in the sky in a more clearer and crisp way. My oldest daughter loves looking at nebulas and we were able to see one using the telescope.
You get a lot of value with the Astro Dazzle Telescope Kit. The kit comes with a pre-assembled swivel base and a lot of accessories. You get the Orion EZ Finder II red-dot sight which makes aiming the telescope easy. You also get two eyepieces for different magnification options.
Use the two Kellner eyepieces that come with the FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5″ Reflector to scan the skies at two different magnifications. Start exploring with the included 25mm eyepiece and the 20x view it provides. When you want to take a closer look, insert the included 10mm eyepiece to bump magnification up to 50x for more powerful views. The telescope’s 1.25″ rack-and-pinion focuser accepts other interchangeable 1.25″ eyepieces to achieve different viewing magnifications.
You also get an Astronomy book filled with pictures and facts about astronomy. The book gives you some great tips on how you can start up the hobby of astronomy. There is also a very informative star chart to help each day of the year. The star map lets you dial-in the month and day you’re observing the sky, so you can see exactly which constellations and stars will be visible if skies are clear. Using the Orion Star Target is a great way
for starters to plan their first stargazing sessions with the FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5″ Reflector, since you’ll know just where to point the telescope!
One of the other add ons that I got from Orion was the Moon filter. Using the 1.25″ Orion 25% Transmission Moon Filter allows more lunar detail and surface features to be seen because it reduces the glare from the Moon. Especially useful for viewing crescent phases. This filter is legit and I highly recommend you picking up this filter when purchasing a telescope. My youngest was learning about the different phases of th
e moon at school and she was able to talk about what she saw using the telescope to her teacher and classmates.
Besides the fun moments that we were sharing as a family for a few nights in a row using the telescope I loved the fact that my kids wanted to learn more about the solar system. Not only did the Astro Dazzle show us a better picture of the Moon, planets and stars, but I heard less of, “Hey dad, can I play on my iPad” and more of “Dad, can we use the telescope again?”
When you are able to combine fun and learning in such a unique way to the point where it creates more time with your family is a huge win! I am glad to have this Orion Telescope in our house for many reasons. My favorite reasons are how it is fueling my kid’s passions to learn about our solar system and that it creates these family moments that we will all remember! If you are looking for a way to spend time with your family and make memories that will last a long time I suggest you pick up an Orion Telescope. Your family will thank you for bringing so much fun into your home.