How do you know what kind of microscope or telescope to get if you don't know how to work it? They're usually really expensive, so how can you be sure not to get ripped off?

Ask a real scientist who uses them both in the field and also when they teach kids!

A lot out there on the market is junk, and what's left is usually too hard and frustrating for kids to learn on. And that's the stuff most folks buy, because they either don't know how to tell a good instrument from junk or they can't afford a good instrument. Both of these usually frustrate the kids to the point of turning them off from science completely, the exact opposite of what well-meaning parents are trying to do.

So - let me show you what I use when I teach kids.

Microscope:

You’ll need to make sure it’s a compound microscope with a mechanical stage and three lenses on a rotating piece (4X, 10X and 40X) and a 10X at the eyepiece (the place you put your eye up to). Make sure it's metal, not plastic, and that the pieces are removeable and easy to clean. (Get one with a mirror (no electrical cord) if you plan to use it primarily outdoors in nature.)
 
I have used many microscopes with kids over the years, and the ones that were easiest to use and latest the longest were AmScopes and GreatScopes.

Telescope:

The kind of telescope most people want to get is not the one I’d get for my kids because it’s frustrating to use and there are so many cheap ones that it seems like a good deal... but it isn't.
 

What is BETTER than a Telescope? A pair of good BINOCULARS! Telescopes are useless if you don’t know where to point them, so instead, get a good set of binoculars (either 10x50 or 7x50), like this $35 pair from Celestron and a good star gazing app, like:

  • Stellarium (my favorite)
  • SkyView
  • Sky Safari

If you're ready for a telescope, I would go to your local astronomy star gazing event (called a "star party") and try out as many of these as you can, asking questions from your local astronomers. The kind of telescope you get will depend on what you want to look at, where you live, and what your "seeing conditions" usually are.

Beginner telescopes:

  • For kids and adults: 8” Dobsonian Telescope (easy to use, good all-around scope for deep sky objects, planets, moon)
  • For adults: (it’s going to depend what you want to look at)
    • 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain (more compact, good all-around scope for planets, galaxies, nebulae, astrophotography)
    • 90mm Refractor  (harder to use, best for planets and moon observing)

The best piece of equipment, whether it's a microscope, telescope or binoculars, is the one you will actually use.

I hope this has been helpful!