I remember the first time I saw the moon in a telescope. It was a calm, dark night and I wanted to show my kids how to use a simple little telescope I purchased from Toys R’ Us (of all places). I had no idea if we would even be able to see anything through it because I really didn’t take the small apparatus very seriously. It was a toy after all. But after a little creative maneuvering, I finally located the satellite and was floored. I found it. I actually found the moon and I could see it with a clarity I never expected from a child’s plaything.
I mean, it’s one thing to see the moon in books and magazines, but it’s an entirely different thing to *experience* the moon in reality. The visual was simply astounding. I could see everything… the dark patches, the scratched surfaces, the craters. It looked just like the photographs I viewed in the past – only clearer, calmer, and perhaps even bigger for some reason. It was simply awesome. My children shared the same experience and for once, we felt validated in what we were taught in science.
Yet as wonderful as that experience was, I couldn’t help but wonder what else I would see and feel had I viewed the moon with a higher quality telescope. The thought was terrifyingly exciting. I wondered just how much more of the moon I would see. Would I be able to see a little bit inside the craters? Would I see surrounding stars? Would I find Richard C. Hoagland’s lost alien civilization? (Hey, we can all dream, can’t we?)
I can’t recommend introducing the telescope into your family enough. For a brief moment in time, the telescope lets an entire family share a phenomenon that’s bigger than life. Whether you’re viewing the moon, Mars, Venus, or Saturn, there’s nothing like seeing these celestial objects in person.
Nicole Miller writes for Dixons discount codes where you can find Currys.co.uk discount vouchers
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