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phildude99 t1_j4ibiee wrote

Search for a group in your area that does "star parties". They love to share with noobs. It's a great way to learn more.

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PhunkyPhish t1_j4ivcwu wrote

This. There are groups that will meet up in areas near Julian for example. You can see far better out there, and I have seen some really awesome telescope set ups before.

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46dad t1_j4j0yt2 wrote

This. These guys are in every city/region over 75k people.

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asdf_qwerty27 t1_j4j38hs wrote

Especially if the noob is a parent with their child... People with telescopes love letting kids look through their telescope (as long as they are old enough not to move anything).

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sidetablecharger t1_j4js8og wrote

This is true. Source: I am a person with a telescope who loves letting other people look through it.

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Wind_14 t1_j4jzsys wrote

tbh My biggest sin is Hubris, and if I have money the thing I'll be proudly showing to other people is how good my telescope is at seeing some astronomical object. I'm always tried to soothe it by thinking that hey, at least my hubris makes at least one more person interested in science, it could be worse.

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JerryWasARaceCarDrvr t1_j4l5t5d wrote

Not a bad way to be. Nothing wrong with having something nice and REALLY nothing wrong with having something nice and sharing it with others.

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Draymond_Purple t1_j4l9tyc wrote

It's good to get enjoyment out of others enjoying themselves.

Often we find ourselves more privileged than others. In those instances it is our moral obligation to share the benefits of our privilege .

Wanting because you want to out-do someone or something is very different than wanting something so you can make others happy

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baldieforprez t1_j4j4huf wrote

This is indeed the way to go. They will usually have way better kit than you would otherwise have access to.

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Plane-Bee-374 t1_j4js94l wrote

I was also at a library in a pretty small town this weekend and they had a telescope and binocs to lend out. Library of Things. See if your local library system has any you can borrow.

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FreekBugg OP t1_j4jfg5e wrote

Thank for the info, though I don't suspect there are that many in the area. Very sporadically populated, high poverty rural area. Would be great for star viewing though. Not a lot of light pollution.

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darthduder666 t1_j4jptxb wrote

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-clubs-organizations/

You may be able to find some astronomy clubs here? There are other resources online where you could find groups who meet up in the area who have star parties. You’d be surprised how many groups are out there. Even in an area like yours, especially if you live in an area with dark skies.

You could also check with your local library. Some libraries have telescopes that people can sign out. If they don’t have any telescopes, then they may know of Astronomy Clubs?

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FreekBugg OP t1_j4k5g23 wrote

Thanks. I checked the addresses for every one in the tri-state area. Closest was more than 2 hrs away. Anyone with any sense gets as far away from here as they can, if and when they can. Unfortunately I'm just a stubborn jackass,, and I just dig my heels in deeper, but I never claimed to have any sense. I'll ask my library about the telescope. I know they just started having sewing machines that they loan, so it's not just books anymore at least.

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risingstanding t1_j4kfhzz wrote

Also, this could be an astronomy club at a high school or college. May even be able to talk to science teachers of the child as they may do this stuff as a hobby at their house

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Steel2050psn t1_j4mw03c wrote

If you're in a city a lot of public libraries also carry rentable telescopes

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the6thReplicant t1_j4p9mrp wrote

Bring a flask of hot chocolate, cups, and brownies.

Not saying these are bribes but it’s a good way to get people to stop and let your kid use their telescope while you plough them with sugar.

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