OK guys, y'all have been so much help so far, thank you! I'm going to try to see if my local college or library has a telescope (not likely but hey), but I'm going to buy some binoculars anyway. Could y'all help me pick? I have picked ones that have a 50mm aperture or better (I think). Btw, if you put a link for me, I have looked at it, thanks. I haven't found anything closer than 2hr in the tri state area. I'm still looking for "star parties" in the area. Anyway, these may be completely wrong for this, but here are some I've been eyeing:

(I know these first two are monoculars not binoculars, but they just seemed neat. The first one has some good reviews I read somewhere else, I just picked one of the same model with a tripod and stuff. I also worried that because my kid has glasses it would be better if i could use my phone to enhance the image, if thats possible in this situation)

16X52 Monocular Telescope Waterproof HD Monocular with Holder Tripod for Smartphone Dust-proof Anti-fog Shock-proof Clear BAK4 Prism Lens for Hiking Hunting Camping Bird Watching https://www.walmart.com/ip/1623626603

LAKWAR Monocular Telescope Kids and Adults, 50mm Large Objective Lens, 10X-30X Magnification Monocular with Tripod and BAK4 Prism for Wildlife Watching, Hunting, Camping, Scenery Watching https://www.walmart.com/ip/1809656423

Essentials(TM) 7x 50mm Porro Prism Binoculars https://www.walmart.com/ip/1673466977

BRIGENIUS 10x50 Binoculars BK7 Prism Bird Watching Sightseeing Travel Hunting for Adults Black https://www.walmart.com/ip/582414690

BEBANG 10X50 Binoculars for Adults, Compact Binoculars with Low Light Vision, Powerful Binoculars for Bird Watching Hunting https://www.walmart.com/ip/1152501360

NUOLUX Powerful Monocular 50X60 Telescope Portable Monocular Binoculars with Phone Holder Tripod and Compass https://www.walmart.com/ip/719408734

I hope it sparks her interest. It's just hard for kids nowadays it seems. (If not, I will at least have some fun!)

Thanks, I hope so. Not exactly a dad, but at least a better dad than her dad, so I'll take the compliment. (I apparently give off dude vibes online, lol.)

I will certainly try. I've never seen a comet, so this will be the first time for us both. There sure are a lot of apps. Any suggestions for a beginner?

I hope somebody in the area sees this and can take you up on that offer!

Very helpful information. Thank you.

Thanks anyway, but I'm WAY far off from you. Oklahoma. But I do appreciate your generosity anyway. It's great to see people showing kindness, the internet is not usually known for that.

Thanks for all the useful info!

True, but it is if you have health issues and need someone to come with you. Chronic pain makes that long of a trip have ramifications felt for at least a week, plus I try not to drive more than an hr without another adult who can drive because I have episodes where I get really sleepy and it's dangerous. Typically after a meal, but not always. I've read it's either to do with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or MCAS, I forget which. Something where your blood sugar spikes, then over corrects or something and you get hit with what I call "the sleeps". I can usually hold it at bay for 20 to 30 mins but that's it. But I do see where you are coming from. For most folks it wouldn't be too big of a thing, i just dont think we could.

That is a really useful site! Again, nothing even 2 hrs away, but I'll check with the library anyway just in case. Thanks.

Sorry man, I'm WAY out of the area. Just for kicks I Googled how long it would take, if I drove nonstop with no breaks or to get gas, to get there. Assuming no traffic delays, I could get there in 23hr and 55 mins. I don't think we are up to that! 😄Thanks anyway.

Almost any time. Not the 20th at 6pm thru the 22nd at 6m, or the 3rd at 6pm thru the 5th at 6pm, (although I think by then it may be gone already). Family is OK with us going out to their place to give it a shot anytime, and if that doesn't work out we can try to find a place North of town, but that might be hard due to the trees. I was seeing that it was up closer to the horizon, so that could be an issue.

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.

Thanks.

takes notes

Thanks man. I'm sure we will figure something out. I could go as high as maybe $60 if anyone could tell me if they were the right kind for the job. There's just so many.

I am an absolute novice, but if you have the time and feel like it, I would love to know why having a lower power would be beneficial. It seems counter-intuitive, which is why it's interesting. No worries if you don't feel like it. You would likely have to r/explainlikeimfive/ anyway.

I hope she enjoys it, we will have to see. Got her head in a book all day, (which I ain't complaining), I just think she would find it interesting. I should get her a book but I'm not really sure where to start. I know it's probably pretty basic of me, but I read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson and liked it. But even though its been a while, and memory isn't great, I don't think she has the foundation for that even. They really haven't even started much, if any, science, so most of what she knows in that department has just comes from me watching documentaries and talking about stuff. Our education here in Oklahoma is absolutely pathetic, (and that way by design I suspect, but that's a whole nother conversation).

Wow. It's been all over the internet (suggested articles and all) anytime I go online. I must have triggered whatever on the algorithm I guess 🤷

Thanks. I'm kinda computer dumb but I think I would need an iPhone and I have a Samsung, but I'm sure there is some sort of equivalent app for it. I will definitely look onto it because that's cool and I never thought about trying to see a satellite. Would be good practice because I figure you get many more chances with them, lol.

I appreciate the sentiment anyway. I don't even know how interesting my kid would find it. She has glasses but still has a hard time sometimes seeing stuff. Folks have been saying get binoculars instead of a telecope. Something about it being blurry? If I get some binoculars I'm going to get some sort of tripod or something, because there's no way I could find it, and then have her find it as well. I would have to set it up before hand.

She's 9, and she reads at nearly a 7th grade level, and she's smart but she also has adhd. Not so much with the hyperactivity, but her attention span and short term memory is bad (mine too). I think she may have some undiagnosed autism (we don't really live in a place with the best medical care.we had to dive like 3hr round trip just for a doctor to see her for 30 mins and tell us ADHD a few years back). Lots of reasons, trouble telling others emotions and tone of voice, other stuffx but the relevant thing is that issue where when you are trying to point to where a thing is and she can't figure out where you are pointing to. It's the weirdest thing, especially considering how smart she is ,(not just the parent in me talking. Her teacher says she's like, really smart.) Anyway, unnecessary tangent aside.....

I think I need to get a pair compatible with some sort of tripod like contraption that I can affix them to. I think I can find one for about 10 bucks, and it'd be small enough to move it around to see other things. More overshairing with internet strangers, but we definitely will be checking out the moon, as her name is Luna. 🌙 Hopefully we can find some decent enough to see other things 🪐 , if nothing else we can watch birds and stuff. 🐦

I will certainly give it a try!

Wish I could! We are way down south, bordering Arkansas and Texas. Not much of anything here, which I've read is good because of light pollution. Unfortunately I saw that humidity will mess things up. It's humid here even in winter so.....

Neat site. I was reading that because it's just about a swamp here that the humidity is going to mess up the visibility. Shame, because I have family in a dark blue area, and I can go like 10 miles north and be in a gray to dark gray place.

Thanks, that would be interesting to try. I hadn't really considered satellites. We are in town, but it's a small town and we have family further out of town we see every week. I figured we would try there. I don't know how to describe the amount of light pollution, but we can see the milkyway on clear nights. Heck, some nights even in town, since it's a small town.

Thanks. I see several people saying binoculars, not telescope. They say it will be more blurry or something with a telescope. What exactly makes that occur. I wouldn't have thought there would be any difference.