Is a telescope an okay birthday gift for an 11-year-old boy?

Without knowing more specifics it's difficult to answer this specifically. One good general answer for gift giving for children is to choose experiences over things. There are times when a "thing" is a good choice too. read more

For a telescope, though, I’d recommend a little older kid. Eleven sounds a great age. Once someone can spot Saturn’s rings in a telescope for the first time, they will be hooked. read more

Best Answer: An 11-year-old is old enough to take a serious interest in astronomy, and I'm glad that you're encouraging him. David Levy, the world famous astronomer, was 12 years old when I first met him at my astronomy club. read more