emerson telescope from cvs? any good?

[MamaBird06]

my 3 year old ds is very much into space/planets etc. and i was thinking about getting him the emerson telescope at cvs that's 14.99 anyone try it? Is it any good? Obviously it is for someone pretty young, so I wouldn't want to invest 100$ or mroe in one, so i i was just wanting opinions on this one!

TIA

[john of sparta]

yes, for $15 it is "good".
usually, everyone wants the bad news first, so here goes:
1. it's plastic. all of it. even the lenses.
2. it shows everything "upside down". it doesn't
really matter when looking at the moon, but don't
use it for bird-watching. what's missing is called
the "erecting prism" and which more than the
scope. therefore, that's why it's so cheap.
3. finally, the tripod is flimsy. don't "breathe" on it
'cause it will shake. most people who want to see
the moon using the scope want to hold the eyepiece
and then look. Don't Do That. just lean forward and
look in the scope. Don't Nobody Touch Nothing.
now the good news:
1. it's really really really cheap for a telescope.
2. use your "Extra Bucks" and it's cheaper.
3. you can give it away on FreeCycle next year.