I suggest checking out the Galileoscope:
https://www.galileoscope.org
a cheap ($20) telescope designed as part of the International Year of Astronomy to meet or exceed the specifications of Galileo's original telescope.

I've got a number of them -- they're great for kids and adults.

There were actually *four*, a new record for Swift for bursts in a single day. I believe a more apt reference is 'The Nine Billion Names of God'; see 'A Cosmic Coincidence' at http://www.clarkefoundation.org