Do not buy either of the scopes you describe.

I have an ETX-70; I like it. It's GOTO is quite accurate and the scope is
portable. But -- it's a tiny scope with small aperture. The small aperture
captures little light and is capable of magnification only up to approx
130X -- not much. I use the ETX-70 for a quick look out the back door and
that's about all.

Stay away from the other scope because you don't know anything about it.

Find a local astronomy club and spend the next few months at the club
looking through the scopes that members will bring to meetings. Talk to
them and get their opinions. Buy yourself a decent pair of binos -- 7X50 up
to 10X50 Nikons are available at many camera shops for around $100.00; get
some astronomy books and learn the sky.

If you MUST have a scope, if you have $200.00 burning a hole in your pocket,
get the Orion 4.5-inch dobsonian reflector. Good optics, comes with two
eyepieces, reputable company -- and you can always sell it for just about
what you paid for it.

--

-----
Joe S.




"David Jones" wrote in message
om...
Hey Folks...

First let me start that I'm a beginner... so go easy on me. I would
like to start into astronomy for the kids (well, and myself). I've
picked up a couple of magazines and have started to look at what is
out there.

I think I'm down to two options...

#1 ETX-70AT ~$200 USD (eBay or J&R)
http://www.meade.com/catalog/etx/etx70.html

#2 Orbitor OR9000 6" motorised refractor. ~$200 CDN (local discount
warehouse)
http://www.citiwellint.com/manuals/O...RevSep1603.pdf

Here are my goals and guidlines...

A/. Something easy to use. I want something easy to use, so I like
the idea of the ETX70, calibrate and then enter the "GOTO" number and
boom you are in business. That kind of ease really apeals to me. Now
I should mention that I do have a nice PalmOS based skymap program
called "Planetarium" that has a library of all sorts of objects and
there position... if you know the position of an object is it just a
simple matter of moving your scope to that position? or is there more
involved... I don't want to be wasting all my time trying to find
things.

B/. Power. I'm not so interested in planetary viewing... I like the
idea of being able to "deep sky" objects like nebulae, stars,
galaxies, etc... but that being said... I would occasionly look at
planets... the upcomming commets and satellites

C/. Flexibility. I would eventually like to get a "Scopetronix"
adaptor for my Sony CD400 Mavica camera... and try some photography.
Now the Sony will only allow for a 8 sec exposure maximum (at f2.1-f8)
so It may be fruitless... although I took some great exposure shots
of the North Lights last year after the big solar flares. My concern
is the weight of the camera and the motor on the scope. Is the ETX70
motor strong enough to move with a digital camera attached? The 6"
Newtonian I'm thinking about has all sorts of counter balances... but
I don't know how strong its motor is...

So what are your thoughts everyone? I've heard tell of "apperature
fever"... so am I better off with the Orbitor 6" Newtonian? or Will I
be spending all me time trying to find things, so am I better off with
an ETX70?