Yeah I have a pair of 10x50 Bushnells... old but they do the trick. I
am amazed at dusk how many more stars can be seen through the
binoculars than with the naked eye.

I'm still keen on getting something... while the ETX-70 GOTO features
are neat it sounds like it is too small a scope.

OK... Same place that is selling the 6" Newtonian Reflector is also
selling this...

http://www.citiwellint.com/vu.php?pa...ng+Goods&age=+

a 90mm Maksutov-Cassegran with two 1.25" eyepieces (a 9mm and a 25mm)
for $189 CDN. It doesn't have an EQ mount or motor (nor the GOTO) but
it is larger than the ETX-70. My big concern is the mount... What
should I be looking for in a tripod/mount? I get the feeling that I
will want something with guides for setting azimuth,
elevation(altitude) and declination? or how how else does a newbie
end up finding things?







"Stephen Paul" wrote in message ...
Choices that you can possibly make, in order, as you mature in the hobby,
without losing anything on the investments. All of these are complimentary
tools of the hobby, which means you won't have to think about selling them
later.

#1 - 10x50 Binoculars and Terrence Dickensen's book, _Nigh****ch_.

If you like this hobby, and begin to have success using the charts in
_Nigh****ch_, then move up to:

#2 - Chinese 80mm F5 refractor (ST80) on an altitude-azimuth mounting with
slow motion controls, and the _Bright Star Altas_. Also pick up a good
barlow and a 9 or 10mm Plossl eyepiece to go with the typical 25mm Plossl
that comes with the ST80.

If you still like this hobby and have success using the charts in _Bright
Star Atlas_, then move up to:

#3 - 8" to 12" Dobsonian, depending on your personal limit for managing bulk
and weight, and _Sky Atlas 2000_. You already have the 10mm eyepiece and the
barlow from the ST80 purchase, but you should now add something in the 15mm
range.

If you are really hot on this hobby, and want to do some high power planet
imaging, then add:

#4 - Used 8" SCT on a good GEM, or well regarded Fork Mount and a CCD based
web cam.

Just some thoughts....