purchasing a telescope

I would like to purchase a telescope for astro and terr use. I want to spend
under $300. I am a beginner. Any suggestions and help would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks

No, haven't sold it yet, Phil....took it up to Starfest in Canada
(BIG MISTAKE)....had a few questions about it at Starfest, but no sales.

BTW, when going into Canada, I was stopped by Canadian Customs
and asked if I have anything I was selling up there? Naturally,
not knowing the Canadian Laws, I said Yes, I have a 24 inch
scope for sale...around $6000 USD....(you don't lie to Customs
officials...they have more power than God...they can order your
car stripped down and fully searched, if they really want to).

I spent the next two hours filling out forms, paying $420 USD Canadian
"pre-sale" GST tax at Customs...2 hour delay going, and 3 hours delay
coming back (to get my 'refund tax money' back...if ever.....) from
Canadian customs!!
That one event pretty much ruined my entire trip to lovely Canada!
In 40+ years of visiting countries, I have never been delayed
or stopped at a border.....including France a few years ago! ;-)

I think I will NEVER leave the good ole' USA ever again after
that episode. I've had it. Where is my $420? Now I see how
they fund their socialized "free" medicine up there...screw the dummie
honest Americans out of their money when they cross the border!!
Who would have ever thought....private, used, HOMEMADE, personal
property would be pre-taxed, BEFORE a sale, by ANY country? Private
property is 'sacred' in the USA....I can sell my used lawnmower to my
neighbor, and there is no tax....the sales tax was already paid when I
bought it NEW!!
That's double taxation! Simply an amazing eye-opener. Good thing I
didn't plan on selling my used underwear or toupee up there...I would
have been GST pre-taxed on it, too!! (assuming I report that fact at the
border, which I would have).
Clear Skies,
Tom W.




Phil Wheeler wrote:
bwhiting wrote:


It's kind of like me giving you my over $5,000+ scope....what good
would it do you? Except for the moon and perhaps a few planets,
and maybe the Big Dipper double star, would you know where to point
it with its 1/2 degree FOV? Try the very easy naked-eye Andromeda
galaxy or
the naked-eye Lagoon Nebula....would you know where they are?
No?? If not, you have a *long* way to go before a scope, my friend.


Still have not sold the 24" Dob, Tom? Must be getting desparate when
you talk about "giving" it g

Alas, I seldom experience skies where I can see either of the above
without binos. Of course, I do have new glasses coming this week; maybe
that's the problem!

Phil

No, haven't sold it yet, Phil....took it up to Starfest in Canada
(BIG MISTAKE)....had a few questions about it at Starfest, but no sales.

BTW, when going into Canada, I was stopped by Canadian Customs
and asked if I have anything I was selling up there? Naturally,
not knowing the Canadian Laws, I said Yes, I have a 24 inch
scope for sale...around $6000 USD....(you don't lie to Customs
officials...they have more power than God...they can order your
car stripped down and fully searched, if they really want to).

I spent the next two hours filling out forms, paying $420 USD Canadian
"pre-sale" GST tax at Customs...2 hour delay going, and 3 hours delay
coming back (to get my 'refund tax money' back...if ever.....) from
Canadian customs!!
That one event pretty much ruined my entire trip to lovely Canada!
In 40+ years of visiting countries, I have never been delayed
or stopped at a border.....including France a few years ago! ;-)

I think I will NEVER leave the good ole' USA ever again after
that episode. I've had it. Where is my $420? Now I see how
they fund their socialized "free" medicine up there...screw the dummie
honest Americans out of their money when they cross the border!!
Who would have ever thought....private, used, HOMEMADE, personal
property would be pre-taxed, BEFORE a sale, by ANY country? Private
property is 'sacred' in the USA....I can sell my used lawnmower to my
neighbor, and there is no tax....the sales tax was already paid when I
bought it NEW!!
That's double taxation! Simply an amazing eye-opener. Good thing I
didn't plan on selling my used underwear or toupee up there...I would
have been GST pre-taxed on it, too!! (assuming I report that fact at the
border, which I would have).
Clear Skies,
Tom W.




Phil Wheeler wrote:
bwhiting wrote:


It's kind of like me giving you my over $5,000+ scope....what good
would it do you? Except for the moon and perhaps a few planets,
and maybe the Big Dipper double star, would you know where to point
it with its 1/2 degree FOV? Try the very easy naked-eye Andromeda
galaxy or
the naked-eye Lagoon Nebula....would you know where they are?
No?? If not, you have a *long* way to go before a scope, my friend.


Still have not sold the 24" Dob, Tom? Must be getting desparate when
you talk about "giving" it g

Alas, I seldom experience skies where I can see either of the above
without binos. Of course, I do have new glasses coming this week; maybe
that's the problem!

Phil