Hi Malevy

I have a horrible scope at the present time, I have an 80MM celestron Nexstar, I am lucky enough to see the Moon and Sun. So I just ordered myself an Orion Skyview Pro 150MM Mak-Cass 6". It cost me with the shipping around $1005.00
My current scope is cruddy, it was $189.00 at a local Costo store and I picked that up about 4 years ago. Planets look like dots in it, so stay away from a cheap scope. Like I was telling another board member, the box for the 80MM showed these beautiful planetary photos on the box and then when you use it you get (ie: Mars) as a pink dot. The telescope I have is a refractor which I am now getting a reflector instead. I had been doing some reading on which scope is best to fit my budget. I made sure I purchased an equitorial mount with tracking, which is important for Astrophotography.

I read that the Mak-Cass scopes are really good. My new scope is due here Friday. I am using a Canon Eos 300D, you have the 40D and 30D which I am reading is great for asrtophotography, so you are set there. Pick yourself up a right angle finder for the camera as well, which generic brands run about 100.00 and the canon brand is 180.00, a remote for the camera is important as well so you dont touch the scope when you snap the photos, I bought the wired one and I should have gotten the wireless. I bought some books, the T Ring and T Mount as well, so this weekend cost me around $1,250.00 to get started between all the equipment and the scope.

Do you also have Adobe Photoshop in your computer, that is needed as well for processing your digital photos, I am learning about stacking. Its pretty fun and this is an interesting hobby and I sure it will be rewarding as well once I learn everything, its going to take some time but I will get there and so will you.

Let me know what scope you buy

Gina (starchild615)