You should plan on spending around $400 for a good first telescope for visual use and related accessories. As redshifter mentioned, an 8" f/6 Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount is an excellent choice for a great many beginning observers.

If you don't already own a binocular, purchase one. A binocular is a very valuable asset. See my sticky post for information on binocular observing.

Here are some other web sites that have useful information on choosing a first telescope.

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=ss&id=9

http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_241_1.asp

http://www.company7.com/library/begin.html

http://stupendous.rit.edu/richmond/a...telescope.html

http://www.r-clarke.org.uk/starting_astro.htm

http://www.floridastars.org/telescop.html

http://www.celestron.com/c2/esupport..._j=subcat&_i=4

http://www.astronomics.com/main/cate...lescope/Page/1

Astrophotography/imaging, other than simple afocal "snapshots" (pictures taken with a camera held close to the telescope eyepiece) of bright objects like the Moon, is going to require a rather large expenditure. It is also a rather complicated undertaking and is probably not a good idea for the majority of beginners despite, as well as because of, the innovations that digital cameras have engendered.

An 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with an appropriately beefy mount, which is more important than the telescope itself when it comes to imaging, is something to consider if you're really serious about it. Expect to spend at least three or four times (or more) the $400 visual telescope figure for a suitable rig.

You should consult these sites to get a feel for what astrophotography is all about:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaver...29/primer.html

http://www.eclipsechaser.com/eclink/...c/aphotsmt.htm

http://www.astronomyforbeginners.com/astrophotography/

http://www.geologynet.com/astronomy/...hotography.htm

http://www.fvastro.org/articles/digital/

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/TOC_AP.HTM

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/...300Dastro.html

Michael Covington's book Astrophotography for the Amateur is very highly recommended.

Dave Mitsky

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