Well I've tracked down a star party, and narrowed my decision to two:

[GRX40]

I took the advice of many and did my homework. I located a group in my area and looked into a couple of beginner books.

Anyway so I've narrowed it down to the affordable celestron dob or the slightly more expensive orion X8 intelliscope.

But do you think an absolute beginner should be getting a computerized 8" scope? Or do you think I should go with the cheaper celestron 8" dob without a finder. I think I would have a hard time trying to find certain nebulae and such, it seemes pretty intimidating.

[aurora]

That's a decision you will have to make. Do you get more frustrated when you are looking for something and you can't find it right away, or when you are trying to get an electronic device to work properly in the cold and dark? :-)

Although, with the Orion, you could always add the digital setting circles later as they sell the control separately. In either case, a Telrad or something similar is a must.

Try "Turn Left at Orion", if you haven't already. It presents instructions on finding the best objects, and does it in a simple and straightforward manner.

Sounds like you are on the right track!

[Dave Mitsky]

_Star-Hopping For Backyard Astronomers_ by Alan MacRobert is a great book for learning the technique of star-hopping.

Also highly recommended is Terence Dickinson's _Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe_.

Dave Mitsky

[randb]

Try www.astromart.com They have tons of dobs there...at amazingly cheap prices. Its a classifieds website for telescopes and accessories (mostly used).

[jt-3d]

I have a hard time star hopping because my sky is so bright that I can't see enough stars to hop. Plus I'm lazy. About the only thing I know how to find is Andromeda but I'm okay with that. If you get a goto you can try star hopping but if you don't have goto you have no choice. One problem I have with a goto is that I goto one object after another and never stay long enough to really look at it. Of course, with the push of a few buttons I can goback.

[mickal555]

It's nice to learn your way around the sky- I think goto's are cheating! :p

If you go with the cheaper Dob' you could probobly get some good quality eyepeices and a telrad.

[andyschlei]

Goto is critical if you live in a light polluted area. You'll enjoy the scope much more since you'll be able to find things that are visible through the light pollution, but too hard to find through it.

--Andy

[JohnW]

I was a fundamentalist star-hopper until about six months ago, when I cracked and got Argo Navis digital setting circles for my refractor. Under urban skies, they make a huge difference, especially in areas of the sky which are a long way from easily-recognised stars. I enjoy star-hopping and still do it occasionally, but sometimes I want to just get straight to where I want to go.

One of the nice things about DSCs is that they're optional - when I'm planning a Moon-and-planets evening, or feel like star-hopping, they stay in the house and I save a few minutes' set-up time. (If you can't find the Moon without help, you realy shouldn't be outside on your own).

[redshifter]

But do you think an absolute beginner should be getting a computerized 8" scope?

IMO, finding objects is half the fun, though I rarely do any serious observing from a light polluted sky, where goto might be of more use.