Require input for the absolute beginner.

[ryanmercer]

Alright, last time I owned a telescope I was about 10 and it was one of those cheap piece of junk 50$ department store things... so I have no experience whatsoever... I've read lots of guides and reviews and what not... but everything is geared toward people who have already know their way around a telescope.

I'm looking to spend no more than $500... a goto-style would be really really nice... I mean, I could always use star charts and stuff... but I'd really like to start out with a goto style. Anyone have an recommends?

[Fr. Wayne]

Celestron NexStar 102 SLT for planets

too bad you prefer GoTo, otherwise
Celestron Starhopper 10

Caveat Emptor

[ryanmercer]

Celestron NexStar 102 SLT for planets

too bad you prefer GoTo, otherwise
Celestron Starhopper 10

Caveat Emptor

Doesn't have to be goto... goto would just make it a lot easier for me.

[Kaptain K]

How about a "push-to" scope? The Orion XT6 Intelliscope is slightly under $500 (+S&H). The Computerized Object Locator won't move the telescope, but it will give you directiions on which way to push the scope until you are on the object.

[ryanmercer]

How about a "push-to" scope? The Orion XT6 Intelliscope is slightly under $500 (+S&H). The Computerized Object Locator won't move the telescope, but it will give you directiions on which way to push the scope until you are on the object.

That might work... I'll have to look into that one too.

[Dave Mitsky]

The XT6 will provide much more satisfying views than a smaller aperture GoTo telescope.

Dave Mitsky

[ryanmercer]

The XT6 will provide much more satisfying views than a smaller aperture GoTo telescope.

Dave Mitsky

Cool, :) thanks..

[mickal555]

If you don't require a goto- and would like to learn the sky a good sized Dob would be a good choise- and if you like you can easilly add digitol setting cirles later(push-too).

[redshifter]

At that budget, I'd definitely look into a 6" or 8" dob as well. In fact, for 500 you can get the 10" orion XT dob. It's not push to or go to, but IMO finding objects and learning the night sky is half the fun.

[JohnW]

At that budget, I'd definitely look into a 6" or 8" dob as well. In fact, for 500 you can get the 10" orion XT dob. It's not push to or go to, but IMO finding objects and learning the night sky is half the fun.
A 10" solid-tube dob is a big, heavy piece of gear. It might not be the best choice if portability is an issue.

[redshifter]

Well, my 10" dob is only slightly less portable than my old 8". The tube length is exactly the same so it still fits in my car. Dobs in general aren't the most portable scopes in the world, but their ease of use and bang for the buck makes up for that IMO.

[Kaptain K]

At that budget, I'd definitely look into a 6" or 8" dob as well. In fact, for 500 you can get the 10" orion XT dob. It's not push to or go to, but IMO finding objects and learning the night sky is half the fun.
The XT-8 Intelliscope dob is $500 without the object locator and can be upgraded later for $150.

[redshifter]

Oops, looks like Orion's raised the price of the XT10 non-intellescope. It was 499, now it's 530. http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=93768&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=9&iProductID=93768