I am getting my first telescope, and I am a beginner. I've done some research and I do not know whether I should get a smaller 152mm newtonian brand new, or if I should get a used 203-304mm dobsonian for a bit more money. I want to get a larger telescope because I would like to have more use for it when I get better at astronomy, but I don't really know what to get.

Larger is better, for seeing dim objects.

Is the used unit in good shape? Are you able to look through it? Will you be able to move it easily? (is there room in your vehicle?)

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"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

Well, I actually haven't found a particular unit yet.

Why don't you read all the posts under "Newby with the same old question........"
Everything you want to know is discussed there.

Phil

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If at first you fail, you're running average

I think that I have found a telescope. But I want to know if $200 is a good price for a Coulter Odyssey 10" dobsonian reflector.

Is that new or used? I know that Coulter has been around for a while, but I've also heard their quality isn't the greatest. I have looked through a Coulter 17" in the past and it gave a decent image, but IIRC it needed a bit of work to really make it usable. If I were you, I'd check out www.telescope.com, the dobs there are quite good for the $$.

That would be a good price if the mirrors are in good shape, and if you are willing to do a little work on the scope to make it better. For $200 I suspect it is a used unit and the old Coulters were pretty bare bones and needed a little work to improve them.

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"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

It is used. For telescopes larger than 6" I only have the money to buy a used telescope.

Can you take a look at it ahead of time? The best thing to do would be to try a star test if you can do that.

If the mirrors are decent, other improvements are probably low cost.

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"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

Buy the new 6". If you like it, you can always save up and upgrade to a larger model later. The reason I say this is because getting a telescope that turns to be too big or heavy to be convenient can be as fatal to a novice's interest as an outright bad scope; I think we all know somebody who has a $500-1,000 behemoth that's gathering.

In short, get familiar with the Newtonian and its ways, first.

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"Call me old-fashioned, but I think fire is magic. And it scares me a lot."

--The State

I might be able to check it out ahead of time. I also (might) be able to get both the small newtonian and the large dobsonian if everything goes okay. I don't have very much money to spend though.

Portability isn't much of an issue for me.

Here's some food for thought: If this is your first scope, you might want to consider something new and usable right out of the box rather than something that turns out to be a work in progress on the used market. You state if everything goes well you might be able to get both a small newt and a large dob. If that turns out to be the case, I'd probably go for either the 8" or 10" orion dob and call it good, at least for a few years. After you get your feet wet, you may decide on a small refractor as a 'grab and go' scope, or a really big dob, etc.

Where is this thread anyway? I could not find it.

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Energy flows where attention goes!

I guess I found it!