1. Join a club FIRST
2. Read about it, all you can.
3. One of the only scopes you will buy and NOT regret getting is a DOB, personally I don't know an astronomer who hasn't had or doesn't have one.
Don't get too large a DOB that means too heavy to move about or needs a ladder to use, for me 8-10"
Get one that takes 2" eyepieces as well as 1.25"
http://skywatcher.com/product/bk-dob-10-synscan/
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