A few questions :)

[CBray]

Hi, my name is Charles Bray. I'm 15 years old and I'm very passionate to become a theoretical astrophysicist when I'm older!
I've always liked looking up at the stars at night time, and I'm thinking of buying a telescope! (I might need some persuading since it is a bit of money).
I'm just wondering if I put a few thousand dollars towards it, what type of things could I see? I don't have a fancy camera so I probably won't go into astrophotography at the moment.
If anyone is in the Canberra region (South side) could tell me if you can use your telescope in the backyard (since it's a city, there could be some city light shining upwards).
If there is anymore information I should know please share it! Thanks!

Charles.

[SkySearcher]

Hi Charles

You will certainly have no problem purchasing a decent scope in that price range. As you will be doing mostly visual observing I would recommend looking at a Dobsonian style. You could get yourself a very capable setup for well under $1000. Check out the range at this link http://www.bintel.com.au/Telescopes/Dobsonian/33/catmenu.aspx (http://www.bintel.com.au/Telescopes/Dobsonian/33/catmenu.aspx)
Something around 8 to 10 inches would give you amazing views, even from your backyard in Canberra. They will also offer some degree of portability which is handy if you get the chance to visit a darker site.

My first scope was a very basic 3.5 inch (tasco) refractor and using it from my suburban back yard in Melbourne gave me years of enjoyable viewing sessions.
The scopes at the link above will offer significantly better views than my little refractor did. Just be aware that you might want to put a little aside for eyepieces.

If you get a chance to take a look through someone else’s telescope first you will have a better idea of what to expect. Your on the right track joining this forum as there are some great threads with lots of helpfull information.
Good Luck!:thumbsup:

[Poita]

The best bet is to join an astronomical society and go to a night-time meeting and get a look through various telescopes.
The views from an amatuer telescope are nothing like the photos you see. You can see Jupiter and Saturn through a decent scope, (they will look a bit like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU0GWpwhGdo and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1-AOp8zm94&feature=related) sometimes sharper and more detailed, sometimes not depending on the seeing. You can easily see globular clusters etc. Some nebulas are visible through small scopes, but again, aren't like the photos you see, the images are black and white through a telescope, and very very ghostly in a small scope.
One way to 'see' the sort of images you see online (the lovely colour images of nebulae etc.) is to use a mallincam type setup, you could get a $1000 scope and a $1000 worth of mallincam and see the night sky in colour.
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2464
http://mallincam.tripod.com/id52.html
Take a look at the night-skies network to see what mallincam style viewing can do.
http://www.nightskiesnetwork.com/
http://tleaves.com/2011/04/04/star-tinkering-part-2-a-mallincam-tutorial/

There are a million different ways you could go, people will say to get a 10" dob, or a 4" APO refractor, or a second hand C8 or this or that, but you are lucky enough to be in Canberra, join a local group and look through as many telescopes as you can before you even think of buying one. You will meet people, get advice and get to know exactly what views your money can get you, and then make a decision.

[Poita]

http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/cas/

You can go along to Tardis Night!!