Quote:
Originally Posted by Gundary5
In the price range you have, go the dob.
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Or a Newt. Cheap and look impressive to the unknowledgable. And good for a one off event. If there's a chance they may want to continue with the hobby go the dob, good eyepieces and a good barlow in case of good seeing conditions. Better to be prepared to take full advantage on the night than to be unprepared.
A 6 or 8" SCT goto would be good. Great magnification and useful for astrophotography too but maybe too much initial outlay for newbs? Show them Jupiter through what you have and see what their reactions are to that, mars will be half diameter I think roughly but similar brightness. Plus you can should them how the seeing reduces as magnification is increased. Give them some realistic understanding before Mars so any unrealistic expectations can be gotten out of the way.
If they just want to brag about seeing Mars on facebook about the size of their "magnification" a newt would suit.