[Peter Kalan]

Thanks all, after much consideration im taking up your advice and going down to my local shop in the next few days to check out 10 or 12inch dob. Hopefully i dont find the damn thing to big and pick it up on the spot so i can start looking up at the sky.

Just another question regarding which brand to get... there are a few out there.

Bintel BT-302 12" Premium $900

Meade Lightbridge Deluxe 12" $ $1500

Starhopper 12" $1900

SkyWatcher Dobsonian - SW880 10" $797


Does the BK7 glass and cooling fans in some models make much of a difference?

Also, if I purchased an EQ6 mount with GOTO and put the dob on it, could I use the GPS feature to guide it as it with a skywatcher refractor or reflector scope?

cheers and many thanks to all who are helping me out here, without whom id be a lost puppy in a big world.