Hi,
just ordered the Bintel 8" BT202. Thanks for the advice and by going to the 8" it seems as though I have edged into the low end of good optics etc, so I am sure there is plenty of great discoveries ahead. Great to join the club!
When living in Christchurch for nigh on three years 97 to 99, I had two great fortunes:
1. To see a brief green curtain of the southern lights over the city. I have a newspaper article on it stored away. I should find and scan.
2. Visit the Townsend Observatory a number of times, located in the gothic revival stone architecture of the Christchurch Arts Centre - originally the first university. Here is link to the web page to see the dome and the telescope -
http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/townsend.shtml
The Jewelbox cluster featured one night. In summer though, viewing is much restricted due to the late hour of real night / dark, at times, around 10.30pm.
cheers