[The Mrs]

I cannot thank you all enough for all the great replies in here!

Originally Posted by Coen

My personal opinion (noting I have owned large f Final question that might help with the 500mm, 700mm & 900mm question (for example and assuming magnification is not the driver) is how dark is your night sky? If you are in suburbia then go longer as it will give darker backgrounds. If you live where there are dark skies that make everyone else drool then any focal length works.

On the outskirts of Sydney, can be quiet dark, not far from "the country" but I wouldn't say that it's super dark!

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Coen has put a very good argument for the longer tube but, I think originally you wanted a scope that would be good for bird watching as well. I would still go for the shorter tube and simply use a barlow lense to boost the magnification and to darken the background. Remember that the maximum useful magnification for these scopes is 140x (twice the aperture in mm) and this will only be on those exceptional nights a couple of times a year. This will give you a guide to the lenses to get with the scope. Magnification is the focal lenght divided by the size of the eyepiece eg. a 25mm eyepiece on the 500mm focal length would be 500/25=20x magnification (a good magnification for bird watching), the same eyepiece on the 900 would be 900/25=36x.

Cheers

Thanks! I'm now starting to think that we can just use the telescope for astro and the binos for birdwatching. So terrestrial viewing is now off the requirements!

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

Ill add my 2 bobs worth, Astronomy 2009 is a absolute must i own it myself, it explains a fair few things and starts from the start assuming you know nothing.

As for your scope there has been so much QUALITY information given. Just think of it from this way, is your hubby a compulsive tinkerer with technical skills to match or is he more the i don't care about the nitty grittys i just want to do what it is i came here for?

If its A, go the reflector more aperature lets you see the faint fuzzies remebering our eyes cannot resolve colour in much of the sky. look at the southern cross.. there is Blue Red white and yellow stars if im correct.

If its B go the Refractor little less apperature but no need for collmination easy to walk outside drop on the ground and start viewing!

As for price you have your budget, get the most aperature you can buy! that will never fail you!

Thanks, will definitely get that guide book. I guess at first he'd like to get out there and see what's around and then further down the track get into the nitty gritties and tinker around with things.

I STILL don't know what to get but am mostly thinking of the 700x900 Skywatcher.

Is there anyone that actually recommends a newt reflector?

I know that getting the biggest appeture I can afford is best, and of course the newtonians are cheaper, but most here don't recommend them!