How to spend your $1000 in less than 10 mins.
Hi Tasha,
It just so happens that I have been into astronomy for about 11 months now and happen to have $1000 to spend as well. (I already have a telescope) and I recommend the following, which, funnily enough are on the same page of the York Optical Catalogue here
http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/SalesC...0/Default.aspx
For $799 I would GRAB the 10" Skywatcher Dobsonian in a heartbeat. Leaves you $200 for other bits and pieces / accessories.
If you think 8" is big enough (NOPE, IT ISNT - APERTURE RULES) then you could get away with the 8" for $449. DONT SPEND $649 on an 8 inch DOB from GSO, the skywatcher is just as good, if not better.
My suggestion is to go with the largest dob you can get for your budget. and York Optical sells a YODOB 12 for $895 which is basically an older version of the 12 inch GSO dobsonian. THIS IS A STEAL for a 12 inch scope at the moment. Most of them are $1200 or more....
Keep in mind though that these DOBSONIANS are like a big cannon and in most cases have a tube length of 1200mm (8") - 1500mm (10"-12") so trying to take one in the car to a dark site can be difficult if you dont have a wagon or if you have a small car.
If this is the case, then bite the bullet and buy hubby a COLLAPSIBLE Skywatcher 10" dobsonian from York Optical (although Andrews has this for $899 - BUT you will have to pay freight from Sydney (less than $40 I think)) but you could probably haggle with York as they are QLDers / local and probably despise Andrews, to give you a 10 inch collapsible Skywatcher for around $900-950? Much easier to lug around or put in the car and sexy to boot.
So, after all that, here is my wish list in preferential order for you if transport is no problem;
1) YODOB 12 - York Optical = $895 see if you can get them to CHUCK in an eyepiece set for free as well, or at least the scope and the EP set for $1000 and hubby will have NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FOR YEARS, they had this on special a while back.
2) Skywatcher SW880 SOLID tube 10 inch Dobsonian - York Optical = $799, use the other $200 for eyepieces / magazines / red head torch etc.
3) Skywatcher collapsible tube 10 inch Dobsonian - York Optical = $899 -$999
Dont bother with 8 inch - 200mm, he will want more aperture WAY too soon and then you will have to offload the smaller one or live with 2 telescopes.
Make sure that York give you the black collapsible dob if thats the one you go for, they are showing it in the catalogue as a black one and this (MAY BE) a Black Diamond version which means its better than the white version.
Hope this hasnt put a spanner in it for you.
Cheers
Chris