Quote:
Originally Posted by 726jenni
Hello all,
I have only just begun looking into purchasing a telescope for my husband who has indicated he would like one for Xmas. We have NO knowledge at all of telescopes and which one would be the correct one to buy. He will mainly use it for terrestrial use but may in the future be interested in looking to the moon and stars etc. He would not be using it for photography, and would not be needing to transport it, and budget would be up to $400 or so. Viewing will be in small coastal city.
I have some questions, (though i fear they may sound silly).
Would a 80mm be the starter size,
Is it right that this size refers to aperture and bigger is better?
are the ones you buy at department stores hopeless,
is a refractor model better than reflector or are they useful for varying things, and which would we need?
what are these dobs that you all say are great, is this the same as dobsonian, and would we need this type?
If you buy a telescope to look at the stars , what you see is upside down isn't it?, if so, how do you get to view things right side up, for looking at land or out to sea for example? Is there some lens or 'thing' to make it right side up?
Thank you for any help. I may have more questions but i think this will do for a start, 
Cheers Jenni
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Wow Jenni ,
such a lot of questions.

to IIS
Main use land observing, - 80mm is ok (binocs would be better !)
The 80mm does indeed refer to the aperture of the main lens (front of a refractor, but rear of a reflector). Size is everything here since you're trying to capture as much light as possible.
Department store scopes, bypass, - yes they are hopeless.
Refractor and reflector - both have their uses, but we all have to start somewhere. When you start, you want to see as much as possible. This means, by inference, that you want as big an aperture as possible. This means by inference that a dob is the way to go !
A dob (its a reflector mounted on a dobsonian mount) is a great thing to buy for astronomy, since you are getting a lot of aperture for your money. The mount is very simple, so you aren't paying much for that. This means most of your moey goes into the optics, which is good. You'll get a 6" dob for $400 ish. Look at
www.bintelshop.com.au and search on dob.
Astronomical scopes do see things upside down and left to right swapped too. But it doesn't matter. A land scope will have what's called an erecting eyepiece included. If you buy and astronomical scope and want to look at terrestrial stuff, you will have to buy one of these separately.
Hope that answers your questions Jenni
Cheers