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I'm a newbie too, but have a few scopes now due to the learning curve, and they seem to be better suited for different things you might want to look at. The one I just grab on an inpulse if there is a gap in the clouds is my "refractor". The refractor tube looks like your traditional telescope, it is sealed so nothing to clean if you used a lens cap, and nothing to adjust "collimation" due to bumps if you have a scope that uses mirrors. Just pull it out of the cupboard and go .. Equatorial mounts have the advantage of being able to track objects as the earth moves once aligned to north (use your iphone compass). New, my 90mm, it should have cost $289 street price (rrp $480), I bought mine used inc postage $120, should have bought a new one for the price difference with no dust and all accessories, the eyepiece ($30 extra used). I have since bought more gear, BUT the refractor is still robust, easy to keep clean, and quick and easy to use. Go to a club if you can and have a look at a few, unless you are time poor like me and just do it on an inpulse when the sky is clear. Wear sunglasses if looking at the moon or use a filter, full moon can get bright once magnified.
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