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Paula, Like Tom and Leon have indicated, for the similar cost you'll get either fancy GOTO electronics and a small aperture (mirror size), or a big aperture and no electronics.
So the Celestron 130 SLT is at Andrews for $799 - Yes you get a computerised GOTO system but the mirror is only 130mm (5") diameter.
A Skywatcher collapsable "Flexitube Dobsonian" 8" for $599 - That's no computerised electronics but a mirror diamter of 8" (200mm) diameter.
A similar telescope at Andrews is the Guan Sheng (GSO) GS-680 8" for $499! - Again, no computerised electronics but a mirror diamter of 8" (200mm) diameter.
In my opinion, I think it is best to learn with a telescope with no fancy GOTO/tracking features and as big a mirror as you can afford. Why? You are forced to learn how to find your ways around the sky and navigate without relying on electronics. Some people are different. Some are happy to buy a scope with GOTO/tracking capabilities, and there's nothing wrong with that. But learning to find your way around the night sky from a star atlas or even a smartphone app is a great way to learn the constellations, and where various objects are located.
Now, if you were to buy option 1, 130mm diameter with GOTO features. It's still a relatively small diameter and I could see you wanting to trade up to bigger one in the near future. You are going to be limited with the amount of deep sky objects you'll see from even the best suburban skies, such as galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. It will be a very short list. BUT, if you need ultra portability from a telescope, say, something that will fit on the floor in the back seat of a car (and that's all the room you can afford to sacrifice), then a 130mm SLT is what you need to get.
Anything from an 8" or 10" and bigger will blow you away, compared to what you've used previously.
Remember, one of the most important aspect of a mirror is "light gathering power". The more light you can capture, the brighter the object and more detail you will see for a given object.
Just my 2c
Regards,
Stephen
Last edited by stephenb; 12-07-2011 at 03:40 PM.
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