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Agree with Clinton that you make sure it is a parabolic mirror if going for a Dobsonian.
However, don't get too hung up on spherical mirrors per se. Jones Bird scopes (like the small Celestrons) can work pretty well - although as Clinton's image shows, performance can be sensitive to camera placement if you want to do AP. However, even the top line Celestron and Meade SCTs - and all Maks as well - use spherical mirrors with correctors of some form, so there is nothing inherently wrong with scopes with spherical mirrors.
To answer your original question, an 8 inch Dob will be only a bit over your budget and give you much better views of the planets and the moon, but heavy light pollution will still limit views of DSOs. Will do well at your dark site though.
Last edited by Shiraz; 21-08-2012 at 01:25 PM.
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