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binocular bollocks
Forget about telescopes, start out with binoculars. --- Thats what all telescope buying guides I've read say.
I believe this advice is totally inappropriate for people who live in or near big cities or in large towns. You will not see anything really interesting with binoculars (nothing to hook you anyway) unless you go to a dark sky site. A telescope on the other hand will give you close-up views of the gas giants that will impress every newcomer, and hook some, even in the most light polluted areas.
When it comes to going to a dark sky site, one needs to dedicate time, effort, petrol, funds... One is not gonna do this for a pair of binoculars. But having a telescope, even just a smallish one, is enough of an excuse to spend a night with the heavens away from home.
With the price of decent small (3--6", and some not so small) reflectors having come down a lot in recent years, anyone who is seriously looking to buy a telescope should be told to go get one. Binos are a nice accessory but they're no substitute, especially in light polluted areas.
Is it time to update buyers' guides? What do you all think??
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