Hello, my name is Brandon. I am very interested in astronomy, and wish I could take all of those lovely photos and observe fascinating objects, but haven't invested in a sufficient telescope yet. But hello from the west!
Hi Brendan,welcome to IIS , don't worry about anything as the sky ain't going anywhere in a hurry , my advice is don't rush into getting a scope, instead buy a pair of 7-10x50 binoculars and learn the basics and most of all enjoy yourself.
This is a great hobby that lasts a lifetime if you take your time.