If you can see the moon right now .... (plus quick pic)

:yes: yep! when i stood a while longer and my eyes got used to it i could definately see an orangeness to it!

The moon is lighting up my garden, it's sooooo bright...wow!

Chris we need to talk equipment. I got very frustrated having to keep moving the scope to keep Mars in the viewfinder and also I can't keep my head still enough to stay in the correct position looking into the viewfinder. Ended up with a headache and a squinty eye. :unsure:

If you are beginning to get serious about astronomy, and frankly I am still AMAZED people are, then your enjoyment will be improved 100x by a driven computerised mount,. That way you could centre Mars in the scope focus it up nicely. Do a celebratory lap of the garden, go and get Steven up and it would still be in the middle of the lens. Plus that way photographs lie :D

If and when you decied to take the leap give me your budget and I'll sort it out :yes:

What would be a reasonable expectation on pricing?

And yes I am serious about it still. I stood in a cemetary yesterday and watched while someone was laid to rest next to a grave containing new born twins. I needed the perspective of galaxian proportions last night to make sense of it all. :shrug:

Second hand is the way to go 2-300 should get you something decent

And where does one find second hand telescopes for sale? :unsure:

what do you think of this one chris, may be the one ive always seen

Celestron NexStar 102 SLT Telescope Package

To be honest I'm lazy about finding stuff so if I can get something that will find it and just let me look that would be awesome.

Can you get point-and-shoot telescopes? :lol:

And not too many controls. Our Skywatcher needs 3 hands to keep stuff in focus sometimes. :mental: