Re: What does it cost for a newcomer to astronomy?

["Dave Mitsky"]

Cherokee,

It might be a good idea for you to pick up a copy of Terence
Dickinson's _Nightwatch_. You may also want to purchase a copy of Phil
Harrington's _Star Ware_, the best book available on buying
astronomical gear.

Here are some worthwhile web sites to consult:

http://skyandtelescope.com/printable/howto/basics/article_263.asp

http://skyandtelescope.com/printable/howto/scopes/article_244.asp

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=ss&id=9

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

http://www.r-clarke.org.uk/starting_astro.htm

http://www.floridastars.org/telescop.html

http://www.celestron.com/education/tel4ast.htm

http://www.astronomics.com/main/category.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/How%20to%20pick%20a%20telescope/Page/1

http://www.telescope.com/content/learningcenter/contentmain.jsp?iCategoryID=29&CCNavIDs=19,22,29

Here's a link to the Purchasing Amateur Telescopes FAQ that Starlord
mentioned:

http://stupendous.rit.edu/richmond/answers/telescope.html

Dave Mitsky