I've got a cheap Tasco (optimum mag 105x). I'd like to get something
better, but I know sod all about telescopes.


Donal, if you're willing to spend some cash, it's hard to beat a Celestron 8
for the money, in any of it's incarnations. Sets up fast, very portable and
quite powerful. There are a host of scopes out there from companies like Meade,
Orion, Astrophysics and so on. I think the best bet is to find a local star
party and try out some scopes of different designs and see what you like. Some
big light buckets (generally 12" or larger mirrors) can really make you gasp.
You might think it's worth the trouble to own one.
Ditto on Nav's comment on Tasco. If you want a low cost scope, here's one that
would bring years of fun:

http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?it...CT&path=1%2C2%
2C4%2C8&KickerID=360&KICKER

If you have some serious questions about any of this feel free to e-mail me
directly. If more people spent time with a telescope, they'd gain some
perspective and stop trying to kill eachother!

RB