Try the Orion ShortTube 80 EQ Refractor $289.00 thats about the cheapest scope orion offers that I would feel good about recommending.

Get a good pair of binoculars instead & learn the sky.

Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocular
8x magnification, 5.8° field of view,
7mm exit pupil, 18mm eye relief. Weighs 32 oz. $149.00

If you have to have a Telescope get a 6" dobsonian.

Meade 6" f/8 Dob $249.00 (shipping $39)

Sorry I can`t tell you what you want to hear. the 70mm will be better than the 60mm, but it will not even come CLOSE to a 6" newtionian on a Dobsonian mount.

The 70mm costs about $200 with shipping.

The 6" dob from meade is $300 with shipping.

The value of the 6" over the 70mm is incompareable. The extra $100 is well worth it for what you will get and be able to see.

You will also be able to sell the 6" scope much easier if you eventually decide to get another scope. You should be able to get anywhere from 80-90% of your money back if you take care of the scope.

You will probably have a hard time selling the 70mm on the used market. You would probably be lucky to get 40-50% of the origional selling price for it. As a matter of fact there are 2 60mm scopes on sale now at Astromart one is going for $45 the other for $25.

• RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Focuser - Ace - July 2, 2000 - 15:52 UTC