What are good specs for a beginner telescope?

[kennethbsantos]

We would like to see celestial bodies at a close range and clearly but we are only prepared to spend about 3-4 hundred dollars

[Sam K]

Check out some of your local astromomy clubs they do nights out as groups and newcomers are usually welcome. There will be many folks there with many different types of telescopes for you to look at and thru, and usually everyone is very willing to talk with you about equipment. Also depending on the guys there someone is almost always got something they are selling or would like to sell, used for a first scope is not a bad option you can get more for less.

[David F]

$300 - $400 should get you a half decent reflector, try second hand and you'll probably get a good 6" mirror in it.

or try building one yourself, not difficult and loads of resources on the net. i've done this starting with an 8" mirror and secondary i got for £30 (roughly $60) from e-bay, bargain !

[Geoff G]

Try to get a reflector with an aperture of at least 8 inches on a Dobsonian mount. This will give you the most versatility and quality for your money. Here are some examples:
http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~VIEW_INDEX=1/~VIEW_SIZE=9
http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?class1=1&class2=106

[StarHustler]

Get one with a German Equatorial Mount. In case you don't know what a G.E.M. is, it is a mount that allows you to track any visible object in the sky literally from horizon to horizon. Alt-Azimuth mounts while simpler to use (not necessarily easier) are not as effective as a G.E.M. Personally speaking, a G.E.M. went a long way to helping me stay interested in studying the night sky and staying at it longer each night. Also, a G.E.M. doesn't necessarily add to the cost of a telescope. There are other factors at play here, too.
Visit the following website for telescope buying info. When you get there, click on the "Astronomy" tab at the top of the page and scroll down. On the left you will see a tab labeled "Telescope 101". There you will find a wealth of info on all things telescopes.

Anacortes Telescope and Wild Bird <----- cut and paste into search engine. I don't have enough posts yet to post the url.

Myself, I own an Orion Astroview 6 Reflector. (which can be seen at the above mentioned website) This is my first telescope and it has served me well. As you can see its pretty close to the price you mentioned. And its powerful enough to make the requisite Messier Objects tour (in dark enough skies) and its powerful enough to view the planets in relative detail (Saturn's rings with Cassini Division and Titan, and Jupiter's cloud bands and four Galilean moons) and some of the brighter Messier objects (Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula) under light polluted skies. The perfect beginner back yard telescope, IMHO.

Hope this helps a little. Welcome to the fascinating (and addicting) world of astronomy.