Also don’t get sucked into a high tech sounding go to scope. That was the
mistake I made.
Borrowing an SJAA scope is good advice. You should also visit the Houge
Park star parties and talk with the folks that own small dobs. It takes
some practice to star hop, but it is a rewarding skill once learned.
A newer, compromise approach is to use a scope with digital setting circles
such as the new Orion scopes. These help you with the object locating, but
don’t automatically track.
S&T had a write-up on this product in the latest issue. I have yet to see
one in the field.
Rob Hawley