I bought my daughter a junky starter telescope last year, and we finally tried on a clear night in January. COLD, but great views since the air was so clear. I have since given that hunk away and want to get my daughter (and her brother) a new MUCH better telescope, but I have NO idea what I'm doing. Any ideas or recommendations? It should have some kind of auto-tracking deal where you tell it where you are, and what you want to look at, and it can handle it.

Realbinky, Orion telescopes makes good products:

http://www.telescope.com/

I still have a standard telescope that I got when I was 10 (its survived How many moves? lol). It was OK, but not used much. My wife got me a more powerful eyepiece for it from Orion and it made All the difference. For what you are looking for, you'd probably want one of their sky-view telescopes. But the manual adjusting ones are fine; you don't need the motorized ones.

(My brother has one and once the motor went, the whole telescope was Useless!)

<url>http://www.telescope.com/</url>

Pick up a copy of Sky and Telescope or Astronomy and scan their ads. You'll get an idea of price and capibilities.

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whats the difference between the telescope brands

Mostly optics. The mechanical parts aren't too much different. Though there can be quite a difference due to price even within a single manufacture. The big trick is to decide what you want the instrument for. Just casual use you can get a cheaper 'scope, but if you want to do photography of detailed viewing then more money. Setting up the instrument for the nights viewing can be a consideration.

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hmmm..none of them seems to be selling to international customer.