Reddit mentions of Sky Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Aperature Telescope – Solid-Tube – Simple, Traditional Design – Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners, White (S11610)

Yeah, buy the XT8 instead.

(Or the Skywatcher 8". It's cheaper than the XT6 on Amazon right now.)

Hello :-)

As mentioned, a 6" or 8" dobsonian would show you the most. A larger aperture "gathers more light" and has a higher resolution.

Most telescopes you'll find on Amazon are not good (e.g. the bestseller like the 127eq is horrible). A dobsonian type telescope might not look like what you consider a classic telescope, but most money goes towards the optics, while the simple and cheap "lazy susan" style mount is as sturdy as it gets.

• What to expect in different telescope apertures: /r/Astronomy/comments/3j2wjo/what_is_a_good_telescope_in_this_budget/cum0622/
  
  
• Size/Portability /r/telescopes/comments/4ldauj/need_help_identifying_a_good_telescope_to_buy_for/d3mr0xp
  
  Most telescopes come with very basic accessories (and those who claim to have a lot of eyepieces often have a set of poor quality eyepieces). So you will need to plan in one or two more good eyepieces, such as the budget "gold-line" Expanse-clone. Avoid kits, and Plössl under 10mm due to short eye-relief.
  
   
  
  8" telescope deals
  
  
• If you want to save a bit of money, Telescope.com has the XT8 as "2nd"/refurbished regularly (not daily, but occasionally). Like right now, https://www.telescope.com/2nd-Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/p/102342.uts
  
  
  
  
• Otherwise the Skywatcher 8" has a better finder. You can sometimes find it on Amazon Warehouse Deals (under/around $300 right now, "like new", and some in good conditions, just don't get the one with the missing base!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00Z4G3PRK/ref=sr_1_4_olp?keywords=telescope+dobsonian&qid=1555237264&s=gateway&sr=8-4
  
  
  
  
• The more expensive Apertura, Zhumel and GSO deluxe already include a 2" wide-angle eyepiece worth $70 alone, plus a better focuser. https://www.highpointscientific.com/apertura-ad8-8inch-dobsonian-telescope-ad8
  
  
• Look in the classifieds :-) As long as it moves fine, and the primary mirror is not damaged/corroded/filthy (dust doesn't matter, but clean according to a tutorial if you do), this can save you a lot of money.
  
   
  
  If you're from Europe, the telescopes are a bit more expensive here. A 6" costs €249 and is your best bang for the buck (https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p7222_GSO-Dobson-Teleskop-150C---Oeffnung-6-Zoll-mit-hochwertigem-Crayford-Auszug.html), unless you can stretch your budget to get a 8" dobsonian. Here, the GSO Deluxe offer similar accessories to the Apertura.
  
   
  
  Also consider "Turn left at Orion"- the missing manual on how to observe, what to expect, and where/how to find things.
  
  Avoid computerized GoTo telescopes in the price-range. They will not make things easier, and what you can see through their smaller aperture can be easily found using a free app for your phone, that uses it's magnetometer/motion sensors to point you into the right direction.
  
  Clear skies! :-)

There you go: SkyWatcher Skyliner 8" Dob. Best bang for buck, and will absolutely murder the shit out of the itty bitty Space Probe 130 in all regards.

In before someone else mentions the used Skywatcher 8 inch dobs that are currently on Amazon for under $300. Probably your best bet.

The absolute best telescopes for beginners is a good 8 inch dobsonion. If you are willing to take the time to learn the night sky and don't need goto a good one is 400 or so new. For 650 you can get a push to 8 inch scope that allows you to tell it what you want to see and it will tell you how to push the scope to see it. True motorized ones are much more expensive

The reason 8 inches is the best starters is it's big enough to provide great views of everything from the moon, the major planets and all the brightest deep space objects. The dobsonion type scope is easy to setup,very stable, and light enough that it's not a big production to get it out and ready.

If you get a scope order the book "turn left at Orion" on Amazon. It is a great book that gives you easy to understand directions on where to point a scope any time of the year to see the best objects currently in the sky. Also see if there are any astronomy clubs in your area because they are normally very willing to help you get started

Astrophotography is a whole other can of worms and requires specialized telescopes mounts cameras etc

Below are some examples of Scopes and good reading:
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=skywatcher+dobsonian+8&qid=1569033244&s=gateway&sprefix=skywatcher+dobs&sr=8-3


https://www.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-Limited-Edition-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Bundle/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/101452.uts

https://www.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/IntelliScope-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/27/102012.uts

https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundreds-Telescope/dp/1108457568/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=turn+left+at+orion&qid=1569034887&s=gateway&sprefix=turn+left&sr=8-1

Leaving aside all the "read the sticky" responses, one thing I'd recommend is, if you see one that interests you on Amazon, check prices at a few other places like the manufacturer's website, other vendors, and any photography/etc stores in your neck of the woods. Prices can vary, often in breathtakingly silly ways.

Depending on your location it can be worth looking at used stuff on Kijiji as well; every now and then I'll see people local offloading one telescope or another for whatever reason at "you're kidding, right?" prices.

Past that, if you're mainly interested in lunar/planetary observation from an urban environment, you've got some pretty forgiving targets - if you had a 16" Dobsonian with high-grade eyepieces it wouldn't hurt your viewing of the moon by any stretch, but you definitely wouldn't need that kind of gear.

hey! My first telescopes were refractors, don't bother with them for planets. I'd have to say the sky-watcher 8inch is a pretty good start, its the one I'm currently using myself. only 385$ usd on amazon, no shipping with prime, either!
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500760446&sr=8-1&keywords=dobsonian

If you're locked into purchasing from Amazon, you have these options for an 8" dob:
$355
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/

$390 but out of stock until August 4th:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/