If you are wondering whether you should buy a Rolex or a telescope this year, I recommend the 7" Questar. The classic 3.5" model is of course the well-heeled a

If you are wondering whether you should buy a Rolex or a telescope this year, I recommend the 7" Questar. The classic 3.5" model is of course the well-heeled astronomer's travel scope. They are a very nice thing from a different era, for those that appreciate that. Of course, quite good Chinese-made Maksutov-Cassegrains are available if that's your thing and a Questar is out of the budget. They are not beautiful, and they are not exquisitely machined, and they are probably not good to lambda/20, but they cost about what it will cost you to have a Questar collimated and otherwise serviced.