what's a good starter telescope in the $200 - $300 range?

300.00 to 350.00 is not going to get much, some some fancy features that work are so it seems .Ha Ha .!! Do your home work and good luck.

Before you buy a scope, you need to know what you want. You don't want to buy a telescope that is to big, as it will be a pain to move in and out, and you may not use it as often as a smaller scope. Then again, you don't want a scope that is so small that it can't see anything, you want a scope that is both easy to use, transportable, and is an all around good telescope.

In your price range, there are a few nice scopes, the first I will recommend, is in my opinion, the best scope to get in your range. The Orion XT6. It is a great scope with just the right size. It also has a carrying handle, which makes it easy to pick up and more around. Dobsonian mounts are the best for beginners. They are very simple and turn swiftly with ease.

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category...

I have the larger version of the scope, the XT8, and it is an absolutely amazing piece of equipment. Orion is a great company with even better customer service. You should be able to get great views of the moon, planets, and the Messiers with this scope.

A few other good scopes in your range are Orion's Tabletop Dobsonians. They make great grab and go scopes when your on the run. Although these scopes are not as powerful as the XT6, they are still very nice scopes.

http://www.telescope.com/control/dobsonians/mini-d...

Remember, when it comes to telescopes, aperture rules. Aperture is the fatness of a scope. Basically, the fatter the scope, the better it is, and the more is can see. Therefore, you always want the largest aperture you can afford, which in this case is the XT6.

Books and magazines are important in the hobby of backyard astronomy. That way, when your not observing at the eyepiece, you can be reading about the heavens. There are two main magazines in the astronomy field, Astronomy, and Sky and Telescope. Both are great, though I prefer Sky and Telescope. A good book to check out is Terence Dickinson's NightWatch. Be sure to check it out!

A cheaper alternative to a telescope would be a good pair of binoculars. The best binocular size for astronomy are 10x50's. The best 10x50's I've ever used are the Orion Scenix binocs.

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category...

Also, it would be a good idea to try to find a local astronomy club. Most big cities have them and the members are always very helpful and informative. You may also want to check if there are any star parties taking place in your community. Star parties are gatherings (usually on the weekends) were amateur astronomers camp out at a dark sky site, and gaze at the heavens with their scopes. There loads of fun!

http://www.astronomyclubs.com/

http://www.astro-observer.com/events/starparties.h...

Lastly, before buying a scope, I would recommend learning the constellation, that way, once you receive your scope, you'll know how to find things. Constellations are like landmarks in the sky, leading you to whatever you may be looking for. So many people try to get involved in the hobby, but end up frustrated and quiting because they simply don't know where to look! Don't let that happen to you. Hope I helped and good luck!

Here's your best option in this price range:

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category...

Here are a few web pages with good information on beginner's telescopes:

http://www.gaherty.ca/tme/TME0702_Buying_a_Telesco...

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

http://observers.org/beginner/j.r.f.beginner.html

For more advanced information, read Phil Harrington's Star Ware, 4th edition (Wiley).

You'll get the greatest value for your money with a Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount, such as these:

http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~categor...

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product....

Buy from a store which specializes in telescopes and astronomy, either locally or online; don't buy from department stores, discount stores or eBay as mostly what they sell is junk. Find your local astronomy club and try out different telescopes at one of their star parties:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/organizat...

I strongly recommend that beginners steer clear of astrophotography until they have learned their way around the sky. Astrophotography is by far the most expensive and difficult area of amateur astronomy.

Many people who buy telescopes have no idea how to find interesting things to observe. A good introduction to finding things is NightWatch by Terence Dickinson (Firefly). A more advanced book is Star Watch by Phil Harrington (Wiley).

You'll want to look for stability,good sized aperture, and good optics. For a beginner I would suggest a dobsonian scope. An orion xt6 would be a good choice.

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobso...