Need help choosing a telescope as a gift?

<I would like to keep it under $50 but want a nicer quality one.> Good heavens, you can barely buy a toy telescope for that, never mind a decent real one. Give up the idea of buying optics if your budget is that limited. Carol's gift certificate idea is good. Otherwise you'll waste your money on a cheap piece of crap.

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<Best friend has said in passing that she has always wanted a telescope> I'm not convinced she really does. How much time does she spend out under the stars now, sitting in a lawn chair with her binoculars? If you can't remember her doing that, then I'd suggest she likes the *idea* of having a telescope more than she really wants to get her hands on one. If she's an avid stargazer that's a different story, but based on what you've said that doesn't seem to be the case.

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A "cheap" telescope will not be able to magnify 150 times You will be lucky to get a good image at 50 times magnification from a 90mm reflecting telescope.

They are still fun, get an image inverter if you buy a reflector so you can get an upright image of earthly objects such as a distant ship or a nesting bird

"Keep it under fifty bucks, but a nicer quality one". LOL!

I will leave it to others to gently explain.

Cheers!