David, Thanks for your offer. I have the telescopes advertised right now, but so far, there's been no interest. If we don't sell them by Christmas, it would be fun to get together during the break and see what we can find! I just posted another e-mail with the information about our telescopes. A couple people from this group told me last spring that they weren't all that great, so I'm not expecting much! Dottie
I can understand your frustration. I bought my first telescope last year, and since I didn't know much at the time, I found it hard to use, etc.
This summer I was in John and Lisa's telescope making class where I built a larger aperture scope. Besides this class, I have done quite a bit or reading and experimenting (built a small scope in order to understand better how it works) and I am just finish an Astronomy class as well.
While I don't consider myself an expert by any means, I would like to share some of my experience.
First, the scope I got last year is not that bad. It was not great, but as I have learned this year, I have made improvements to it. Compared to last year, it works much better now, I have seen cloud bands in Jupiter open clusters, crater on the moon, etc.
The two major improvements were that I replaced the eyepieces that came with the telescope with some better ones. (I don't know what your budget is, but I am cheap, so you can find some good EPs for a relative low cost). The second major improvement is that I also replaced the plastic finder.
The third improvement was not with the telescope, but with myself. I am learning how to be a better observer - avoid city lights, learn the constellations so I can find objects, and being patient at the eyepiece, The longer you look, the more you see. (and patience is virtue)
I don't know the sizes of your two previous scopes, but if you have time this coming school break (and the skies cooperate) perhaps we can get together one evening and see what we can find with your scopes and mine, even from our light polluted skies.