What kind of telescope should I buy, and where are good places to observe the night sky?

Dear John,

My personal favorite for casual astronomy is a good pair of
binoculars. What telescope is right for you depends entirely on what
you like to do. For instance, if you hunt for comets you want a
rich-field scope with a large mirror, but if you photograph planets
and the moon, a long-focus refractor might be a better choice.

If you want good sky conditions, go somewhere there are several
professional observatories close together: you know they have done
their homework. Within the contiguous United States, mountain regions
in Arizona or New Mexico would be good choices.

Best wishes,
-Neal.

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