Take the 2-minute tour ×  I have always been interested in space
and astronomy (in my youth - I wanted to be an astronaut).
However for various reasons, I never quite got started. I now
want to get started - small but steadily. I live in a city,
ergo: light pollution is a problem - however, I would like to
get a telescope (maybe a second hand one but a good make), maybe
join a local astronomy club ?  In an ideal world, I will get a
"good" telescope which has the following attributes    1. Can be
extended to make progressively more powerful   2. Can use one of
the opensource astronomy packages (I am a programmer!)   3.
Allow me to take photographs  Can anyone provide me with a
series of steps to help me finally turn my dream of observing
the skies into reality?  Note: I am aware that it is very likely
that I will have to start with a small, hand held telescope -
but I like the idea of a telescope that will "grow with me" - if
that is at all possible.  share|improve this question  closed as
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