My Telescope
Meade ETX 125
This is the Meade ETX 125 with Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) and Autostar (a computer controlled drive that automatically points to what you want to see). In 2002 as part of their 30th anniversery, Meade offered a $700 set of lenses for $99 with the purchase of a Meade Telescope. I couldn't afford to buy a telescope in 2002, but one came up on ebay a few years later with the lens kit and I won it. The area I live in is not very good for star gazing (light pollution from the city and refineries, and high humidity causes a haze), but the cold winter nights are decent when looking east over Lake Sabine. The ETX is a great beginner telescope and I can get pretty good views of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, as well has various galaxies and nebulae.
Here is the best internet resource for the ETX telescope: http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html - Mike has published a helpful book on these telescopes too.
Updated December 10, 2007