[KenWittlief]

I had a $100 refractor with a 3" lens when I was a teenager. I spend many summer nights in my back yard stargazing.

I agree it is awesome to look through a lens at 2AM on a cool summer evening and see things with your own eyes

but what you see though a small telescope is not very spectacular - usually its very fuzzy and very small, even with the highest multiplier lens.

It is something everyone should have the chance to do, but like I said, if you spend $200 just to look at mars next week, you will be dissapointed with what you see.