When I was a kid I wanted a telescope. So one day I got together what money I had, probably the proceeds of a birthday or christmas, and went into town with my mother to buy a scope. It was just going to be a simple refractor aimed at kids, probably good enough to make out the planets but little more - not that I knew what a refractor was, let alone it's capabilities.

We got up to the counter and there on the shelf was what we were looking for. I was ready to hand over my money and begin my new career as an astronomer. I was excited!
But then I saw something else on the shelf beside the telescope... and I get even more excited!

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