I'm an undergraduate astrophysics major, but I've had some fun with amateur astronomy before. I know this suggestion will fall outside your budget, but it will eventually be the most cost effective strategy. First, buy a decent SLR digital camera. This will allow you to take nice deep images, quickly check your focus, or download them for postprocessing and printing (all in color and without having to purchase filters!). You'll want to mount the SLR on a ~10" reflector (Cass or Newtonian, not a big deal). That should give you enough light for deeper objects. Try finding things used through your local astronomy club. Perhaps you'll find a good deal. But do check the optics before you buy anything. This should be everything you'll need for years of great imaging. Good luck!
Slashdot Mirror
As an undergraduate, I recently built a Paul Trap from this paper: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1991AmJPh..59..807W It was rad! I suggest using a tesla coil to charge the particles.
I'm not sure about recommending the intro physics book I had, but as far as intro astrophysics, there's no better than Carroll and Ostlie
Hi!
I'm an undergraduate astrophysics major, but I've had some fun with amateur astronomy before. I know this suggestion will fall outside your budget, but it will eventually be the most cost effective strategy. First, buy a decent SLR digital camera. This will allow you to take nice deep images, quickly check your focus, or download them for postprocessing and printing (all in color and without having to purchase filters!). You'll want to mount the SLR on a ~10" reflector (Cass or Newtonian, not a big deal). That should give you enough light for deeper objects. Try finding things used through your local astronomy club. Perhaps you'll find a good deal. But do check the optics before you buy anything. This should be everything you'll need for years of great imaging. Good luck!
Interesting Links:
http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~optics/Lucky_Web_Site/LI_Amateur.htm
http://www.astro.shoregalaxy.com/webcam_astro.htm