BTW, Timothy Ferris wrote a wonderful book for amateur astronomers:Quote from Smart Money:
x2. My wife likes curb and gutter neighborhoods. I'd like to be able to see the Milkyway. We compromised somewhat but someday I'd like to have an observatory out in a cow pasture, stuffed full of collector cars. An attainable dream.
SM
Seeing in the Dark : How Amateur Astronomers Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Dark-A...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259634039&sr=8-4
It is one on my reading list.