Tough choice between books or Telescope?

If I were you, I would save up a while longer till you have 500 bucks and get an Orion 12 or 10 inch dobsonian telescope. I got one and it has lasted 3 years so far, it is great for observing deep space objects and very dim galaxies. I have seen a mag 12 galaxy in only mag 5 skies with a 10 inch. The telescopes they sell are very sturdy and work great if you have a car to transport it in. I got a low profile focuser so now I can hook up a camera and take pictures just like you see in books. Check out digital Astro on yahoogroups. I'm in it and I have learned a lot from there.