Meade ETX 80
This is the second telescope that I've owned in my lifetime -- the first being a small red "toy" telescope when I was a child.
Nestled comfortable at the bottom end of Meade's quality line of telescopes, the ETX 80 is a simple refractor -- it sports 80mm of aperture (the opening that lets light in) and a focal length of 400 mm.
It's maximum practical magnification -- with near-perfect viewing conditions -- is about 150X, which is just enough to see the rings of Saturn and a myriad of moon craters. If you pull it back out to about 80X you can still easily see moon craters and cloud bands on Jupiter.
Overall, a great scope for beginners.
Galleries
Moon
Always a treat, the Earth's moon sports a lifetime of crater-exploring, not the mention its ever-changing appearance as we move from month to month -- from a dim crescent to a blindingly bright orb.
Venus
The second planet from the sun, the surface of Venus is cloaked by a layer of clouds. Since the planet is closer to the Sun than us, we see it move through phases -- like the moon -- from crescent to full.
Jupiter
Our solar systems largest planet, it boasts dozens of moons -- four of which were discovered by Galileo and can be seen in binoculars if you have a steady hand and dark skies.
Saturn
One planet out from Jupiter, this ringed beauty is one of the most exciting things to zero in on with a telescope. Its dull color immediately sets it apart from the surrounding stars, as do its rings.