There was a time when you stuck a store bought telescope up to yer eye and could just about make out Mrs Miggins’ washing line next door. Now there’s Meade. And its ETX range of computer controlled beasts which can locate and view a small Mexican UFO from 6 zillion miles away in seconds. Prices range from around $279.00.

‘Now even the most novice amateur astronomer can locate and explore the planets, galaxies, and nebulae, as well as star clusters, asteroids, and comets, all at the push of a button…the…Autostar controller permits the automatic location of over 1400 celestial objects…in the telescope’s onboard database…Just enter the object you wish to observe on to the Autostar display, press GO TO, and watch as the telescope moves rapidly in seconds to place the object in the telescope’s field of view. ‘