skywatcher 8" schmitd cassegrain

is the skywatcher 8" schmidt cassegrain a good scope for the money? what can I expect to see thru this scope?

Hi

Yes, it is a well made scope.

It's not really about WHAT you can see with a telescope; it's a matter of how much you can see and that, in turn, is about telescope size, in terms of the size of the lens or mirror. A small telescope can see exactly the same TYPES of objects - moon, planets, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters - as a large telescope, it just can't see as many of them or as much detail as a large telescope. If you are a beginner, it is important to understand that a larger scope is a better choice if you want to maintain an interest in astronomy.

See my article, my article How to choose the right telescope This discusses the pros and cons of each type of mount and more.