comments:
Compression socks, a collapsible stool , liquid IV hydration packets, plastic flasks to sneak in booze
I have this!
The Orion XT6 last sold for around $450 before they went out of business a couple years ago, and I consider that a fair price for one now if the mirror and mechanics are good. I wrote a guide on buying a used Dob here with instructions on checking those aspects. It is the telescope I started with and I absolutely loved it. I have seen plenty of XT6 telescopes sell for around $200 or less in the past few years, but it could be months before you find another for the price you see now, or you could find an even better telescope for cheaper. It's the luck of the used market draw. One accessory that will be pretty mandatory for your kids is a stool. If you set up on grass a folding kitchen stool may sink into it too much so I recommend an accordion camp stool like this one, which will also double as a seat for you when you spend time looking at a particular object for a while. I wrote another guide on accessorizing a telescope with emphasis on keeping it thrifty that you may find valuable.