Meade ETX Astro Telescope/ETX Spotting Scope Instruction Manual

Instruction ManualETX-80AT-TC MEADE.COM

10Fig. 5: #494 AutoStar Handbox.Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a ButtonControl of the ETX-80AT is through the operation of the standard-equipme

11The AutoStar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope function withina compact handbox. AutoStar has soft-touch keys design

12H Speed/? Key: Pressing the Speed/? key cycles through the nine slew speeds that movethe telescope. Each time the Speed/? key is pressed briefly, th

13Parts ListingGetting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first open-ing the packing box, note carefully the

148.Plug in the handbox:Make sure that the computer control panel power switch is in theOFF position. Remove AutoStar from the packing materials and p

15Manual Operation of the Telescope Using AutoStar's Arrow KeysYou may also observe land and astronomical objects using AutoStar's Arrow key

16NOTE:AutoStar requests theCountry/State, City,and Telescope Modelinformation only thefirst time AutoStar isactivated. If you wishto change this info

177. Set Your Location or Zip Code:The Location screen displays. This screen asks you if youwish to choose either the zip code of your observing locat

18Easy AlignmentAfter you initialize the system, AutoStar displays “Easy Align.” The fastest and easiest way tostart observing with AutoStar is with E

194. Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then “Saturn” and a set of coordinates displays.Saturn’s (and other planets’) coordinates change throughout

20AUTOSTAR MENUS Tonight's Best How Far is Far A Star's Life Downloaded Tours User-created ToursSolar System MercuryEtc. Moon AsteroidsComet

21It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 19).This means thatpressing the Scroll Down key (6, Fig. 5) cycles down t

22To Calculate Sunset time:1. Press the MODE key several times, until “Select Item: Object” is displayed.2. Press the Scroll Down key once to display

23Object MenuAlmost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (NOTE:Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.

24Event MenuThe Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event data-base includes:Sunrise and Sunset calculates the t

25Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotographyand tracking satellites. See OBSERVING SATELLITES, pag

26Date changes the date used by Autostar. This function is useful to check events in the past orfuture. For example, set the Date menu for a day three

27N Quiet Slew: Sets the maximum slew rate to 1.5° for quieter operation.N Max Elevation: Allows you to enter a value in degrees that sets a limit as

28Terrestrial ObservingThe ETX-80AT makes an excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescope. Viewing terres-trial objects requires looking al

29Two-Star Alt/Az AlignmentTwo-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. AutoStar provides a database ofbright stars and two stars from

3CONTENTSWARNING!Never use a Meade®Telescope to look atthe Sun! Looking at or near the Sun willcause instant and irreversible damage toyour eye. Eye d

308.Use the Arrow keys to center the object in the eyepiece to view the object. Satellite orbitschange and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle

316.With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the eyepiece for thesatellite to enter the field of view.7. When the sat

32Fig27:#827 Right-AngleViewfinder.A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the ETX-80AT. Meadeaccessories greatly extend

33General MaintenanceThe ETX-80AT telescope is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime of reward-ing applications. Given the care

34TroubleshootingThe following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-80AT.The power indicator light on the telescope does not come on o

35Meade Customer ServiceIf you have a question concerning your ETX-80AT, contact the Meade Instruments CustomerService Department at:Telephone: (800)

36Although AutoStar's database contains more than 1400 objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc.)that you can observe, you may eventually want to vi

37Polar AlignmentThe great majority of ETX-80AT owners will find itunnecessary ever to Polar align the telescope. Withthese ETX telescope models the s

38e.g., the Declination of the North Celestial Pole is +90°, with Declination South of the celestial equatorindicated with a “–” sign, e.g., the Decli

39UNITEDSTATESCity State LatitudeAlbuquerque New Mexico 35° NAnchorage Alaska 61° NAtlanta Georgia 34° NBostonMassachusetts 42° NChicago Illinois 42°

4QUICK-START GUIDESetting up the Tripod1. Open the tripod: Remove the tripod from the giftbox andstand vertically. Gently pull the legs apart to a ful

40Train the telescope motors using AutoStar. Perform this procedure after RESET or if you are experiencing any point-ing accuracy problems. Figure 33

41In the early 17th century, Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably small-er than the ETX-80AT, turned it to look towards the

42PlanetsPlanets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on agiven day or month, consult a monthly astronomy m

Part no. 14-6882-00 07/00(800) 626-3233www.meade.comMEADE LIMITED WARRANTYEvery Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted

5ObserveYou can now use the AutoStar Arrow keys to move the tele-scope up, down, right, or left. To change the speed at whichthe telescope moves (some

6Fig. 1: The ETX-80AT Telescope.TELESCOPE FEATURES1. Eyepiece2. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew3.90° Eyepiece holder4. Rear Cell Port5.Flip mirror control

7Fig. 2: The AutoStarHandbox (see page 10).Fig. 1c: The battery compartment.Fig. 1b : The computer control panel:A - HBX port; B - LED; C - On/Off;D -

8Fig. 4a: Flip mirrorcontrol in the “up”position.Fig.4b:Flip mirrorcontrol in the “down”position.ETX: Your Personal Window to the UniverseThe Meade ET

91% Focus Knob:Moves the telescope’s objective lens (10, Fig. 1) in a finely-controlled motionto focus an image. The ETX-80AT telescope can be focused