Meade ETX-105EC, ETX-125EC instruction manual #825 Right- Angle Viewfinder

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Fig. 25: #825 Right- Angle Viewfinder.

Fig. 26: The #932 45° Erecting Prism.

Fig. 30a: The #883 Deluxe Field Tripod shown with an ETX- 90EC Astro Telescope, set up in the Alt/Az configuration (tripod head locked at 90°), for terrestrial applications.

#825 8 x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder: Included as standard-equipment on ETX-105EC and ETX-125EC models, the 8 x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder (Fig. 25) permits a comfortable 90° viewing position with 90mm ETX models as well. The #825 fits into the same bracket as the 8x21mm viewfinder supplied with ETX-90EC telescopes. The viewfinder’s wide-angle 7.5° actual field facilitates object location. Precise focusing of the image is accomplished with a helicoid mechanism.

#64 T-Adapter:The basic means of photography through any ETX Astro telescope, the #64 T-Adapter threads to the rear cell of the telescope, followed by a T-Mount appropriate to the user’s brand of 35mm camera. In this way, the camera body is rigidly coupled to the telescope's optical system, which in effect becomes the camera's lens (seePHOTOGRAPHY, page 18).

#932 45° Erecting Prism: All ETX models include an internal optically-flat mirror to reflect light to the telescope’s 90° astronomical observing position. In this position the telescope’s image is upright, but reversed. For terrestrial observing with an ETX model, the #932 Erecting Prism (Fig. 26) results in a fully correctly oriented image and a convenient 45° observing angle.

#774 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-90EC), #776 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-105EC), and #775 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-125EC): For secure portability of ETX Astro Telescope models in the field, Meade hard carrying cases (Fig. 27) are fully lined with fitted foam inserts. They accept the complete ETX Astro Telescope plus optional accessories.

#765 Soft Carry Bag: The Meade soft-padded carry bag (Fig. 28) is well suited to travel with the ETX-90EC Astro Telescope. Each carry bag includes a shoulder strap and permits ready transport of the complete telescope, including accessories.

Power Adapters and Cords: In addition to their internal battery packs, ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX- 125EC telescopes may be powered from standard 115vAC home electricity with the #541 AC Adapter. The #541 plugs into any standard home outlet and includes a 25 ft. cord connecting to the telescope’s control panel. Input voltage to the telescope is 12vDC. Alternately, an ETX telescope may be powered in the field from an automobile cigarette lighter plug by using the #607 Power Cord, a 25-ft. cord that plugs into the telescope’s control panel and supplies 12vDC directly from the car battery.

#1244 Electric Focuser (for the ETX-90EC and ETX-105EC) and #1247 Electric Focuser (ETX-125EC):

Meade-engineered for smooth, rapid focusing with any ETX model, each electric focuser (Fig. 29) includes coarse and micro-fine speeds. The standard-equipment hand controller accepts one (user-supplied) 9-volt battery and focuses the ETX telescope. On the ETX models, the focuser plugs into, and is powered by, the telescope’s control panel, with operation effected through either the Electronic Controller or the optional #497 Autostar Computer Controller.

#880 Table Tripod (for ETX-90EC) and #881 Table Tripod (for ETX-105EC and the ETX-125EC):ETX- 90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models permit pushbutton tracking of astronomical objects from their standard-equipment Electronic Controllers. For fully automatic tracking, a table tripod (Fig. 16), or the #883 Deluxe Field Tripod, may be added allowing for polar alignment of the telescope.

Each table tripod includes two fixed legs and two variable-length legs inscribed with a range of latitude settings for quick polar alignment. At observing latitudes below about 25°, the optional #1422 Low-Latitude Balance Weight (8, Fig. 16) is recommended for ETX-90 Astro Telescope models; the low-latitude balance weight is included with the table tripod for the ETX-105EC and the ETX-125EC Astro Telescopes.

#883 Deluxe Field Tripod: Provides a rigid mounting platform for the ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX- 125EC Astro Telescope models. The #883 tripod includes micrometric controls for precise equatorial alignment of the telescope at any observing latitude from 20° to 90°. The ETX telescope may be mounted in the altazimuth orientation (Fig. 30a) for terrestrial viewing or in the equatorial (or polar) mode (Fig. 30b) for automatic tracking of astronomical objects.

#887 Advanced Field Tripod for the ETX-105EC or ETX-125EC: For extra stability in sensitive applications of the ETX-105EC or the ETX-125EC even at the highest magnifications, the fixed height #887 Tripod permits either altazimuth or equatorial orientation of the telescope for astronomical or terrestrial observing. The #887 includes an equatorial wedge for polar alignment. The tripod's 2"-diameter steel legs collapse for easy transport in the field.

Fig. 30b: The #883 Deluxe Field Tripod shown with tripod head tilted for polar alignment.

Fig. 27: #774 Hard Carrying Case shown with an ETX-90EC.

Fig. 28: The #765 Soft Carry Bag for the ETX- 90EC.

Fig. 29: #1244 Electric Focuser.

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Contents Meade Instruments Corporation Page Contents Slew Speed QUICK-START GuideETX-90EC Astro Telescope Telescope and Electronic Controller FunctionsETX Your Personal Window to the Universe Telescope ControlsViewfinder Computer Control Panel Flip mirror control in the up positionIndicator Light Key Electronic Controller FunctionsLight Blinking Off Getting Started Focusing the Viewfinder Using The ViewfinderAligning the Viewfinder ETX-90EC 8 x 21mm Erect-Image ViewfinderObservation Techniques Choosing an EyepieceAlignment 1900mm Power = = 26mm Telescope Focal Length Power = Eyepiece Focal LengthUnderstanding Magnification Terrestrial ObservingSidereal Rate Astronomical ObservingElectronic Controller Slew SpeedsAlt/Az Mode Modes of OperationTelescope Mountings Polar Mode To move the telescope using the Electronic ControllerYou use Polar or Equatorial mounting. By Polar Alignment Procedure Celestial CoordinatesLocating the Celestial Pole High-Latitude Tripod Leg ETX-90EC Standard Tripod Leg ETX-90ECStandard Tripod Leg ETX-105EC, ETX-125EC High-Latitude Tripod Leg ETX-105EC, ETX-125EC ETX-90EC PhotographyFew Tips on Photography Example of a format 1 photoPower Optional AccessoriesPower 2x Barlow ETX-105EC ETX-125EC Eyepiece#825 Right- Angle Viewfinder Storage and Transport General MaintenanceInspecting the Optics TroubleshootingTelescope moves off a terrestrial object while observing Meade Customer ServiceSpecifications ETX-90EC Astro Telescope Specifications ETX-105EC Astro TelescopeSpecifications ETX-125EC Astro Telescope Appendix a Advanced Electronic Controller Functions Changing Modes Using the Electronic ControllerTracking Motor Speeds Northern Hemisphere PolarAppendix B Helpful Charts Setting Circles Appendix C Precise Polar Alignment Setting CirclesAutostar Glossary Appendix D YOU and the UniverseMoon PlanetsPleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters Deep-Sky ObjectsMeade Limited Warranty Meade Instruments Corporation