Meade ETX-105EC, ETX-125EC instruction manual Contents

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WARNING!

Never use a Meade® ETX® Astro Telescope

to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

CAUTION!

Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backward or mix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are not followed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries void your Meade warranty.

If you are anxious to use your ETX Astro Telescope for the first time, before a thorough reading of this instruction manual, see the QUICK-START GUIDE on page 4.

®The name “Meade,” the Meade logo, and “ETX” are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved.

© 2001 Meade Instruments Corporation.

CONTENTS

Quick-Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Telescope Electronic Controller Functions . . . . . . . . .5

ETX: Your Personal Window on the Universe . . . . . . .6

Telescope Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Electronic Controller Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Parts Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Assembly Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Focusing the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Aligning the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Observation Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Choosing an Eyepiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Understanding Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Terrestrial Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Astronomical Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Sidereal Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

The Electronic Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Slew Speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Modes of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Telescope Mountings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Alt/Az Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Polar Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Celestial Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Locating the Celestial Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Polar Alignment Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 A Few Tips on Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Storage and Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Inspecting the Optics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Meade Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Telescope Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Appendix A: Advanced Controller Functions . . . . . . .26

Tracking Motor Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Changing Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Appendix B: Helpful Charts

. . . .27

Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World

. . . .27

Star Locator

. . . .27

Appendix C: Polar Alignment; Setting Circles . .

. . . .28

Precise Polar Alignment

. . . .28

Setting Circles

. . . .28

Appendix D: You and the Universe

. . . .29

Objects in Space

. . . .29

The Moon

. . . .29

Planets

. . . .29

Deep-Sky Objects

. . . .30

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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 ETX-90EC 8 x 21mm Erect-Image Viewfinder Using The ViewfinderFocusing the Viewfinder Aligning the ViewfinderObservation Techniques Choosing an EyepieceAlignment Terrestrial Observing Telescope Focal Length Power = Eyepiece Focal Length1900mm Power = = 26mm Understanding MagnificationSlew Speeds Astronomical ObservingSidereal Rate Electronic ControllerAlt/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-105EC, ETX-125EC Standard Tripod Leg ETX-90ECHigh-Latitude Tripod Leg ETX-90EC Standard Tripod Leg ETX-105EC, ETX-125ECETX-90EC PhotographyFew Tips on Photography Example of a format 1 photoETX-105EC ETX-125EC Eyepiece Optional AccessoriesPower Power 2x Barlow#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 Northern Hemisphere Polar Changing Modes Using the Electronic ControllerAppendix a Advanced Electronic Controller Functions Tracking Motor SpeedsAppendix B Helpful Charts Setting Circles Appendix C Precise Polar Alignment Setting CirclesPlanets Appendix D YOU and the UniverseAutostar Glossary MoonPleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters Deep-Sky ObjectsMeade Limited Warranty Meade Instruments Corporation
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