Meade ETX-125EC ETX Your Personal Window to the Universe, Telescope Controls, Viewfinder

ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe

The Meade ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and the ETX-125EC are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes with features similar to those once available only with larger and more specialized imaging systems. With pushbutton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects (with one of the optional tripods), and diffraction-limited imaging, an ETX telescope may be all the telescope ever required by many terrestrial and astronomical observers.

Your ETX telescope reveals nature in an ever-expanding level of detail. Observe the feather structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of 800 million miles. Focus beyond the Solar System and observe majestic nebulae, ancient star clusters, remote galaxies, and even stars recently discovered to have planets orbiting about them. Meade ETX telescopes are instruments fully capable of growing with your interest and are ideal for both the casual observer and serious astronomer alike.

Telescope Controls

An important array of features and manual controls facilitates operation of an ETX telescope. Be sure to become acquainted with all of these controls before attempting observations through the telescope.

Eyepiece - Place the supplied SP 26mm eyepiece into the 90° Eyepiece Holder (4, Fig. 1) and tighten in place with thumbscrew (3, Fig.1).

Viewfinder -

a.ETX-90EC: 8 x 21mm Viewfinder: Slide the eyepiece end of the viewfinder through the front of the viewfinder bracket (1, Fig. 5).

b.ETX-105EC, ETX-125EC: 8 x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder: Slide the front cell end of the right-angle viewfinder through the rear of the viewfinder bracket (2, Fig. 5).

Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew - Tightens the eyepiece in place. Tighten to a firm feel only.

90° Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing.

Optical Tube - The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece.

Vertical Lock - Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the vertical lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the vertical axis. Turning the vertical lock clockwise (to a firm feel only) prevents the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the vertical motor drive clutch for Electronic Controller operation. When polar aligned, the vertical lock serves as the Declination, or Dec. lock (see DECLINATION, page 16).

Note: The vertical lock knob is a knurled knob located on the fork arm to the right of the focus knob (8, Fig. 1). Mounted beneath the knob is a circular scale with no numbers. Do not confuse this scale with the Dec. setting circle (16, Fig. 1) on the opposite fork arm which has a numbered scale used to locate astronomical objects.

CAUTION: When loosening the vertical lock, be sure to support the optical tube (5, Fig. 1). The tube may swing downward suddenly and damage the telescope.

Fork Arms - Hold the optical tube in place.

Note: The telescope base and fork mount are designed with internal “rotational limit stops.” The horizontal limit stop prevents the telescope from rotating more than 360° to avoid damage to the internal wiring. The vertical limit stop prevents the viewfinder from contacting the fork mount when the telescope is pointed upward just past 90° and prevents the optical tube from contacting the base if pointed downward more than 30°. Do not force the telescope to move beyond these stops or damage to the telescope will result.

Focus Knob - Moves the telescope’s optical tube (5, Fig. 1) in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus. The ETX telescopes can be focused on objects from a distance of about 11.5 ft (ETX-90EC) or 15 ft (ETX-105EC or ETX-125EC) to infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects.

Horizontal Lock - Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Loosen the horizontal lock counterclockwise to unlock the telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the horizontal axis. Tightening the horizontal lock clockwise prevents the telescope from being rotated manually, but engages the horizontal motor drive clutch for Electronic Controller operation. When polar aligned, the horizontal lock serves as the Right Ascension, or R.A. lock (see RIGHT ASCENSION, page 16).

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