Meade ETX-80AT-BB instruction manual Computer Control Panel, Tripod

Bubble Level: Use when aligning your telescope. When the bubble is in the center circle, the base is level.

Base: Attach the telescope to the base.

Handle: Conveniently placed for lifting and moving the tripod.

Adjustable Tripod legs: Support the telescope. The height of the legs can be adjusted. See 2* below.

Locking Ring: To open the tripod, loosen the ring and push it down as far as it will go. Tighten the ring to lock the tripod in an open position. To close tripod, loosen the ring and begin to pull upward. Close the legs against the center post (be careful not to close on your fingers). Tighten ring to fasten legs in the closed position.

Leg Braces/Accessory holders: Strengthens the legs when the tripod is in the open posi- tion. Also, you can place eyepieces and other accessories in the holes on the tray.

Leg Locks: Lift the lever to move the inner tripod leg segment in or out when adjusting the height of the tripod.

Bubble Level: Helps you level the tripod and to find North during the alignment procedure.

Fig. 4a: Flip mirror control in the “up” position.

Fig. 4b: Flip mirror control in the “down” position.

1% Focus Knob: Moves the telescope’s objective lens (10, Fig. 1) in a finely-controlled motion to focus an image. The ETX-80AT-BB telescope can be focused on objects from a distance of about 17 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects.

Note: The first time you focus the telescope, you may have to rotate the focus knob 20 to 40 complete turns as this is a fine focus mechanism which allows you to focus an image very precisely.

1^ Computer Control Panel:

A. Handbox (HBX) Port: Plug the AutoStar coil cord (8, Fig. 5) into this port.

B. LED: The red power indicator light illuminates when power is supplied to the AutoStar handbox and to the telescope’s motor drive.

C. ON/OFF Switch: Turns the Computer Control Panel and AutoStar ON or OFF.

D. Auxiliary (AUX) Port: Provides connection for current and future Meade acces- sories, such as the Meade “AstroFinder Software with Cable Connector Kit,” which allows you to control your ETX from a PC. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 33.

1& Base Housing: Contains mechanical and electrical assemblies that operate the telescope.

1* Base/Bolt Hole for Tripod Bolts: Thread the tripod bolts up through the tripod and into the two holes in the base.

1( Battery Compartment: Install batteries in this compartment. See Step #12, page 14 for more information.

2)Flip Mirror Control: ETX telescopes include an internal mirror. With the flip mirror control

in the “Up” position, light is diverted to the eyepiece in the 90° eyepiece holder (5, Fig. 1). With the flip mirror control in the down position, light is diverted through the rear cell port (4, Fig. 1) for use with the the 45° prism and eyepiece or to a camera for photography. See Figs. 4a and 4b.

2! AutoStar with attached cord: See pages 10 to 12 for a description of AutoStar’s features.

The Tripod

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3)Flip Barlow: Flip the switch to engage the Barlow. The Barlow doubles the magnification of your eyepiece. You may have to turn the focus knob several times to refocus. See page 15 for more information.

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