Meade ETX-105EC, ETX-125EC instruction manual Getting Started

Join an Astronomy Club

Attend a Star Party

One fun way to learn about astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/store to find out if there’s a club in your area.

At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy enthusiasts with whom you will be able to share your discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way to learn more about observing the sky, to find out where the best observing sites are, and to compare notes about telescopes, eyepieces, filters, tripods, and so forth.

Often, club members are excellent photographers. Not only will you be able to see examples of their art, but you may even be able to pick up some “tricks of the trade” to try out on your ETX telescope. See page 18 for more information about photography with the ETX.

Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky & Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star Parties around the United States and Canada.

FOR BEGINNERS

TIPS

GETTING STARTED

Parts List

ETX telescopes are assembled virtually complete at the Meade factory. Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts:

•The ETX Astro Telescope with fork- mount system.

•Electronic Controller with attached coil cord.

•Viewfinder.

•Super Plössl (SP) 26mm eyepiece, packed in a plastic storage container.

•Hex-wrench set (2 wrenches), packed with the manual.

The viewfinder is packed separately from the main telescope to avoid the possibility of the viewfinder slipping in its bracket and scratching during shipment.

Assembly Instructions

Assembly of your telescope requires the following procedures: install batteries, insert an eyepiece, attach the viewfinder, and plug in the handbox.

1

2

3

6

4

5

Fig. 4: Bottom view of an ETX showing eight AA-size batteries mounted inside the battery compartment.

(1)High-latitude tripod leg hole; (2) Drive base;

(3)Alternate tripod leg hole; (4) Release latches;

(5)Battery compartment cover; (6) Battery compartment.

Install the Batteries

Assembly of all three of the ETX model telescopes requires eight user-supplied AA-size batteries and the following steps:

The telescope’s battery compartment (6, Fig. 4) is at the bottom of the drive base. Place the telescope securely on its side as shown in Fig. 4. Open the battery compartment by simultaneously depressing the two release latches (4, Fig. 4) and pulling the battery cover (5, Fig. 4) away from the drive base. Insert eight AA-size batteries into the battery

compartment, oriented as shown on the battery mounting board. Slide and snap the cover back in place. Return the telescope

to an upright position.

Insert an Eyepiece

Remove the SP 26mm eyepiece (1, Fig. 1) from its container and place it in the eyepiece holder (4, Fig. 1). Tighten the thumbscrew (3, Fig. 1) to a firm feel only.

Plug in the Handbox

Be certain that the power switch on the Computer Control panel (10A, Fig. 1) is in the OFF position. Plug the coil cord of the Electronic Controller into the HBX port (10C, Fig. 1).

Attach the Viewfinder

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

ETX-105EC or 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).

Unthread the six alignment screws slightly to fit the viewfinder through the bracket. With the viewfinder in place, tighten the six alignment screws to a firm feel only against the viewfinder tube.

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