CONTENTSz3
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 manufacturers 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
Chapter 1: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
The Electronic Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Parts Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Assembly Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Telescope Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Quick Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Telescope Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Computer Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Electronic Controller Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
First Observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Observing with the Electronic Controller . . . .7
The Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Focusing the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Aligning the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Chapter 2: Telescope Fundamentals . . . . . . . . .9
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Choosing an Eyepiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Understanding Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Telescope Mountings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Terrestrial Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Astronomical Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Sidereal Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Slew Speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
The Electronic Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Modes of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Using the Mode Screws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Electronic Controller Modes . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Chapter 3: Polar Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Celestial Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Locating the Celestial Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Polar Alignment Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Chapter 4: Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Objects in Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
The Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Planets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Chapter 5: Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . .16
Chapter 6: Maintenance and Servicing . . . . .19
General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Storage and Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Inspecting the Optics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Meade Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Telescope Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Appendix A: Tracking Motor Speed . . . . . . . .22
Appendix B: Helpful Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World . . .23 Star Locator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
®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.
© 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation.
Appendix C: Precise Polar Alignment;
Setting Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Precise Polar Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Setting Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Appendix D: Road Map to the Stars . . . . . . . .25
Appendix E: You and the Universe . . . . . . . . .26
