Meade ETX-90PE instruction manual Contents

WARNING!

Never use a Meade® ETX® PE 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 at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

Caution: Use care to install batteries in the orientation indicated by illustration in the battery slots of the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards 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 telescope for the first time, read the QUICK-START GUIDE on pages 4 and 5.

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

“LNT [Level North Technology],” “SmartFinder,” “Deep Sky Imager,” “LPI,” and “Tonight’s Best” are trademarks of Meade Instruments Corporation.

Patents:

US 6,304,376

US 6,392,799

US 6,563,636

D422,610 Patent Pending

© 2004 Meade Instruments Corporation.

CONTENTS
Quick-Start Guide	4
Telescope Features	6
AutoStar Features	9
Getting Started	12
Parts Listing	12
How to Assemble Your Telescope & Tripod	12
Using SmartFinder, Aligning SmartFinder	13
Choosing an Eyepiece	14
Observing	15
Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually	15
Terrestrial Observing	15
Observing Using AutoStar's Arrow Keys	15
Slew Speeds	16
Astronomical Observing, Observe the Moon	16
To Track an Object Automatically	16
Moving Through AutoStar’s Menus	16
Initializing AutoStar for the First Time	17
Automatic Alignment	17
Observe a Star Using Automatic Tracking	18
Go To Saturn, Using the Guided Tour	19
Basic AutoStar Operation	20
AutoStar Navigation Exercise	20
Entering Data, Moving Through AutoStar’s Menus ..	21
AutoStar Menus	22
Menu Tree	22
Objects Menu	23
Event Menu, Glossary Menu	24
Utilities Menu	25
Setup Menu	26
Advanced AutoStar Operation	29
Adding Observing Sites	29
Finding Objects Not in the Database	30
Observing Satellites	30
Create Your Own Guided Tour	31
Landmarks	34
Identify	35
Advanced Alt/Az Alignment Methods	36
Smart Drive Training (PEC)	37
Browse	38
Photography	39
Photography with AutoStar Suite	41
Optional Accessories	42
Maintenance	44
Troubleshooting	45
Specifications	47
Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment	50
Equatorial Alignment, Celestial Coordinates	50
Polar Mounting with #884 Deluxe Field Tripod	50
Equatorial Mounting Procedure	51
To Track a Star When Polar Mounted	51
Polar Alignment Modes, Locating Celestial Pole	52
Setting Circles	53
Appendix B: Latitude Chart	54
Appendix C: Training the Drive	55
Appendix D: Changing the LNT Module Battery	56
Appendix E: Basic Astronomy	57