Instruction Manual ETX-60AT Astro Telescope with Autostar Hand Controller ETX-70AT Astro Telescope with Autostar Hand Controller Meade Instruments Corporation
CONTENTS Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 3 WARNING! Telescope Features ...................................................... 4 Meade® Getting Started ..............................................................10 ETX® Never use a Astro Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye.
QUICK-START GUIDE 1 4 Slew Speed: A Slow . . . Medium . . . Fast B C D 4. B A 1. Press the Speed/? key (C) to accept the Sun warning. Keep pressing the ENTER key (A) until "Country/State" appears on the display. (Ignore the prompts requesting "Date" and "Time" for now – these functions will be explained later). Use the Scroll keys (D) to cycle through the lists of Country/States, Cities, and Telescope Models. Press ENTER (A) when the correct information for each prompt displays.
TELESCOPE FEATURES 19 5 4 2 17 7 1 3 20 15 (on top of base, not shown) (opposite side) 14 6 16 7 9 8 13 18 11 10 12 (not shown) A Fig. 1: The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT Telescope.
Except for the lens diameter, the Meade ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT are identical; all procedures and descriptions in this manual apply to both telescopes. ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe The Meade ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes with features similar to those once available only with larger and more specialized imaging systems.
10 Computer Control Panel A. Handbox (HBX) Port - Plug the Autostar coil cord (9, Fig. 3) 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.
AUTOSTAR FEATURES 1 4 2 5 3 8 6 7 9 Fig. 3: #494 Autostar Handbox. Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of the ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT is through the operation of the standard-equipment #494 Autostar. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar’s buttons.
The Autostar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope function within a compact handbox. Autostar has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make Autostar extremely user friendly. NOTE: Autostar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power to Autostar.
6 7 Scroll Keys - Accesses database options within a selected menu. The menu is displayed on the first line of the screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one at a time, on the second line. Press the Scroll keys to move through the options. Press and hold a Scroll key to move quickly through the options. The Scroll keys also scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits. NOTE: The Scroll Down key and the Down Arrow key move forward through the alphabet & digits (A to Z, 0 to 9).
GETTING STARTED Parts Listing 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. #494 Autostar handbox with attached coil cord. MA 25mm and MA 9mm eyepieces, each packed in a plastic storage container. Hex-wrench, packed with the instruction manual. See “GENERAL MAINTENANCE,” page 27.
NOTE: For a list of magnification ratings of the eyepieces available for the ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT telescopes, see "OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES," page 25. The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of the telescope and the focal length of the eyepiece being used. To calculate eyepiece power, divide the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. E.g., a 25mm eyepiece is used with the ETX-60AT. The focal length of the ETX-60AT is 350mm (see "SPECIFICATIONS," page 29).
Moving Through Autostar’s Menus The Autostar database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation. • • • Press ENTER to go deeper into Autostar's menu levels. Press MODE to move back toward the top menu level. Press the Scroll keys to move up and down through the options available for each level. • Press the Arrow keys to enter characters and digits. The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope.
AUTOSTAR OPERATION OBJECT Select from over 1400 database objects and press GO TO to move the telescope automatically to the object and place it in the telescopic field of view. SETUP Quick, easy alignment permits all telescope operations with only a 2-minute setup. Select Item: Object Select Item: Setup UTILITIES Calculate eyepiece magnifications; set the timer for an observing session; or survey user landmarks in 30-second intervals.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The "Telescope: Mount" option of the Setup menu is set to "Alt/Az" as the default alignment by the factory.The example presented in this section assumes that you are performing an alignment procedure for the first time with your telescope and therefore, the "Telescope: Mount" option does not need to be selected. For information on equatorial (Polar) alignment, see “APPENDIX A,” page 2. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the “Event” option in the “Select Item” menu. 3.
OBSERVING EXERCISES Go To Saturn NOTE: Keep in mind that when viewing through the eyepiece, images of terrestrial objects are right-side-up, but reversed left-forright. Normally, such an image orientation is not bothersome, unless trying to read a distant sign, for example. If the telescope is to be used for extensive terrestrial observations, a correctly oriented image is provided with the #933 45° Erecting Prism. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.
AUTOSTAR MENUS The Complete Autostar Menu Structure Select Item: Object Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Planetary Neb. Etc. Star Named SAO Catalog Double Etc.
• Select - To select a Landmark already in the database, choose the "Select" option and scroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object. • Add - To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate and center the Landmark, then press ENTER. Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring.
Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days during a 10-hour period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other.
Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER. Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER. NOTE: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather. Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a short pause at each location. Press ENTER to start the survey.
• • IMPORTANT NOTE: While performing the automatic tracking procedure, only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope. Once the telescope has been set in the Alt/Az home position, do not loosen the telescope locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost. Train Drive: Trains the altitude and azimuth motors to locate objects with more precision.
ADVANCED FEATURES Terrestrial Observing The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT make excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing terrestrial objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat waves often cause degradation of image quality. Low power eyepieces, like the MA 25mm eyepiece, magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. Therefore, low power eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image.
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment Level: Beginner/Intermediate Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database of bright stars and two stars from this database are chosen by the observer for alignment. 1. Perform steps 1 through 8 as described in the "EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE," page 14. 2 . Align to the first star. Autostar then displays a database of stars for the observer to choose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star that you wish to align upon.
Observing a Satellite NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit, traveling at approximately 17,500 mph. They move quickly across the sky and are visible only for a few minutes, requiring Autostar to slew the telescope rapidly. Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunset when the sky is still dark. Viewing in the middle of the night can be problematic because the satellite may pass overhead, but not be visible as it is in the Earth's shadow. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
The #64ST T–Adapter permits close-coupling of a camera body to the telescope at a focal length of 350mm and an effective photographic speed of f/5.8 for the ETX-60 and f/5 for the ETX-70. In this format vignetting occurs: the photographic image appears on film with a slight darkening (vignetting) at the corners of the 35mm frame (Fig. 16). Fig. 16: Example of vignetting.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT. Meade accessories greatly extend many important applications to the telescope, from low-power, wide-field terrestrial viewing to high-power lunar and planetary observing. The premium quality of these accessories is well-suited to the quality of the instrument itself.
#3200 Lunar & Planetary Color Filter Set: Meade optical glass color filters increase image contrast and resolution of the Moon and planets. The #3200 Set includes light yellow, very light red, very light blue, and neutral density filters. Each filter threads into the barrels of all Meade MA, PL, and WA eyepieces and is packed in a separate plastic case for secure storage. #773 Hard Carry Case: For secure portability in the field, the #773 Hard Carry Case (Fig.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING General Maintenance The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your telescope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance. Maintenance guidelines include: 1. Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics.
Troubleshooting The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT. The power indicator light on the telescope does not come on or there is no response when pressing Autostar Arrow keys: • Verify that the Computer Control Panel power switch (10C, Fig. 1) is in the ON position. • Verify that the Autostar cord (4, Fig. 3) is firmly connected to the HBX port (10A, Fig. 1). • Verify that the batteries are installed correctly and that they have sufficient charge.
Telescope moves off a terrestrial object while observing: • Verify that the vertical and horizontal locks have been tightened to a "firm feel" (6 and 9 Fig. 1). Telescope pauses when changing slew direction: • This pause is normal. A terrestrial object appears reversed left-for-right: • An eyepiece in the standard 90° observing position (3, Fig. 1) yields this image orientation. To view a correctly oriented image, the optional #933 Erecting Prism is required. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.
ETX-60AT/ETX-70AT Specifications (cont'd) Slow-Motion Controls ....................................................Electric, 9 speed, both axes Hemispheres of operation ..............................................North and South, switchable Bearings: Altitude ....................................................................Acetal Azimuth ..................................................................Nylon Materials Tube body ..............................................................
APPENDIX A: EQUATORIAL (POLAR) ALIGNMENT Polar Alignment North Celestial Pole (Vicinity of Polaris) +90 Dec. Star 1 17 18 19 16 15 14 13 12 11 ation clin De Fig. 26: Tripod set in Polar configuration on optional #883 tripod. The great majority of ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT owners will find it unnecessary ever to Polar align the telescope.
e.g., the Declination of the North Celestial Pole is +90°, with Declination South of the celestial equator indicated with a “–” sign, e.g., the Declination of the South Celestial Pole is –90°. Any point on the celestial equator itself which, for example, passes through the constellations Orion, Virgo, and Aquarius, is specified as having a Declination of zero, shown as 0° 0' 0". All celestial objects are specified in position by their celestial coordinates of Right Ascension and Declination.
APPENDIX B: USING AUTOSTAR TO ENTER R.A. AND DEC COORDINATES Although Autostar's database contains more than 1400 objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc.) that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are not part of the database. Autostar provides a feature that allows you to enter an object's R.A and Dec coordinates in the "User: Objects" option of Autostar's Object menu and then automatically slews the telescope to the user-entered coordinates.
APPENDIX C: HELPFUL CHARTS Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World To aid in the Polar Alignment procedure (see page 30), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below. To determine the latitude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site. Then follow the procedure below: Northern Hemisphere observers (N): If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) North of the listed city, add one degree for every 70 miles.
APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure after RESET or if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Figure 30 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure. NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this exercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy. 1 2 Verify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete.
APPENDIX E: INITIALIZATION EXAMPLE Initialization is a procedure that ensures that Autostar operates correctly. When you first use Autostar, it doesn't yet know where the observation location site is or the time or date of the observation session. During the procedure, information, such as the current time and date, observation location, and telescope model, is entered into Autostar.
BASIC ASTRONOMY In the early 17th century, Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably smaller than the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT, turned it to look towards the sky instead of distant trees and mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, forever changed the way mankind thought of the universe.
Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the ETX-60AT and ETX70AT. Venus is about nine-tenths the diameter of Earth. As Venus orbits the Sun, observers can see it go through phases (crescent, half, and full) much like those of the Moon.
A Roadmap to the Stars Rigel The night sky is filled with wonder and intrigue. You too, can enjoy exploring the universe simply by following a few pointers on a roadmap to the stars. Orion Betelgeuse Andromeda Gemini First, find the Big Dipper which is part of the constellation Ursa Major. The Big Dipper is usually easy to locate year round in North America. Pollux Castor Pegasus “Summer Triangle” Extending directly out from the far side of the Big Dipper’s cup is the constellation Orion.
MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“Meade”) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A. and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase.
