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Meade ETX-60AT - page 1
Instruction Manual ETX-60A T Astr o T elescope with A utostar Hand Contr oller ETX-70A T Astr o T elescope with A utostar Hand Contr oller Meade Instruments Corporation ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 2
Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 3 T elescope Features ...................................................... 4 Autostar Features .......................................................... 7 Getting Started ..............................................................10 Parts Listing .................... ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 3
QUICK-ST AR T GUIDE Quick Start Guide 3 B A A A 5 6 A B C 1 2 3 3. Flip the Power Switch (A) on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on Autostar ’s LCD display . 1. T ake the ETX from its packaging and place it on a sturdy surface. Remove the cover from the bat- tery compartment ( 20, Fig. 1, page 4) located ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 4
(opposite side) Fig. 1 : The ETX-60A T and ETX-70A T T elescope. TELESCOPE FEA TURES 4 T elescope Features (not shown) 1 2 17 7 4 5 19 6 7 3 15 14 16 13 11 12 8 18 9 10 20 (on top of base, not shown) A B D C ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 5
ETX: Y our Per sonal Window to the Univer se The Meade ETX-60A T and the ETX-70A T are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes with features similar to those once available only with larger and more specialized imaging sys- tems. With pushbutton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects, and software down- loading capability , an ET ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 6
Computer Control P anel A. Handbox (HBX) P or t - 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 - T urns the Computer Control Panel and Autostar ON or OFF . D . Auxiliary (A UX) P ort - ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 7
Fig. 3: #494 Autostar Handbo x. 1 2 5 4 3 6 8 7 9 T our the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of the ETX-60A T and the ETX-70A T 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. Some of the major features of Autosta ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 8
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 databas ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 9
Scroll K eys - 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 ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 10
P ar ts Listing Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first open- ing the packing box, note carefully the following parts: • The ETX Astro T elescope with fork mount system. • #494 Autostar handbox with attached coil cord. • MA 25mm and MA 9mm eyepieces, each packed in a plastic storage container ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 11
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. T o calculate eyepiece power , divide the tele- scope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. E.g ., a 25mm eyepiece is used with the ETX-60A T . The focal length of the ETX-60A T is 350mm ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 12
Moving Thr ough A utostar ’ 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 t ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 13
It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop ( Fig. 9 ). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key ( 7, Fig. 3 ) cycles down through all the available options within a given category , then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key ( 6, Fig. 3 ) cycles up through the options in the opposite order . Note that this cap ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 14
T o Calculate Sunset time: 1. Press the MODE key several times, until “ Select Item: Object ” is displayed. 2. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the “ Event ” option in the “ Select Item ” menu. 3. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise" is displayed. 4. Press ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 15
Go T o Saturn After performing the Easy T wo-Star Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars. IMPORT ANT NOTE : Once aligned, only use the GO TO or Arro w ke ys to move the telesc ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 16
Object Menu Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category . ( NO TE: Exceptions include Guided T our and Landmar k Sur ve y . ) See “ GO T O SA TURN, ” page 15, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see “ USING THE GUIDED TOUR, ” page 15. Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. An ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 17
• Select - T o 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 T O and the tel- escope slews to the object. • Add - T o add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate and center the Landmark, the ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 18
Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial, penum- bral) 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 sys- tem, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 19
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. NO TE: This feature is usually only required in ve r y cold weather . Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined lan ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 20
• T rain Drive : T rains the altitude and azimuth motors to locate objects with more precision. If you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy , follow the procedure described in “ APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE, ” page 35, to insure accurate point- ing and tracking. • T racking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tr ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 21
T errestrial Obser ving The ETX-60A T and ETX-70A T 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 t ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 22
T wo-Star Alt/Az Alignment Level: Beginner/Intermediate T wo-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. P erform steps 1 thr ough 8 as described in the "EASY TWO-ST AR ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE," page 14. 2 . ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 23
Observing a Satellite NO TE: Satellite obser ving is an exciting challenge . Most satellites are in low orbit, tra veling at appro ximately 17,500 mph. They mov e quickly across the sky and are visible only f or a fe w minutes, requiring A utostar to slew the telescope r apidly . Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunset when the sky is still dark. Vi ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 24
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 ). Wh ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 25
A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the ETX-60A T and ETX-70A T . 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 ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 26
#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 W A eyepieces and is packed in a separate pl ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 27
General Maintenance The ETX-60A T and ETX-70A T 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 optic ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 28
T roubleshooting The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-60A T or ETX-70A T . The power indicator light on the telescope does not come on or there is no response when pressing A utostar Arro w keys: • V erify that the Computer Control Panel power switch ( 10C, Fig. 1 ) is in the ON position. • V erify that the Autosta ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 29
T elescope moves off a terrestrial object while observing: • V erify that the vertical and horizontal locks have been tightened to a "firm feel" ( 6 and 9 Fig. 1 ). T elescope pauses when changing slew direction: • This pause is normal. A terrestrial object appears re versed left-f or-right: • An eyepiece in the standard 90 ° obser ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 30
ETX-60A T/ETX-70A T Specifications (cont'd) Slow-Motion Controls ....................................................Electric, 9 speed, both axes Hemispheres of operation ..............................................North and South, switchable Bearings: Altitude ....................................................................Acetal Azimut ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 31
P olar Alignment The great majority of ETX-60A T and ETX-70A T owners will find it unnecessary ever to Polar align the telescope. With these ETX telescope models the standard-equipment Autostar controller allows the telescope to be used in the altazimuth (Alt/Az) orientation for all observing purpose. This section is included only for educational p ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 32
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 celes- tial equator itself which, for example, passes through the constellations Orion, Virgo, and Aquarius, is specified as ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 33
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 data- base. 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 ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 34
UNITED ST A TES City State Latitude Albuquerque New Mexico 35 ° N Anchorage Alaska 61 ° N Atlanta Georgia 34 ° N Boston Massachusetts 42 ° N Chicago Illinois 42 ° N Cleveland Ohio 41 ° N Dallas T exas 33 ° N Denver Colorado 40 ° N Detroit Michigan 42 ° N Honolulu Hawaii 21 ° N Jackson Mississippi 32 ° N Kansas City Missouri 39 ° N Las V ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 35
T rain the telescope motors using Autostar . Perform this procedure after RESET or if you are experiencing any point- ing accuracy problems. Figure 30 depicts the complete Drive T raining procedure. NO TE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this e xercise once e very 3 to 6 months to mainta ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 36
APPENDIX E: INITIALIZA TION EXAMPLE ENTER Enter Time: 00:00:00PM 1 (1X) (1X) 2 (2X) (1X) 4 (4X) 7 (7X) AM Enter Time: 12:47:00AM ENTER Daylight Sa vings >NO (00) Meade (1.0) A U T O S T A R Initializing. . . W ARNING LOOKING A T . . . ENTER Getting Star ted For a Detailed. .. Enter Date: 01-Jan-2000 2 (2X) (1X) 6 (5X) (1X) Mar (2X) 2000 (4X) 200 ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 37
In the early 17th century , Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably small- er than the ETX-60A T or ETX-70A T , 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. Imagine what it must have be ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 38
Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. T o locate the planets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and T elescope or Astronomy . Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the ETX-60A T and ETX- 70A T . Ve n u s is about nine-tenths the diameter of Earth. As V enus ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 39
A Roadmap to the Stars The night sky is filled with wonder and intrigue. Y ou too, can enjoy exploring the universe simply by following a few pointers on a roadmap to the stars. 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. Extending directly out from ...
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Meade ETX-60AT - page 40
Par t n o . 14-6896-01 06/00 AD V ANCED PRODUCTS DIVISION Meade Instruments Corporation World’ s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical T elescopes for the Serious Amateur 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450 F AX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www .meade.com © 2000 MEADE LIMITED W ARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and te ...
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