Page 2 - CONTENTS; Never use a Meade
Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 3 Telescope Features ...................................................... 4 Autostar Features .......................................................... 7 Getting Started .....................................................
Page 4 - TELESCOPE FEATURES
(opposite side) Fig. 1: The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT Telescope. TELESCOPE FEATURES 4 Telescope 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
Page 5 - ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe; 0° Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing.
ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe The Meade ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopeswith features similar to those once available only with larger and more specialized imaging sys-tems. With pushbutton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects, an...
Page 6 - Computer Control Panel; the Autostar handbox and to the telescope’s motor drive.
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 Autosta...
Page 7 - Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button; Access a glossary of astronomical terms.; AUTOSTAR FEATURES
Fig. 3: #494 Autostar Handbox. 1 2 5 4 3 6 8 7 9 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 ofAutostar’s buttons...
Page 8 - Top line: Lists the primary category or menu item.; • Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST)
The Autostar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope function withina 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 thedark. The backlit di...
Page 9 - TIPS; FOR BEGINNERS; Join an Astronomy Club
Scroll Keys - Accesses database options within a selected menu. The menu is displayedon the first line of the screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one at a time, on thesecond line. Press the Scroll keys to move through the options. Press and hold a Scrollkey to move quickly through the opt...
Page 10 - Parts Listing; The ETX Astro Telescope with fork mount system.; How to Assemble Your Telescope; Basic assembly of the telescope is now complete.; Choosing an Eyepiece; GETTING STARTED
Parts 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 Telescope with fork mount system. • #494 Autostar handbox with attached coil cord. • MA 25mm and MA 9mm eyepieces, ea...
Page 11 - Manual Operation of the Telescope without Autostar
The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of the telescopeand the focal length of the eyepiece being used. To calculate eyepiece power, divide the tele-scope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. E.g., a 25mm eyepiece is used with theETX-60AT. The focal le...
Page 12 - Moving Through Autostar’s Menus; Press ENTER to go deeper into Autostar's menu levels.; Initializing Autostar; Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
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 foreach l...
Page 13 - Press the Scroll Down key four times or the Scroll Up key once.; Autostar Navigation Exercise; AUTOSTAR OPERATION; Autostar
It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 9). This means thatpressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 3) cycles down through all the available options within agiven category, then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (6, Fig. 3) cycles up through theoptions in...
Page 14 - then displays the results of the calculation.; Easy Two-Star Alignment
To 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...
Page 15 - Go To Saturn; IMPORTANT NOTE; Using the Guided Tour; OBSERVING EXERCISES; Which One’s the Alignment
Go To Saturn After performing the Easy Two-Star Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating andthe telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain theirposition even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars. IMPORTANT NOTE : Once aligned, only use...
Page 16 - Object Menu; The Object Menu functions include:; AUTOSTAR MENUS; The Complete Autostar Menu Structure
Object Menu Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (NOTE:Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See “GO TO SATURN,” page 15, for anexample of observing using the Object menu. Also see “USING THE GUIDED TOUR,” page 15. Many Autostar menu categori...
Page 17 - Event Menu; Solar Eclipse; lists upcoming Solar
• Select - To select a Landmark already in the database, choose the "Select" option andscroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press GO TO and the tel-escope slews to the object. • Add - To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark...
Page 18 - abled, Autostar begins with the Date display.; Sun Warning: Turns the “Sun Warning” message on or off.
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 cl...
Page 19 - NOTE: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather.; Setup Menu; Telescope; accesses the several; Surf the Web
Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, pressENTER. Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, pressENTER. NOTE: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather. Landmark Survey automatically ...
Page 20 - Select: Displays the currently selected observing site and; and also allows you to select; Delete: Deletes a stored site from the database.
• Train Drive: Trains the altitude and azimuth motors to locate objects with more precision. If you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy, follow the proceduredescribed in “APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE,” page 35, to insure accurate point-ing and tracking. • Tracking Rate: Changes th...
Page 21 - 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 theMA 25mm eyep...
Page 23 - Observing a Satellite; desired satellite is on the top line of the display.; Photography with the ETX
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 arevisible only for a few minutes, requiring Autostar to slew the telescope rapidly. Bestviewing is near Sunrise or S...
Page 24 - tion almost certainly introduces undesirable vibrations.
The #64ST T–Adapter permits close-coupling ofa camera body to the telescope at a focal lengthof 350mm and an effective photographic speedof f/5.8 for the ETX-60 and f/5 for the ETX-70. Inthis format vignetting occurs: the photographicimage appears on film with a slight darkening(vignetting) at the c...
Page 25 - OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the ETX-60AT andETX-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. Thepremium quality of these access...
Page 27 - MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
General Maintenance The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield alifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument,your telescope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance. Maintenance guidelinesinclude...
Page 28 - Troubleshooting; Confirm that the dust cap has been removed from the telescope.
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 responsewhen pressing Autostar Arrow keys:• Verify that the Computer Control Panel power switch (10C, Fig. 1) is in the ON p...
Page 29 - Meade Customer Service
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 eyep...
Page 30 - Materials; Autostar Specifications; Processor; Autostar Dimensions
ETX-60AT/ETX-70AT Specifications (cont'd) Slow-Motion Controls ....................................................Electric, 9 speed, both axesHemispheres of operation ..............................................North and South, switchableBearings: Altitude ...........................................
Page 32 - escope to the entered coordinates.; Locating the Celestial Pole; Intermediate to Advanced; One-Star Polar Alignment; Two-Star Polar Alignment; Advanced
e.g., the Declination of the North Celestial Pole is +90°, with Declination South of the celestial equatorindicated 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, Virg...
Page 33 - Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.
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 coordinatesin the "User: Obje...
Page 34 - APPENDIX C: HELPFUL CHARTS
UNITED STATESCity 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 Texas 33° N Denver Colorado 40° N Detroit Michigan 42° N Honolulu Hawaii 21° N Jackson Mississippi 32° N Kansas Cit...
Page 35 - APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE
Train 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 Training procedure. NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this ...
Page 36 - APPENDIX E: INITIALIZATION EXAMPLE; Example of the Initialization Procedure.
APPENDIX E: INITIALIZATION 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 Savings>NO (00) Meade (1.0)A U T O S T A R Initializing. . . WARNING LOOKING AT . . . ENTER Getting StartedFor a Detailed. .. Enter Date:01-Jan-2000 2 (2X) ...
Page 37 - BASIC ASTRONOMY
In the early 17th century, Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably small-er than the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT, turned it to look towards the sky instead of distant treesand mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, forever changed theway mankind thought of t...
Page 39 - A Roadmap to the Stars; Star Locator
A Roadmap to the Stars The night sky is filled with wonder andintrigue. You too, can enjoy exploring theuniverse simply by following a few pointerson a roadmap to the stars. First, find the Big Dipper which is part of theconstellation Ursa Major. The Big Dipper isusually easy to locate year round in...
Page 40 - Meade Instruments Corporation; MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY
Part no. 14-6896-01 06/00 A D V A N C E D P R O D U C T S D I V I S I O N Meade Instruments Corporation World’s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical Telescopes for the Serious Amateur 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450 FAX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www.meade.com © 2000 MEADE LIMITED ...
