Instruction Manual
With AudioStar
CONTENTS
Introduction
The ETX Observer Telescope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Advanced AudioStar Features
Adding Observing Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Finding Objects Not In the Database . . . . . . . . . . .34
GoTo a User-entered Object. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Observing Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
How to Create Your Own Guided Tour . . . . . . . . . .36
Writing a Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Identify . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
One-Star Alt/Az Alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Browse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Getting Started
Assembling and Using the ETX Telescope
Assembling the Tripod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Mounting the Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Installing the Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Secure Vertical and Horizontal Locks . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Attaching Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Your Telescope is now Fully Assembled . . . . . . . . . .7
Using the Red Dot Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Adjusting the Red Dot Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Aligning the ETX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
The ETX Home Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Finding North. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Moving Through AudioStar’s Menus. . . . . . . . . . . .10
Initializing AudioStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Easy (Two-Star) Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
How to Perform the Easy Align Procedure . . . . . . .12
Go To Saturn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Using the Guided Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Optional MEADE® Accessories
Choosing Eyepieces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Power Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Imagers and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Related Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Maintenance
Basic Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Storage and Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Inspecting the Optics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Trouble Shooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
ETX Observer Key Features
Telescope
ETX 80 Key Features Identified on the Telescope .14
Key Features Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
ETX 90 Key Features Identified on the Telescope .18
Key Features Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Appendix A:
Training the Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
AudioStar Handbox – Basic Usage
Buttons, Display and their functions . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Observing Using AudioStar’s Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Observe the Moon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Terrestrial Observing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
ETX Observer Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Appendix B:
Basic Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Appendix C:
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
AudioStar Operation
Appendix D:
AudioStar Navigation Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Entering Data into AudioStar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Guided Tour Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Object Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
AudioStar Menu Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Event Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Glossary Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Utilities Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Setup Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Equatorial (Polar) Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Appendix E:
Latitude Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Appendix F:
Optical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Recycling:
How to recycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
® The name “Meade,” “AudioStar” and the Meade logo are
trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office and in principal countries throughout the world. “ETX
90”, "ETX 80", and “Tonight’s Best” are trademarks of Meade
Instruments Corp.
Meade Warranty
One Year Limited Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Meade Customer Service
How to get in contact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Patents:
US 7,277,223, US 7,079,317, US 7,092,156
US 6,304,376, US 6,369,942, US 6,392,799
© 2015 Meade Instruments Corp.
INTRODUCTION
The ETX Observer Telescope
An advanced, computer-controlled telescope system
Congratulations on receiving your new ETX Observer telescope! You’ll find that this telescope system has all you
need to explore the Universe we live in. Meade’s concept was to create a telescope that would be simple enough
for anyone to use, yet capable enough for the experienced amateur to stretch their knowledge and skills. With the
ETX’s advanced set of features, you will have plenty of room to learn and expand your interest in astronomy and
not out grow your telescope. Here are a few of the features that set the Meade ETX Observer telescope system
apart from all others.
Optics:
ETX telescope optics produce superlative, optical performance and resolution. Optics so high in
contrast, image brightness, and resolution that the ETX optical systems often outperform many
telescopes of larger apertures. With their new removable optical tube assembly, you can now take
the optical tube with you wherever your adventures take you. Mount it directly to any photo tripod
using 1/4-20 mounting screws, and observe more of your adventure from afar.
Mechanics: Fork Mount with standard-equipment dual-axis drive system and AudioStar Controller. The rigid fork
mounting of the ETX Observer telescope includes high-torque DC motors on both telescope axes.
Computer: The AudioStar handbox gives you complete control of your ETX system from the palm of your hand.
With a database of over 30,000 objects, you will never run out of things to explore. The enhanced
AudioStar hand controller adds Meade's Astronomer Inside audio content. Listen through its built-
in speaker as it reads you fun and informative descriptions of over 500 night sky objects as you
actually view them in the eyepiece. A quick and easy 2-minute alignment on the night sky allows
automatic tracking of astronomical objects.
If you are like us, you can’t wait to get outside under a dark sky to try out your new ETX telescope. We have
provided a Getting Started Guide that will get you up and running in the shortest amount of time possible. After
your first experience, please sit down with this manual and read about all the advanced features that are available
to you with this telescope system. We are confident that the ETX will keep you fascinated with the Universe and
entertained for many years to come.
Clear Skies,
The people at Mea
4
GETTING STARTED
You may want to perform the ETX telescope assembly indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the
parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing. Just follow the simple steps
below and you will be up and running before you know it. It is best to set up the telescope in twilight or before
sunset the first time you use it.
Take the telescope and tripod outside. Set the telescope in a large open area where you can see lots of sky. Don’t
setup right next to a building or a wall. Make sure the ground is stable and is approximately level. It is best to set
up the scope away from bright nighttime lighting. Bright lights will spoil your night vision and impede your ability
to see the sky.
Lock Knob
Please note the ETX 80 & ETX 90 have different
tripods. As a result, there are subtle differences when
setting up the tripods and installing the telescope
mount. Follow the steps below noting when there are
differences between the two telescope models and
proceed accordingly.
Assembling the Tripod
1 Remove the field tripod from the shipping carton.
Stand the tripod vertically with the tripod feet down
and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Grasp two of
the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod
on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully
open position. ETX 80 users may need to loosen
ETX 90USERSONLY:Loosenthelockknobsoneach
leg(oneperleg)nearthefootofeachtripodleg. Usethe
lock knobs to vary the height of the inner, extend-able
tripodlegsections.Tightenthelockstoafirmfeelonly;do
not over-tighten.
Lock Knob
ETX 80 Tripod
ETX 90 Tripod
the black lock knob located on the center shaft of the
tripod. Rotate counter clockwise to loosen if needed.
2 ETX 80 USERS ONLY: Loosen the leg lock latches
on each leg (three per leg) and extend each leg
segment until the top of the tripod is level and at the
desired height. Re-lock the leg lock latches to secure
each leg segment.
3 ETX 80 USERS ONLY: Tighten the center column
lock knob by rotating it clockwise until firm. This lock
knob prevents the tripod legs from being collapsed
inward into the storage position.
5
until the bolts fit into the hole bays. Then, reach under
the tripod base and tighten the bolts to a firm feel.
Lock knob
ETX 90 USERS ONLY: On the tripod, loosen the
latitude control knob and lift up the tilt-plate so that you
can easily access the underside of the plate. Re-lock
the latitude control knob, so the assembly doesn’t slip
while you are attaching the telescope.
Take the ETX 90 from its packaging and line up the
mounting holes on the base of the telescope with the
tripod attachment knobs. Thread both attachment
knobs into the base of the telescope. Tighten to a firm
feel only.
ETX 90 USERS ONLY: Remove the end nut from the
spreader shaft and slide the spreader in between the
telescope legs. Attach the end nut and hand tighten
until the telescope legs are held snuggly in the most
spread position. Position the tripod where you want the
telescope to be and check that the top of the tripod is
approximately level. Use the included bubble level/
compass to level the tripod head.
Unlock the latitude control knob and lower the tilt-plate
until it is level (push the tilt-plate down until it stops;
this is the level position). Lock the latitude control
knob.
Latitude control knob
Spreader Shaft
End Nut
Spreader Bar
Mounting the Telescope
4 ETX 80 USERS ONLY: Thread the supplied bolts
about two or three turns through the underside of
the telescope base. Line up the bolts over the key-
like holes on the top of the tripod and slide the bolts
into the holes. Rotate the telescope counter-clockwise
Thumb-Screws
Installing the Batteries
5 Lift the battery cover located in between the mount
fork arms. Gently remove the battery holder from the
compartment so you don’t accidentally pull out the
wires attached to the holder. Insert 6 user supplied
“AA” batteries in the holder. Refer to the diagram on
the holder to orient the batteries properly Replace the
holder back into the battery compartment and replace
Mounting bolts
6
the lid.
CAUTION: Use care to install batteries as indicated
by 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. Always
remove the batteries if they will not be used for a long
period of time.
Connect the Audiostar
8 Place the 26mm eyepiece into the eyepiece
holder on the telescope and tighten the attachment
thumbscrew to a “firm feel” only.
Follow the battery
polarity (orientation)
as indicated by the
molded icons
Secure Vertical and Horizontal Locks
6 Tighten the vertical and horizontal locks to a “firm
feel” only, do not over-tighten. These locks engage the
telescope motors so the ETX can be moved using the
AudioStar hand controller.
Insert the eyepiece
Vertical Lock
9 Slide the Red Dot Viewfinder into the slotted
holder on the top surface telescope and tighten the
attachment thumbscrew to a “firm feel” only.
Horizontal Lock
Attaching Accessories
7 Be sure the telescope master power switch is in
the off position. Remove the AudioStar handbox and
the coiled interface cable from the packing materials.
Plug one end into the HBX port of the control panel
and plug the other end into the Handbox port on the
AudioStar handbox.
Attach the Red Dot finder
Your Telescope is now Fully Assembled.
7
Using the Red Dot Finder
Because your telescope has so much magnification,
its field of view is very small. This can make it hard
to know exactly where your telescope is pointing
by simply looking at it. To help you point the
telescope quickly and accurately, the ETX has a 1X
Red Dot Viewfinder.
On/Off &
Brightness
Adjustment
Using the ETX Observer.
10 Now remove the dust cover from the front of the
telescope tube. Be careful not to touch the glass lens.
11 Flip the Power Switch on the computer control
panel to the ON position. The copyright message
lights on AudioStar’s LCD display.
The Red Dot Finder will aid you in pointing your
telescope easily. It works much like a fighter pilot’s
heads-up display. To turn on the Red Dot Finder,
carefully rotate the power switch until you feel it click
on. Turning further clockwise will increase the dot
brightness. Adjust the dot to the minimum brightness
where it can be easily seen. This will extend its
battery life and make it easier to see faint stars in the
background.
12 “Press 0 to align or Mode for Menu” displays. You
can use the Arrow keys to slew (move) the telescope
up, down, right, or left. To change the telescope’s slew
speed, press a Number key. “9” is the fastest speed
and “1” is the slowest speed. See page 24 for more
details. Or you can Press “0” to begin Easy Alignment.
See page 11 for more information on AudioStar.
Look through the finder’s glass window. You will see a
Slew Speeds:
Arrow
Keys
red dot superimposed on your view. Using the direction
keys on the handbox, move the telescope until the red
dot is on the target you want to view in the eyepiece.
As you get close to your target, select a moderately
low speed, like speed 5, and move the scope to center
your target as you look through the telescope eyepiece.
This a great way to get used to finding the movement
keys without removing your eye from the eyepiece.
Speed 9: Fast
.
.
.
Speed 5: Medium
.
.
.
Number
Keys
Speed 1: Slow
8
Aligning the ETX
To automatically track and locate objects in the night
sky, the ETX must first be aligned on the sky. It is best
to set up the telescope in twilight or before sunset the
first time you use the ETX. Setup the telescope in a
large open area where you can see lots of the night
sky. Make sure the ground is stable and approximately
level. It is best to setup the scope away from bright
nighttime lighting. Bright lights will spoil your night
vision and impede you ability to see the sky.
Adjusting the Red Dot Finder
Now, without moving the telescope, adjust the indicated
thumb screws until you have put the red dot on the
object at which you were looking. It’s that simple.
Now use the hand controller to put the laser dot on a
new target. Check to see that the desired target is in
the eyepiece and adjust the focus knob until the object
is in focus.
NOTE: Be sure to turn off red dot when not in use.
The ETX “Alt/Az” Home Position
Once the ETX is fully assembled, you will first need
to initialize AudioStar, set the telescope into the home
position, and perform the Easy Alignment in order for
the ETX to successfully locate celestial objects.
Adjustment
Screws
The home position for the ETX is with the telescope
optical tube level and pointed in the direction of either
True North or Magnetic North. See Figure 1. Correct
telescope placement in the home position will ensure
the successful location of the alignment stars.
Focus Knob
True or Magnetic
North
ETX 80 Focus Knob
Telescope
Tube is level
Figure 1: Alt/Az Home Position
Focus Knob
ETX 90 Focus Knob
9
know the magnetic declination adjustment based on
your location. However, Meade has simplified the
alignment routine and AudioStar now allows you to
point the telescope directly at your local magnetic
North as a starting point for the alignment.
Little Dipper
Polaris
Big Dipper
Cassiopeia
Figure 2: Locating Polaris
Using the included magnetic compass, determine
the direction of magnetic North. The red arrow on the
compass will point toward magnetic North. Note: Stand
away from large metal objects as this will interfere with
the compass reading.
Finding North
Method #1: Finding True North using the North
Star (Polaris): To find True North, insert the bubble
level/compass into they eyepiece holder and point
the telescope tube towards Magnetic North. See the
"Locating Polaris" diagram above, which directs you
to the North Star (Polaris). Looking towards Magnetic
North locate the Big Dipper; follow the two stars in the
bowl of the Big Dipper to the North Star. With the tube
still level, rotate it so that it points in the direction of the
North Star. Lock the horizontal lock. The tube is pointing
True North and now in the Alt/Az home position.
Now unlock the horizontal lock knob and rotate the
mount until the OTA points toward magnetic North.
Lock the horizontal lock. The tube should now be level
and pointing toward magnetic North. The ETX is now
in the Alt/Az home position.
When performing the Easy Alignment, select
2=Compass when prompted. See Figure 3b.
When performing the Easy Alignment, select 1=True
when prompted. See Figure 3b.
Compass
needle is
pointing to
Magnetic
North
Moving Through AudioStar’s Menus
The AudioStar database is organized in levels for quick
and easy navigation.
•
•
•
Press ENTER to go deeper into AudioStar’s
menu levels.
Bubble is
centered
Press MODE to move back toward the top
menu level. This is similar to a back button.
Figure 3a: Bubble Level/Compass
Press GOTO to move to objects in the
database. Use this after you perform a night
sky alignment and have selected an object
from the Audiostar database.
•
•
Press the central Arrow keys to electronically
move the telescope in a specific direction. Or
use the central Arrow keys and number keys
to enter characters and digits when inputting
information.
Figure 3b: Choosing North Method
Press the bottom Scroll keys to move up and
down through the options available for each
level.
Method #2: Finding Magnetic North using a
Compass: True North and Magnetic North differ and
will vary from location to location. In order to correctly
compensate for these differences you would need to
10
of countries, states, and provinces. Press
ENTER when the correct location displays.
Initializing AudioStar
This section describes how to initialize AudioStar.
Perform this procedure the first time you use AudioStar
or after performing a RESET (see “RESET” page 33).
ii. The next screen asks for the city (listed
alphabetically) closest to the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
of cities. Press ENTER when the correct
city appears on screen.
1. Verify that AudioStar is properly connected to
your telescope. See “Getting Started” page 7.
6. The next screen requests the status of Daylight
Savings Time. If Daylight Savings Time is
active, press the “1” key. If Daylight Savings
Time is not active, press the “2” key.
2. Turn the telescope power switch to the ON
position.
The AudioStar beeps and the display screen
is activated. Then AudioStar takes a few
moments to start up the system.
Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred
to by a different name in various areas of the
world.
3. “Press 0 to Align or Mode for Menu” displays.
Press 0 to align your telescope using the “Easy
Align” method, see “Easy (Two-Star) Align” on
page 11. To skip the alignment process and
access the AudioStar menus, press the Mode
key instead.
7. AudioStar then asks for the Telescope Model.
Using the scroll keys (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 7) on the
AudioStar locate the model of your telescope
and press enter.
8. System initialization is now complete and
AudioStar enters into the Easy Alignment
routine. See “Easy (Two-Star) Alignment” for
performing an alignment on the night sky. If you
do not wish to begin an alignment on the night
sky, press the MODE key to exit to the main
AudioStar menu.
4. The telescope then tests the motor function of
the telescope by moving a small amount in the
horizontal and vertical directions.
5. Set Your Location or Zip Code: The Location
screen displays. This screen asks you if you
wish to choose either the zip code of your
observing location or the location (i.e., entering
the city and state or country of your observing
location). Press “1” to select the zip code option
or “2” to enter the city and state.
Easy (Two-Star) Align
The fastest and easiest way to locate objects with
AudioStar’s GO TO capabilities is to use Easy Align.
Note: The location settings (country/state/
province and city, or zip code) are only asked
for the first time you turn on the control panel.
If you wish to change this setting later on, use
the Site menu. See SITE, page 32 for more
information.
Which One’s the Alignment Star?
If you’re not familiar with objects in the night sky, how
can you be sure if the star in your eyepiece is really the
alignment star?
The rule of thumb is that an alignment star is usually
the brightest star in that area of the sky. If you perform a
GoTo to an alignment star and you’re not sure if you have
located the alignment star or it isn’t in the eyepiece, look
through your viewfinder. When you view an alignment
star in the viewfinder, it stands out dramatically from the
rest of the stars in that portion of the sky.
A. If you chose the zip code option, the left most
“0” is highlighted. Use the Number keys to enter
the digits. As you enter a digit, the next digit to
the right will be highlighted. Enter the next digit.
Repeat this process until all 5 digits of your zip
code are entered. Press ENTER.
The viewfinder will help you locate a star more quickly
than the eyepiece. Using AudioStar, set the slew speed
to 6 (press Number key 6) or higher and use the Arrow
keys to center the alignment star in the viewfinder. If
your viewfinder has been aligned with the telescope,
the alignment star should now be in the eyepiece. Set
the slew speed to 4 or less and center the star in the
eyepiece. Also see the Spiral Search tip, next page.
B. If you chose the location option, the next screen
asks for the country or state/province (listed
alphabetically) of the observing site.
i. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
11
AudioStar automatically picks two stars from its
database for the Easy Align procedure. During this
procedure, AudioStar slews the telescope to a first
alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the
telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then
prompted to center the star in the eyepiece. The
process is repeated with a second star to complete the
alignment.
1. When the Easy Alignment procedure is
selected in the AudioStar’s setup menu. See
page 9, “The ETX Alt/Az Home Position” for a
description on placing the ETX telescope into
the home position.
Note: The easiest way to set the telescope in
the home position is using the Magnetic North
method. Follow the steps on page 10 “Finding
Magnetic North using a Compass.
Note: Before aligning the telescope, first
verify that “INITIALIZING AudioStar”, page
11, has been performed. See “Moving through
AudioStar’s Menus”, page 10, for a description
of how AudioStar’s keys operate.
2. Star Alignment - The AudioStar then chooses
two stars to align upon. When the telescope
slews to the first star for alignment, it may not
appear in the field of view in the eyepiece. The
alignment star should be easily recognized
and be the brightest star in the area of the sky
where the telescope is pointing.
Hint: It is best to verify the AudioStar's site
information before performing any night sky
alignment. Check the date, time, daylight
savings, location, and telescope model before
each alignment. If any of these are incorrect,
the ETX will not operate correctly.
While looking through the red dot finder, use
the Arrow Keys to move the telescope to place
the red dot on the top of the brightest nearby
star. Now look through the eyepiece and use
the Arrow Keys to move the star to the center
of the eyepiece field. Press ENTER.
How to perform the Easy Align
Procedure
If you have just powered on the telescope, follow
the procedures listed in “Initializing AudioStar” on
page 11. When completed, continue on to the steps
below to perform the Easy Alignment procedure. If the
telescope is already powered on and the correct site
If that area of the sky is obscured by an
object, you can prompt AudioStar to chose an
alternate star by pressing either one of the two
Scroll Keys. Repeat procedure for the second
alignment star.
True or Magnetic
North
When the procedure is performed correctly, “Alignment
Successful” displays. If AudioStar does not display this
message, perform this procedure again.
Telescope
Tube is level
Note: AudioStar locates alignment stars based on the
date, time, and location entered. The alignment stars
may change from night to night. All that is required is
for the observer to precisely center the selected stars
in the eyepiece when prompted.
Figure 4: Alt/Az Home Position
location, date, time, daylight savings, and telescope
model have already been entered, the Easy Alignment
can be started by selecting in the menu Setup: Align:
Easy and following the steps below.
Hint: The GO TO key also allows you to perform a
12
5. Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays
and the telescope slews until it finds Saturn.
You may need to use the Arrow keys to center
Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. AudioStar
then automatically moves the telescope so
that it “tracks” Saturn (or whatever other object
you may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains
centered in the eyepiece.
“spiral search”. A spiral search is useful when the
telescope slews to an object, but that object is not
visible in the eyepiece after the telescope finishes its
search. (This sometimes occurs during an alignment
procedure.) Press GO TO when the slew is finished
and the telescope starts slewing in a spiral pattern at a
very slow speed around the search area. Look through
the eyepiece and when the object does become
visible, press MODE to stop the spiral search. Then
use the Arrow keys to center the object.
After you Go To Saturn, practice the Go To
feature with other objects in the Object menu
lists. For example, during Winter, choose M42,
the Orion nebula, from the Messier list. Or in
the summer, choose the Dumbbell nebula from
the Deep Sky, Named Objects list.
Go To Saturn
After performing the Easy 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.
Using the Guided Tour
This example demonstrates using “Tonight’s Best”
Guided Tour.
1. After observing Saturn, press mode three times
so that “Select Item: Object” displays again.
Important Note: Once aligned, only use the GO TO
or Arrow keys to move the telescope. Do not move
the telescope manually, or alignment will be lost.
2. Press the Scroll Down key twice. “Select Item:
Guided Tour” displays.
3. Press ENTER. “Guided Tour: Tonight’s Best”
displays. Press ENTER.
Once the telescope is aligned, you may choose and
“Go To” any object listed in AudioStar’s Object menu.
This exercise demonstrates how to select one such
celestial object, the planet Saturn, for viewing from the
Object menu.
If you wish to try out other Guided Tours, press
the Scroll Down key to scroll through other
tour choices. When the tour you wish to select
displays, press ENTER.
4. “Tonight’s Best: Searching...” displays. After
calculating, “Tonight’s Best: Jupiter” displays.
Note: Saturn is not visible the entire year and you
may need to choose another object from AudioStar’s
database; however, the procedure, as described
below, remains the same.
Note: Different objects may be displayed on a
tour list on any given night.
Press ENTER to display information about the
object. Press GO TO to move the telescope to
the object.
1 After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item:
Object” displays. Press ENTER.
5. Press MODE to return to the Tour list. Press
the Scroll keys to scroll through the list. Press
ENTER when you find the next object you wish
to observe.
2. “Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.
3. “Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep
pressing the Scroll Down key until “Solar
System: Saturn” displays.
6. Press and hold down MODE for two seconds to
leave the Guided Tour menu.
4. Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then
“Saturn” and a set of coordinates displays. Note
that Saturn’s (and other planets’) coordinates
change throughout the year.
13
The ETX 80 Telescope - Key Features
9
5
8
6
7
4
3
10
11
12
2
1
1. Focus knob
7. Red dot viewfinder thumbscrew
2. Rear photo port
3. Eyepiece holder
4. Eyepiece
5. Red dot viewfinder
6. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew
8. Optical tube
9. Dust cover (not visible)
10.Vertical lock knob
11. Fork arm
12.Computer control panel
Figure 5: ETX 80 Right Side
14
13. Vertical setting
19. Battery compart-
ment
circle
20. Horizontal setting
circle
21. 2x flip-Barlow
14. 90° flip mirror
15. Front lens
16. OTA mounting
thumbscrews(2)
17. Bubble level/com-
pass
21
18. Horizontal lock
knob
5a. On/Off Switch
5b. Red dot finder
adjustment knobs
12a. Handbox (HBX) port
12b. Power LED
13
12c. On/Off switch
14
12d. Auxiliary (AUX) port
12e. 9 volt Power port
(12v compatible)
Figure 6: ETX 80 Left Side
17
15
Figure 9: ETX 80 Bubble Level
5a
5b
16
Figure 7: ETX 80 Dust Cap
Figure 10: ETX 80 Red Dot
18
12d
12e
12b
12a
12c
19
20
Figure 8: ETX 80 Top of Base
Figure 11: ETX 80 Control Panel
15
1. Focus knob: Moves the telescope’s front lens in a
finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image
focus. The ETX 80 telescope can be focused on
objects from a distance of about 15 ft to infinity.
Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on
distant object. Meade makes a complete line of
accessories to enable you to get the most fun
and performance from your ETX telescope. No
matter what you want to accomplish, we have the
equipment to help you get there.
firm.
8. Optical tube: The main optical component that
gathers the light from distant objects and brings this
light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece.
9. Dust Cover: Unthread the dust cover counter-
clockwise from the front lens of the telescope
before observing.
10. Vertical lock knob: Controls the manual vertical
movement of the telescope. Turning the vertical
lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope
enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the
vertical axis. Turning the vertical lock clockwise (to
a firm feel only) prevents the telescope from being
moved manually, but engages the vertical motor
drive clutch for AudioStar operation. When polar
aligned, the vertical lock serves as the Declination
or Dec. lock.
2. Rear photo port: Attach any 35mm camera with
a removable lens to this port using an optional
#64 ST T-Adapter or attach the #933 45° Erecting
Prism for correctly oriented images through the
eyepiece. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page
44.
3. Eyepiece holder: Holds the eyepiece upright for
easy viewing.
Note: The vertical lock knob is a knurled knob
located on the fork arm to the right of the focus
knob (Pg 15, Fig. 6, 13). Mounted beneath the
knob is a circular scale without numbers. Do not
confuse this scale with the Dec. setting circle
located on the opposite fork arm which has a
numbered scale used to locate astronomical
objects manually.
4. Eyepiece: Place the supplied 26mm eyepiece into
the 90° Eyepiece Holder (Pg 14, Fig. 5, 3) and
tighten in place with thumbscrew (Pg 14, Fig. 5,
6). Change the eyepiece to a lower focal length
eyepiece and zoom in on your target.
5. Red dot viewfinder: Provides an easier way to
locate objects than in the main telescope eyepiece
which has a narrower field of view.
11. Fork arm: Holds the optical tube in place.
5a. Red dot viewfinder On/off switch: Turn the
knob located underneath the viewfinder lens to
turn on/off the red dot and change the intensity
of the dot. (Note: Be sure to turn off the red dot
when not in use.)
12. Computer control panel: (see Pg 15, Fig. 11).
12a. Handbox (HBX) port: Plug the AudioStar
handbox into this port.
12b. Power LED: The red power indicator light
illuminates when power is supplied to the
telescope’s motor drive.
5b. Red dot viewfinder adjustment knobs: Use
these adjustment knobs to align the red dot
viewfinder to the ETX optical tube. Locate an
object in the telescope eyepiece and use these
adjustment knobs to move the red dot until its
over the same object.
12c. On/off switch: Turns the Computer Control
Panel and AudioStar handbox ON or OFF.
12d. Auxiliary (AUX) port: Provides connection
for current and future Meade accessories. See
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44.
6. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew: Locks the
eyepiece in place. Insert the eyepiece in the
eyepiece holder and tighten this screw until firm.
12e. 9 volt power port: Designed to accept 9
to 12 volt external power including the Meade
#07584 12V AC adapter and LXPS power
supply. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES on
page 44.
7. Red dot viewfinder thumbscrew: Locks the
viewfinder in place. Insert the red dot viewfinder
in its mounting bracket and tighten this screw until
16
13. Vertical setting circle: (on left fork arm): See
information. Replace the cover.
page 58 for detailed information.
CAUTION: Use care to install batteries as
indicated by 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.
Always remove the batteries if they are not to
be used for a long period of time.
14. 90 degree flip mirror: ETX telescopes include
an internal mirror. With the flip-mirror control in
the “up” position light is diverted to the eyepiece.
With the flip-mirror control in the “down” position
light proceeds straight out the photo port for
photography.
Note: The flip-mirror control is in the “up” position
when the control is vertical (perpendicular to
the telescope tube). To place the flip-mirror in
the “down” position, turn the control until it is
horizontal.
20. Horizontal setting circle: See page 58 for
detailed information.
15. Front lens: The high quality 80mm Achromatic
21. 2x Flip-Barlow: Flip the switch to engage the
Barlow. The Barlow doubles the magnification (2x)
ofyoureyepiece.IfyouusetheFlipBarlow,youmay
need to turn the focus knob in a counterclockwise
direction 20 or more turns to focus with the Barlow
engaged. When using the Barlow, you'll notice
your viewing field of view decreases.
lens starts with two pieces of optical glass.
16. OTA mounting thumbscrews: Attaches the ETX
optical tube to the mount using two ¼-20 mounting
screws. Take off the optical tube to reduce the
telescope weight or size. Install another optical
tube to make the ETX observer even more
versatile.
22. Dew Shield (not shown): Slows down the
advance of dew formation on the optics, which
distorts the view.
17. Bubble level/compass: Used to aide in setting
the telescope in the Home Position. See page
12, Fig 4. When placed in the 90° eyepiece holder
the bubble level compass can be used to level the
telescope and determine the direction of magnetic
North.
18. Horizontal lock knob: Controls the manual
horizontal rotation of the telescope. Loosen the
horizontal lock counterclockwise to unlock the
telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand
about the horizontal axis.
Tightening the horizontal lock clockwise prevents
the telescope from being rotated manually, but
engages the horizontal motor drive clutch for
AudioStar operation. When polar aligned, the
horizontal lock serves as the Right Ascension
or R.A. lock.
19. Battery compartment: Accessible thru the battery
compartment door on top of base housing. Install
six user-supplied AA batteries, oriented as shown
on the diagram on the battery slots of the battery
holder in this compartment. See page 7 for more
17
The ETX 90 Telescope - Key Features
9
8
5
7
6
4
3
10
11
12
2
1
1. Focus knob
7. Red dot viewfinder thumbscrew
8. Optical tube
9. Dust cover (not visible)
10.Vertical lock knob
11. Fork arm
2. Rear photo port
3. Eyepiece holder
4. Eyepiece
5. Red dot viewfinder
6. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew
12.Computer control panel
Figure 12: ETX 90 Right Side
18
13. Vertical setting
19. Battery compart-
ment
circle
20. Horizontal setting
circle
14. 90° flip mirror
15. Front lens
16. OTA mounting
thumbscrews(2)
17. Bubble level/com-
pass
7
18. Horizontal lock
knob
13
5a. On/Off Switch
5b. Red dot finder
adjustment knobs
12a. Handbox (HBX) port
12b. Power LED
12c. On/Off switch
14
12d. Auxiliary (AUX) port
12e. 9 volt Power port
(12v compatible)
Figure 13: ETX 90 Left Side
17
Figure 16: ETX 90 Bubble Level
15
16
5a
5b
Figure 14: ETX 90 Dust Cap
Figure 17: ETX 90 Red Dot
12d
12e
12b
12c
18
19
12a
20
Figure 15: ETX 90 Top of Base
Figure 18: ETX 90 Control Panel
19
1. Focus knob: Moves the telescope’s primary
mirror in a finely-controlled motion to achieve
precise image focus. The ETX 90 telescope can
be focused on objects from a distance of about
13 ft to infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to
focus on distant object. Meade makes a complete
line of accessories to enable you to get the most
fun and performance from your ETX telescope. No
matter what you want to accomplish, we have the
equipment to help you get there.
8. Optical tube: The main optical component that
gathers the light from distant objects and brings
this light to a focus for examination with the
eyepiece.
9. Dust Cover: Unthread the dust cover counter-
clockwise from the front lens of the telescope
before observing.
10. Vertical lock knob: Controls the manual vertical
movement of the telescope. Turning the vertical
lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope
enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the
vertical axis. Turning the vertical lock clockwise (to
a firm feel only) prevents the telescope from being
moved manually, but engages the vertical motor
drive clutch for AudioStar operation. When polar
aligned, the vertical lock serves as the Declination
or Dec. lock.
2. Rear photo port: Attach any 35mm camera with a
removable lens to this port using an optional #64
T-Adapter or attach the #932 45° Erecting Prism
for correctly oriented images through the eyepiece.
See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44.
3. Eyepiece holder: Holds the eyepiece upright for
easy viewing.
4. Eyepiece: Place the supplied 26mm eyepiece into
the 90° Eyepiece Holder (Pg 18, Fig. 12, 3) and
tighten in place with thumbscrew (Pg 18, Fig. 12,
6). Change the eyepiece to a lower focal length
eyepiece and zoom in on your target.
Note: The vertical lock knob is a knurled knob
located on the fork arm to the right of the focus
knob (Pg 18, Fig. 12, 10). Mounted beneath
the knob is a circular scale without numbers.
Do not confuse this scale with the Dec. setting
circle (Pg 19, Fig. 15, 20) on the opposite fork
arm which has a numbered scale used to
locate astronomical objects manually.
5. Red dot viewfinder: Provides an easier way to
locate objects than in the main telescope eyepiece
which has a narrower field of view.
11. Fork arm: Holds the optical tube in place.
5a. Red dot viewfinder On/off switch: Turn the
knob located underneath the viewfinder lens to
turn on/off the red dot and change the intensity
of the dot. (Note: Be sure to turn off the red dot
when not in use.)
12. Computer control panel: (see Pg 19, Fig. 18).
12a. Handbox (HBX) port: Plug the AudioStar
handbox into this port.
12b. Power LED: The red power indicator light
illuminates when power is supplied to the
telescope’s motor drive.
5b. Red dot viewfinder adjustment knobs: Use
these adjustment knobs to align the red dot
viewfinder to the ETX optical tube. Locate an
object in the telescope eyepiece and use these
adjustment knobs to move the red dot until its
over the same object.
12c. On/off switch: Turns the Computer Control
Panel and AudioStar handbox ON or OFF.
12d. Auxiliary (AUX) port: Provides connection
for current and future Meade accessories. See
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44.
6. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew: Locks the
eyepiece in place. Insert the eyepiece in the
eyepiece holder and tighten this screw until firm.
12e. 9 volt power port: Designed to accept 9
to 12 volt external power including the Meade
#07584 12V AC adapter and LXPS power
supply. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES on
page 44.
7. Red dot viewfinder thumbscrew: Locks the
viewfinder in place. Insert the red dot viewfinder
in its mounting bracket and tighten this screw until
firm.
20
holder in this compartment. See page 7 for more
information. Replace the cover.
13. Vertical setting circle: (on left fork arm): See
page 58 for detailed information.
CAUTION: Use care to install batteries as
indicated by 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.
Always remove the batteries if they are not to
be used for a long period of time.
14. 90 degree flip mirror: ETX telescopes include
an internal mirror. With the flip-mirror control in
the “up” position light is diverted to the eyepiece.
With the flip-mirror control in the “down” position
light proceeds straight out the photo port for
photography.
Note: The flip-mirror control is in the “up” position
when the control is vertical (perpendicular to
the telescope tube). To place the flip-mirror in
the “down” position, turn the control until it is
horizontal.
20. Horizontal setting circle: See page 58 for
detailed information.
15. Front lens: The high quality 90mm optics start
with a front lens made of optical glass. The primary
and secondary mirrors are carefully aligned inside
the optical tube to provide the best image possible.
16. OTA mounting thumbscrews: Attaches the ETX
optical tube to the mount using two ¼-20 mounting
screws. Take off the optical tube to reduce the
telescope weight or size. Install another optical
tube to make the ETX observer even more
versatile.
17. Bubble level/compass: Used to aide in setting
the telescope in the Home Position. See page 19.
When placed in the 90° eyepiece holder the bubble
level compass can be used to level the telescope
and determine the direction of magnetic North.
18. Horizontal lock knob: Controls the manual
horizontal rotation of the telescope. Loosen the
horizontal lock counterclockwise to unlock the
telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand
about the horizontal axis.
Tightening the horizontal lock clockwise prevents
the telescope from being rotated manually, but
engages the horizontal motor drive clutch for
AudioStar operation. When polar aligned, the
horizontal lock serves as the Right Ascension
or R.A. lock.
19. Battery compartment: Accessible thru the battery
compartment door on top of base housing. Install
six user-supplied AA batteries, oriented as shown
on the diagram on the battery slots of the battery
21
The AudioStar Handbox
12
13
14
1
2
3
Figure 19b: The AudioStar - Back Detail
4
5
6
1. 2-Line LCD
8. Serial Port
9. Coil Cord
10. Coil Cord Port
11. "?" Key
Display
2. ENTER Key
3. MODE Key
4. “GO TO” Key
5. Arrow Keys
6. Number Keys
7. Scroll Keys
11
12. Utility Light
13. Hook
7
10
9
14. Audio Speaker
8
Figure 19a: The AudioStar - Front Detail
Tour the Cosmos with Just the
Push of a Button
Control of the ETX Observer is through the operation
of the standard-equipment AudioStar. Nearly all
functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a
few pushes of AudioStar’s buttons. Some of the major
features of AudioStar are:
night sky objects as you actually view them in
the eyepiece.
•
•
Download the latest software revisions directly
from the Meade website (www.meade.com)
and share software with other AudioStar
enthusiasts.
•
Automatically move the telescope to any of
over 30,000 objects stored in the database or
manually enter the astronomical coordinates of
any celestial object.
Control your ETX with your PC using an serial
interface.
•
•
Access a glossary of astronomical terms.
•
•
Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects
to view on any given night of the year.
Calculate which eyepiece to use for optimum
viewing of a celestial object.
Meade's Astronomer Inside audio content.
Listen through its built-in speaker as it tells you
fun and informative descriptions of over 500
•
Mount the telescope in the “Alt/Az” mode
(Altitude - Azimuth, or vertical - horizontal) for
fully automatic tracking of celestial objects.
22
•
•
•
•
Site coordinates
The AudioStar Computer Controller provides control
of virtually every telescope function within a compact
handbox. AudioStar has soft-touch keys designed to
have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
is back-lit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for
easy viewing in the dark. The back-lit display, key
arrangement, and sequential database makeAudioStar
extremely user friendly.
Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST)
Timer and Alarm Status
Battery status
Press MODE again to return to the previous menu.
4
GO TO Key: Slews (moves) the telescope to the
coordinates of the currently selected object. While
the telescope is slewing, the operation may be
aborted at any time by pressing any key except
GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumes the slew
to the object.
1
2-Line LCD Display: Provides an interface
between AudioStar and the telescope.
•
•
Top line: Lists the primary category or menu item.
Bottom line: Contains a menu option or
information about an object or subject, depending
on which function is being performed.
5
Arrow Keys: Slew the telescope in a specific
direction (up, down, left, and right), at any one
of nine different speeds. Speed selection is
explained in “SLEW SPEEDS”, below. The
following functions are also available with the
Arrow keys:
2
ENTER Key: Accesses, in a sequential manner,
the next menu or data level in the AudioStar
database. See MOVING THROUGH AudioStar’s
MENUS, page 10.
• Moves the telescope – Use the Up and
Down Arrow keys to move the telescope
vertically up and down. The Left Arrow key
NOTE: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or
more and then released, AudioStar emits a beep
and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. “ENTER to
Sync” is relevant only after the telescope has
been aligned and is pointing at an object. If the
“ENTER to Sync” feature is accessed by mistake,
press MODE to return to the previous screen. See
High Precision, page 32, for more details about
this feature.
rotates
the
telescope
horizontally
counterclockwise, while the Right Arrow key
rotates it clockwise.
• Data entry – When the scope is prompting
for user entered data, use the Up and Down
Arrow keys to scroll through the letters of the
alphabet and numerical digits. The Down
Arrow key starts with the letter “A” and the
Up Arrow key starts with the digit “9.” The
Left and Right Arrow keys are used to
move the blinking cursor left and right across
3
MODE Key: Returns to the previous menu or
data level in the AudioStar database until the top
level, “Select Item” is reached. The MODE key is
similar to the back key on a smart phone.
the LCD display.
6
Number Keys: Input digits 0 - 9 and changes the
slew speeds (see Slew Speeds, see below). The
“0” key also turns on and off the red utility light on
the top of the handbox.
Note: Pressing MODE while in the “Select Item”
level moves AudioStar to the topmost screen:
“Select Item: Object”.
If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or
more, information about the telescope’s status
displays. When the status displays, press one of
the Scroll keys (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 7) to display the
following information:
Slew Speeds
ETX has nine slew speeds that are directly
proportional to the sidereal rate (the rate at
which stars appear to drift across the sky)
and have been calculated to accomplish
specific functions. Pressing a Number key
changes the slew speed, which is shown for
about two seconds on AudioStar’s display.
•
•
•
Right Ascension and Declination (astronomical)
coordinates
Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal)
coordinates
To
change
the
speed,
press
the
appropriate key shown below.
Date
23
Nine available speeds are:
the other end into the coil cord port.
Number Key “1” = 1x (Guide)
Number Key “2” = 2x
10 Coil Cord Port: Plug one end of theAudioStar coil
cord into this port (pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 10) located at
the bottom of the AudioStar handbox.
Number Key “3” = 8x
11 ? Key: Accesses the “Help” file. “Help” provides
on-screen information on how to accomplish
whatever task is currently active.
Number Key “4” = 16x
Number Key “5” = 64x
Number Key “6” = 0.50°/sec
Number Key “7” = 1.0°/sec
Number Key “8” = 1.5°/sec
Number Key “9” = 4.0°/sec (Max)
Hold down the ? key and then follow the prompts
on the display to access details of AudioStar
functions in the Help feature. The Help system is
essentially an on-screen instruction manual.
Speeds “1”,“2”, or “3”: Best used for fine
centering of an object in the field of view of
a higher power eyepiece, such as a 12mm or
a 9mm eyepiece.
If you have a question about an AudioStar
operation, e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT,
etc., hold down the ? key and follow the directions
that scroll on the second line of the LCD screen.
When a word appears in [brackets], press ENTER
to access the AudioStar Glossary. A definition or
more detailed information is displayed. Press
MODE to return to the scrolling AudioStar Help
display.
Speeds “4”, “5”, or “6”: Enables centering
an object in the field of a low-to-moderate
power eyepiece, such as the standard Super
Plössl 26mm.
Speeds “7” or “8”: Best used for rough
centering of an object in the Red Dot
Viewfinder.
When satisfied with the Help provided, press
MODE to return to the original screen and
continue with the chosen procedure.
Speed “9”: Moves the telescope quickly from
12 Utility Light: Use this built-in red light to illuminate
star charts and accessories without disturbing
your eye’s adaptation to darkness.
one point in the sky to another.
7
Scroll Keys: Accesses 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.
13 Hook: Attach the metal hook to the back side of
AudioStar. Allows the AudioStar to be hung on
various places on the ETX for quick access.
14 Audio Speaker: Built-in speaker plays
Astronomer Inside audio content.
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). The Scroll Up key and the Up Arrow
key move backward (Z to A, 9 to 0). Common
symbols are also available in the list.
Observing Using AudioStar’s Arrow
Keys
You may observe land and astronomical objects using
AudioStar’s Arrow keys to move the telescope.
1. Verify the telescope is fully assembled and
that AudioStar is properly connected to your
telescope. See Getting Started on page 5.
8
Serial Port: Plug a serial accessory (#505)
cable into AudioStar for updating functions such
as “Download” or “Clone”. See page 33 for
more details.
2. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON
position. The AudioStar screen is activated and
a copyright message displays briefly, followed
by a short beep. Then AudioStar takes a few
9
Coil Cord: Plug one end of the AudioStar coil
cord into the HBX port (Pg. 15 , Fig. 11, 12a) of
the computer control panel of the telescope and
24
such an effect on image quality. Observing in early
morning hours, before the ground has built up internal
heat, produces better viewing conditions than during
late afternoon hours.
moments to start up the system. “Press 0 to
align or Mode for Menu” displays (if you select
“0”, Alignment will begin).
3. The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the
Arrow keys (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 5) to slew (move)
the telescope up, down, right, or left.
If you wish to observe a distant land object, such as a
mountain top or a bird, you want to use your telescope
in its Terrestrial Observing mode. To start up the
telescope in Terrestrial mode:
4. Press a Number key (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 6) to
change the telescope’s slew speed. See Slew
Speeds, on pg 24 for more information.
1. Turn on the telescope.
5. Usetheviewfinder(Pg.15,Fig10,5)tolocatean
object and practice using the AudioStar’s Arrow
keys to center the object in the telescope’s field
of view.
2. Move your telescope using the direction arrows
on the handbox while looking through the Red-
Dot Finder to put your target in the eyepiece.
6. Use the telescope’s focus knob (Pg. 14, Fig. 5, 1
or Pg.18,Fig12,1)tobringtheobjectintofocus.
3. Focus on the target with the focus knob (Pg. 14,
Fig. 5, 1 or Pg. 18, Fig 12, 1).
Observe the Moon
ETX OBSERVER TIPS
Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon
is not visible every night) and practice using the Arrow
keys and the slew speeds to view different features.
The Moon contains many interesting features, including
craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines.
Observing Considerations
• Try to pick an observing site away from street
and house lights and car headlights. While this
is not always possible, the darker the site, the
better.
The best time to view the Moon is during its crescent
or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle
during these periods and adds a depth to the view.
No shadows are seen during a full Moon, causing
the overly bright surface to appear flat and rather
uninteresting. Consider the use of a neutral density
Moon filter when observing the Moon. Not only does it
cut down the Moon’s bright glare, but it also enhances
contrast, providing a more dramatic image.
• Try not to use
a
standard flashlight.
Experienced observers use red LED flashlights,
the red utility light on the AudioStar handbox, or
tape red cellophane over their flashlights to use
for setup and map reading so they don’t have to
continually readjust their eyes to the darkness. Be
careful not to shine bright lights if there are other
observers in the area. Do not shine a flashlight
into the telescope while someone is observing!
• Dress warmly. It gets chilly when you’re sitting for
prolonged periods.
Terrestrial Observing
The ETX is an excellent high-resolution, terrestrial
(land) telescope. Viewing terrestrial objects requires
looking along the Earth’s surface through heat waves.
These heat waves often cause degradation of image
quality. Lower power eyepieces, like the Super Plössl
26mm eyepiece, magnify these heat waves less than
higher power eyepieces. Therefore, lower power
eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image.
• Practice setting up your equipment during the
day or in a lighted area to become familiar with it
before going to a dark site.
• Use your 26mm eyepiece to view terrestrial
objects and wider areas of space, such as
open star clusters. Use optional higher power
eyepieces, such as a 9mm eyepiece, when you
wish to view something up close, such as craters
on the Moon or the rings of Saturn.
If the image is fuzzy or ill-defined, reduce to a lower
power eyepiece, where the heat waves do not have
25
move down one menu level.
AudioStar Operation
Press the MODE key to leave a level; e.g., the wrong
menu option is chosen.
Important Note: No matter how many levels
into AudioStar are traveled, each press of the
MODE key moves up a level, until the top level,
“Select Item”, is reached. Once in the Select
Item level, press MODE to return to the topmost
level, “Select Item: Object”.
The Universe
of AudioStar
AudioStar Navigation Exercise
To demonstrate how the AudioStar menu structure
works, the following exercise calculates Sunset time
so an evening observing session can be planned.
Fig. 20: The AudioStar Universe: The six primary cate-
gories listed in the Select Item menu of AudioStar.
To Calculate Sunset time:
It is important to understand that menu selections are
set in a loop (Fig. 21). This means that pressing the
Scroll Down key (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 7) cycles down
through all the available options within a given category,
then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (Pg.
22, Fig. 19a, 7) cycles up through the options in the
opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way
to get to an option that is near the bottom of the list.
The following example demonstrates this capability.
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 the Scroll Down key once to display the
“Sunset” option in the Event menu.
Example:
5. Press the ENTER key to choose the “Sunset”
option and move down another level.
To navigate to the “Select Item: Setup” menu option
when the “Select Item: Object” menu is displayed:
6. AudioStar calculates the Sunset time based on
the current date, time, and location. AudioStar
then displays the results of the calculation.
1. Press the Scroll Down key four times or the
Scroll Up key once.
7. Press MODE once to start moving back up
through the AudioStar levels. The first level up
The screen in Fig. 19a displays two lines of information.
The top line shows the current menu level. The second
line displays an option which may be selected within
that menu level. Some options are choices that select
the next menu level down. The Scroll keys move up
and down within the list of available options, showing
one option at a time.
Figure 21a: AudioStar Levels
Figure 21b: Menus set in
loop
When the desired option is displayed on the second
line, press the ENTER key to choose that option and
26
is the Event menu.
sky. These tours are pre-programmed presentations of
objects that are visible for the user’s particular location,
time and date.
8. Press MODE again to move up another level.
This is the top level, “Select Item”.
9. Press MODE again to return to the starting
point of “Select Item: Object”.
The most popular tour is “Tonight’s Best” that guides
the user to the best objects that are currently up in the
night sky. This tour is the easiest way to get started
exploring the cosmos with your new ETX telescope.
Entering Data into AudioStar
• To enter numbers and text:
Each tour will select the objects, present information
about the object and, if you press “GoTo”, put that
object in the eyepiece of the telescope for you to view.
A) Use the Number keys, or
B) Use the Arrow keys to scroll through numbers
0 - 9 and the alphabet. The Down Arrow key
begins with the letter “A”; the Up Arrow key
begins with digit “9”.
The telescope comes pre-loaded with:
•
“Tonight’s Best”, a selection of the most
interesting objects visible on any night.
• To move the cursor across the display: Use the
Right or Left Arrow key (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 5) to
move the cursor from one number to the next
in the display
•
“A Star’s Life”, tours how stars are formed,
created, changes through their lives and finally
die using examples that are visible tonight.
• Press ENTER when the desired information
has been entered.
•
“How Far is Far”, tour showing the phenomenal
distances you can see with your ETX.
Navigating AudioStar
AudioStar’s menus are organized for quick and
easy navigation:
AutoStar Suite Software also allows you to create
your own guided tours of the skies, including your own
objects and titles (for complete instructions on how to
use the authoring tools please refer to the reference
manual included on the AutoStar Suite DVD).
• Press ENTER to go deeper into AudioStar’s
menu levels.
• Press MODE (Pg. 22, Fig. 19a, 3) to move
back toward the top menu level.
• Press the Scroll keys to move up and down
through the options or lists.
Object Menu
Almost all observing with ETX is performed using the
Object menu category. (NOTE: Exceptions include
Guided Tour and Landmarks).
• Press theArrow keys to move the cursor across
the display.
• Press the Help (?) key to access on-line help.
Many ETX menu categories contain databases.
An ETX database is a list of objects, such as stars,
planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of
these objects is selected from a database by pressing
“ENTER” and then “GO TO”, ETX moves your
telescope (when properly aligned) and points it at the
selected object.
When multiple choices are available within a menu
option, the option that is currently selected is usually
displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing
arrow (>).
Guided Tour Menu
When Guided Tours is selected, ETX shows you a
list of theme tours that will help you explore the night
The Object Menu options include:
27
AudioStar MENU TREE
Figure 22: The AudioStar Menu Tree
28
•
•
Solar System is a database of the eight planets
(Earth is not included) in ascending orbits from the
Sun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets.
database (see ADD below), choose the “Select”
option and scroll through the list. Press “ENTER”
to select a Landmark,then press“GOTO”andthe
telescope slews to the object.
Constellation is a database of all 88 Northern and
Southern Hemisphere constellations. When this
menu option is chosen and a constellation name
appears on the first line of the screen, press GO
TO once to change the second line to the name of
the brightest star in the constellation.
Add – To add a Landmark, choose the “Add”
option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate
and center the Landmark in the eyepiece, then
press “ENTER”.
•
Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who
wants to scan the night sky and start exploring.
After the telescope has been properly aligned, use
the AudioStar Arrow keys to move about in the sky.
Then follow this procedure:
Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to
that star. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list
of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest.
•
Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our
Solar System such as nebulae, star clusters,
galaxies, and quasars grouped in various catalogs
like Messier, Caldwell and NGC.
Important Note: Only use the Arrow keys to move the
telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not move
the telescope manually or the alignment will be lost.
•
Star is a database of stars listed in different
categories such as named, double, variable, or
nearby.
1.
When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece,
keep pressing MODE until the “Select Item: Object”
menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select this menu.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When an object is selected,
pressing “ENTER” for two seconds will synchronize
the telescope’s coordinates with the object. This is
most useful when syncing on bright stars to achieve
better pointing in the vicinity of the star.
2.
Scroll through the Object menu options until the
“Object: Identify” screen appears.
3.
PressENTER.AudioStarsearchesthedatabasefor
the identity of the object being observed.
•
•
•
User Objects allows the user to define and store in
memory deep-sky objects of specific interest that
are not currently in the ETX database. See page
29 for more information (for complete instructions
on how to use the authoring tools please refer to
the reference manual included on the AudioStar
Suite DVD).
4.
If the telescope is not directly on an AudioStar
database object, the nearest database object is located
and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the
telescope slews to that object.
•
Browse allows you to search the database for
objects with certain parameters, much like a
search engine. “Edit Parameters” lets you set
various parameters for the search, such as: Object
Type, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc. Once you
have set the parameters of the search, select
“Start Search” and press ENTER. AudioStar will
display the results of the search. See page 29 for
more information.
Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects
such as the International Space Station (ISS),
the Hubble Space Telesco8Pg18e (HST),
Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and
geosynchronous orbit satellites. In order to find
and track satellites, you must download recent
orbital data into the telescope.
Landmarks stores the location of terrestrial points
of interest that you create in the permanent ETX
90 database.
•
Event Menu
IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function,
the telescope must be located and aligned exactly as
when the landmark was added to the database.
The Event menu provides access to dates and times
of astronomical events. The Event database includes:
•
Select – To select a Landmark already in the
29
Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun
terms and AudioStar functions. Access directly through
the Glossary menu or through hypertext words
embedded in AudioStar. A hypertext word is any word
in [brackets], usually found when using the AudioStar
Help function or when reading a scrolling message
such as a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER
whenever a hypertext word is on screen and AudioStar
goes to the glossary entry for that word.
rises or sets on the current date.
Moon rise and Moon set calculates the time that the
Moon rises or sets on the current date.
Moon Phases displays the date and time of the next
New, 1st Quarter, Full and 3rd Quarter Moon.
Meteor Showers provides information on upcoming
meteor showers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids,
etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they
reach maximum.
To access directly from the Glossary menu, use the
Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet. Press
ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry
and then press ENTER to read the description.
NOTE: Meteors are fast moving objects that cover
large areas of the sky and are usually best observed
with the naked eye.
Utilities Menu
Solar Eclipse lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including
the date and type (total, annular, or partial) of eclipse,
and the location and time of the first and last contacts
of the Moon’s shadow. Use the Scroll Up and Down
keys to display the available data. Remember, never
use a telescope to look at the Sun!
The Utilities menu provides access to several extra
features within AudioStar, including a countdown timer
and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful
for functions such as astrophotography and tracking
satellites. See OBSERVING Satellites, page 36. To
use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or
“Start/Stop.”
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.
• Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in
hours, minutes, and seconds, then press
ENTER.
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. The combined
magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a
minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the
second star is hidden. ETX calculates minimum
magnitude time at mid-eclipse.
• Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously.
Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and
OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to
activate the timer. When the timer runs out, four
beeps sound and the timer is deactivated
Alarm: selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder.
To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or
“Start/Stop”.
Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and
• Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm to
sound, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then
press ENTER.
date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year.
Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time
and date of the winter or summer solstice of the
current year.
• Start/Stop: Activates the alarm set previously.
Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and
OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to
activate the alarm. When the alarm time arrives,
AudioStar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate
the alarm.
Glossary Menu
The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of
Eyepiece Calc: calculates information about an eye-
piece for the specific telescope to which AudioStar is
definitions and descriptions for common astronomical
30
Cord Wrap, when set to “On”, moves the telescope in
such a way as to prevent the cords and cables attached
to your telescope assembly from getting wound around
the assembly and tangled as the telescope slews to
objects. “Off” is the default setting.
connected.
Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eye-
pieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the field of
view is calculated.
• Magnification: Scroll through a list of available
eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the
magnification is calculated.
Setup Menu
• Suggest: AudioStar calculates and suggests
the best eyepiece for viewing, based on the
telescope and the object being viewed.
The Setup menu’s primary function is to align the
telescope. However, there are numerous other features
available within the Setup menu, including:
•Suggest: Brightness Adj adjusts the brightness
of the display using the Scroll keys. When
complete, press ENTER.
Date changes the date used byAudioStar. This function
is useful to check events in the past or future. For
example, set the Date menu for a day three months in
the future. Then check the “Select Item: Event” menu
for the Sunset time on that date. See EVENT MENU,
page 29.
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.
Time changes the time entered into AudioStar. Setting
the correct time is critical for AudioStar to properly
calculate locations and events. Time may be set to
24-hour mode (military time) by selecting the “blank”
option which follows the “AM” and “PM” options.
Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope
to all user-defined landmarks with a short pause at
each location. Press ENTER to start the survey. While
a slew is in progress, press any key to skip that object
and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe
a landmark for a longer period, press MODE when
paused on the object to stop the survey. Press ENTER
to restart the survey at the first object on the list. See
Landmarks, page 40.
Daylight Saving is used to enable or disable Daylight
Savings time.
Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by
different names in various areas of the world. Check
local time to verify.
Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down
AudioStar and the telescope without forgetting its
alignment. With “Sleep Scope” selected, press ENTER
to activate the Sleep function. AudioStar goes dark, but
the internal clock keeps running. Press any key, except
ENTER, to re-activate AudioStar and the telescope.
Telescope accesses the several options, including:
• Model: Allows you to select the telescope
model connected to AudioStar.
• Focal Length: Displays the focal length of the
selected telescope.
ParkScopeisdesignedforatelescopethatisnotmoved
between observing sessions. Align the telescope one
time, then use this function to park the telescope. Next
time it is powered up, enter the correct date and time –
no alignment is required. Pressing ENTER causes the
telescope to move to its pre-determined Park position.
Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off power.
• Az Ratio and Alt Ratio: The Az (Azimuth)
ratio and Alt (Altitude) ratio refers to the gears
of the telescope’s motors. Do not alter these
numbers.
• Az Percent: The Az (Azimuth) Percent allows
you to change the azimuth backlash, i.e., the
way the Arrow keys move the telescope along
the azimuth (horizontal) axis. If you enter a
value near 100, the telescope tube responds
more quickly (it responds immediately at 100%)
as you hold down an Arrow key and also slews
(moves) the tube more quickly. If you enter
Important Note: When the “Park Scope” option is
chosen and the display prompts you to turn off the
telescope’s power, AudioStar is unable to be returned
to operation without turning the power off and then
back on.
31
a value near 0, it takes longer for the tube to
respond as you hold down an Arrow key and
also slews the tube more slowly. Experiment
with this option. Try changing the percent value
until you get a “feel” for the Arrow keys that is
comfortable for you.
• Min AOS (Acquisition of Signal) allows you
enter a value in degrees. This value represents
the altitude at which your telescope begins
to slew when acquiring a satellite track. This
is useful when you are observing satellites,
but a tall tree or building is obstructing the
telescope. For example, you might begin to
track the satellite at 15° altitude, instead of 5°.
See Observing Satellites, page 36, for more
information about satellites.
• Alt Percent: TheAlt (Altitude) Percent operates
identical to the Az Percent option (see above),
but allows you to change the altitude backlash,
i.e., the way theArrow keys move the telescope
when moving along the altitude (vertical) axis.
• Calibrate Motor if the telescope motors appear
to have a problem, use this option to retest the
motors before performing a Reset. This option
is also used if an AudioStar unit is moved
between telescopes, to match AudioStar to the
new telescope. To calibrate the motors, select
this option and press ENTER.
• 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 procedure
described in APPENDIX A: TRAINING THE
DRIVE, page 50, to insure accurate pointing
and tracking.
• High Precision if turned on, when looking for
a faint celestial object (i.e., a nebula or galaxy),
AudioStar first slews to a nearby bright star
and displays “Center (Star name) Press Enter”.
Center the star in the eyepiece, then press
ENTER. At that point the telescope has a high
precision alignment to that part of the sky and
it then slews to the object that was originally
requested.
• Tracking Rate: Changes the speed at which
the telescope tracks targets in the sky.
A.Sidereal: The default setting for AudioStar;
sidereal rate is the standard rate at which stars
move from East to West across the sky due to
the rotation of the Earth.
B.Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the
Targets switches between Astronomical targets and
Terrestrial targets. If “Astronomical” is selected, the
telescope tracking motor is activated and any object
you observe will remain centered in the eyepiece.
If “Terrestrial” is selected, the tracking motor is
turned off.
Moon over long observing sessions.
C.Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking
rates.
• Reverse L/R reverses the functions of the Left
and Right Arrow keys (i.e., the Right key moves
the telescope to the left).
Site provides access to several options including:
• Reverse UP/DOWN reverses the functions of
the Up and Down Arrow keys (i.e., the Up key
moves the telescope down).
• Select: Displays36 the currently selected
observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle
through all available sites (see Add below).
Press ENTER when the site you wish to select
displays. Use this option when you move to a
different geographic location.
• Quiet Slew sets the maximum slew rate to 1.5°
for quieter operation.
• Max Elevation allows you to enter a value in
degrees that sets a limit as to how far the optical
tube can swing upward during a programmed
slew. (Note that it does not prevent you from
performing a manual slew past this limit.) This
is useful when you have a camera or other
peripheral attached to the telescope—you can
prevent it from striking the telescope base.
• Add: Allows you to add new observing sites to
the database (up to six sites may be stored).
Scroll through the list of Countries/States.
Press ENTER when the site you wish to add
displays. Then choose the desired city in the
same manner.
32
• Delete: Deletes
a
stored site from
and AudioStar software
another AudioStar.
–
is sent to
the database.
• Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name,
latitude, longitude, and time zone. Time Zone
refers to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time
zone shift. Users West of Greenwich, England
use “-” hours, East of Greenwich use “+” hours.
For the United States, look up the time zone
shift in the table at left.
Statistics provides basic statistical data about
AudioStar, including:
• Characters Free: Shows how much room is
available in user-defined object memory.
• Version: Shows the current version of the
AudioStar software.
Reset completely resets AudioStar. Most values
AudioStar compensates for daylight savings
time, if selected. See Setup Menu: Daylight
Saving, page 31.
entered into the menus revert to factory defaults.
Owner Info accesses the owner information menu,
including:
• Name: Users may enter both their first and last
names using the Up and Down Arrow keys to
cycle through the alphabet. Use the Right and
Left Arrow keys to move through the text. Press
ENTER when the entry is complete.
• Address: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys
to enter your street address, city, state, and
zip code. Press ENTER when the entry is
complete.
Download transfers information from another
AudioStar during cloning (see below). During the
operation, the warning “Downloading Do Not Turn Off”
appears.
Note: The Download function requires the optional
#505 Astrofinder Software and Cable Connector Kit.
See the instruction sheet included with the kit for more
information on how to download. Also see OPTIONAL
ACCESSORIES, page 44.
Clone uploads information from one AudioStar
handbox to another. Three options are available:
• Catalogs: Sends only user-defined object
information, such as new satellite orbits or
comet data to another AudioStar handbox.
• Software: Sends only the basic AudioStar
software. This is useful if one user has
downloaded a new version of AudioStar
software from the Meade website (www.
meade.com) and wants to pass this software
along to friends.
• All: Everything – user-defined information
33
You will need to know the latitude and longitude of your
location to perform this procedure. This information is
available on most maps.
Advanced AudioStar Features
Adding Observing Sites
If you plan to observe using AudioStar at different
geographic locations, you can store up to six
observation sites inAudioStar’s memory to help simplify
your telescope setup. Perform these procedures using
the Site options (Add, Select, Delete, Edit) of the
Setup menu.
1. Using the Add option, choose a site on the
list that is closest to your observing site and
press ENTER so that the site is added to your
observing sites list. Choosing a site already
on the list (as opposed to using the “Custom”
feature) makes it easier to edit, as the “Time
Zone” value may not need to be changed.
2. Scroll to “Site: Edit” and press ENTER. “Edit:
Name” displays. Press ENTER.
To Add a Site to the user-defined site
list:
3. The name of the site you have just entered
to your list displays; if it does not, scroll to
the site.
In this example, you will choose a city and add it to the
database list. You will then select the site to enable it.
1. Navigate to the “Setup: Site” menu.
Press ENTER,
4. Using the Arrow keys, change the name of
the site so that it now reads the name of your
observing location. Press Enter. “Edit: Name”
displays again.
2. Scroll through the options until “Site: Add”
displays. Press ENTER.
3. You are given a choice to enter a zip code
(press “1”) or select a city from the list (press
“2”). If you choose “Zip”, enter the digits of your
zip code and press ENTER.
5. Press the Scroll Down key and “Edit: Latitude”
displays. Press ENTER.
6. Using the Number Keys, enter the latitude of
your observing site and then press ENTER.
“Edit: Latitude” displays again.
4. If you choose “City”, scroll through the list of
countries/states. Press ENTER when the
country/state you wish to add displays.
7. Press the Scroll Down key and “Edit: Longitude”
displays. Press ENTER.
5. Scroll through the list of cities. Press ENTER
when the city you wish to select displays. The
sites you choose will appear at the top of the
Select list (all other available sites will be listed
after the sites you have chosen).
8. Using the Number
Keys, enter the longitude
Time Zone
Shift
of your observing site and
then press ENTER. “Edit:
Longitude” displays again.
Atlantic
Eastern
Central
Mountain
Pacific
-4 Hours
-5 Hours
-6 Hours
-7 Hours
-8 Hours
-9 Hours
-10 Hours
6. To choose a site, navigate to “Site: Select”.
Press ENTER. Scroll through the list of sites.
Both Zip Codes and Cities are displayed.
When the desired zip code or site displays,
press ENTER.
9. Press the Scroll Down
key and “Edit: Time Zone”
displays. Press ENTER. (If
the site you chose from the
Alaska
Hawaii
list in step 1 has the same Time Zone as the
site you are editing, just press ENTER again
to go on to the next step.) “Time Zone” refers
to the Greenwich Time Zone shift. Users West
of Greenwich, use “-” hours (one hour per time
zone) and users East of Greenwich use “+”
hours. For the United States, look up the shift
in Table 1, at the left.
To Edit a Site:
In this procedure, you will enter a location that is not
available in the AudioStar database by editing data of a
nearby site. You will edit the location’s name, latitude,
longitude and the time zone shift. You will then select
the site to enable it.
10. After entering the shift, press ENTER. “Edit
Time Zone” displays.
34
4. “User Object: Select” displays. Press the Scroll
Down key once. “User Object: Add” displays.
Press ENTER.
11. Press MODE. “Site: Edit” displays.
12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to “Site: Select”.
The site you have just edited displays. Press
ENTER to select the site or press MODE
to exit.
5. “Name” displays on the top line and a blinking
cursor on the second line. Use the Arrow keys,
as previously described, to enter the name of
the object you wish to add to the database.
When you are finished, press ENTER.
Using AudioStar to Find Objects Not
in the Database
6. “Right Asc.: 00.00.0” displays. Use the Number
keys to enter the digits for the Right Ascension
coordinate of your object. When you are
finished, press ENTER.
In this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial
objects that do not appear in any of the AudioStar
database lists. You will enter the object’s name and
R.A. and Dec. coordinates (required information).
You may also enter the object’s magnitude and size
(optional information).
7. “Declination: +00°.00’” displays. Use the
Number keys to enter the digits for the
Declination coordinate of your object. If
necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change “+” to
“-”. When you are finished, press ENTER.
Although AudioStar contains an extensive database of
celestial objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc.) that you
can observe, you may eventually want to view objects
that are not part of the database. AudioStar provides
a feature that allows you to enter an object’s R.A.
and Dec. coordinates in the “User: Objects” option of
the Object menu and allows automatic slewing of the
telescope to the user-entered coordinates.
8. AudioStar then prompts you to enter the size
of the object. This step is optional. Use the
Number keys to enter the size (in arc-minutes),
if so desired, and press ENTER to go to the
next display. If you do not wish to enter this
information, simply press ENTER.
9. AudioStar then prompts you to enter the
magnitude of the object. This step is also
optional. Use the Number keys to enter this
information, if so desired, and press ENTER
to go to the next display. “User Object: Add”
displays again.
In order to use this menu option, you first need to look up
the R.A. and Dec. coordinates of the object or objects
you wish to observe. Check out your local library,
computer store, or bookstore for astronomy books,
CD ROMs, or magazines (such as Sky & Telescope
or Astronomy), to find coordinates of celestial objects.
The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your
own permanent database, called “User Objects”.
To GO TO a user-entered object:
In this procedure, you will choose an object from the
User Object list and GO TO the object.
To enter coordinates of an object into the “User:
Objects” option of the Object menu:
1. With “User Object: Add” displayed, press the
Scroll Up key once. “User Object: Select”
displays. Press ENTER.
1. Make sure AudioStar has been initialized and
the telescope has been aligned.
2. Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to
the desired object. Press ENTER.
2. After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item:
Object” displays. (If necessary, use the Scroll
keys to scroll through the menus, as previously
described, to find this option.) Press ENTER.
3. The name of the object and the RightAscension
and Declination coordinates display.
4. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to
the object.
3. “Object: Solar System” displays. Keep pressing
the Scroll Up key until “Object: User Object”
displays and press ENTER.
35
object in the viewfinder, then look through the
Observing Satellites
eyepiece to view the object.
In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to
observe a satellite pass.
Satellite orbits change and new satellites are
com) approximately once a month to get updated
information and instructions on how to download this
data to AudioStar. If orbital parameters are more than
one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at
the time predicted by AudioStar. Downloading requires
the optional #505 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable
Connector Kit. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page
44.
1. Navigate to the “Object: Satellite” menu option
and press ENTER.
2. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
of satellites.
3. Select a satellite from list and press ENTER.
4. “Calculating...” and then “Tracking...” displays.
If the satellite is going to make a pass,
“Located” displays.
5. Use the Scroll keys to display data about the
pass: aos—acquisition of signal and los—loss
of signal. If you subtract the aos from the los,
you can calculate how long the satellite will be
visible. Location information also displays.
NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge.
Most satellites are in low orbit, traveling at
approximately 17,500 mph. When visible, they move
quickly across the sky and are only in the field of
view for a few minutes, requiring AudioStar 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.
6. “Alarm” displays after the location information.
Press ENTER and AudioStar automatically
sets the alarm to sound a minute before the
satellite’s scheduled appearance. You may
return to regular observations until the alarm
goes off.
7. When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite
menu and press a Scroll key until the desired
satellite is on the top line of the display.
How to Create Your Own Guided Tour
8. Press GO TO. AudioStar slews the telescope
to where the satellite should appear. The motor
drive stops and a countdown is displayed.
When a Guided Tour is selected, AudioStar slews your
telescopetoapredeterminedlistofobjectsanddisplays
information about each object, such as type of object,
constellation location, R.A. and Dec. coordinates, and
so forth. AudioStar contains a few Guided Tours which
are programmed at the factory. But it is also possible
for an observer to create a custom Guided Tour.
Note: If the scheduled appearance position of
the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by a building,
tree, or hill), press ENTER and AudioStar starts
to move the telescope along the expected
satellite track. When the track clears the
obstruction, press ENTER again to pause the
telescope, then continue with this procedure.
Atour is basically anASCII text file that contains a list of
directions and descriptions. Each line of a tour is either
a comment line, a command line, or a description.
9. With about 20 seconds left on the countdown
timer, start watching through the telescope
viewfinder (Pg. 15, Fig. 1, 5 or Pg. 18, Fig. 12,
5) for the satellite to enter the field of view.
What you will need:
•
A PC with text editor or word processing software
10. When the satellite enters the viewfinder field
of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts to
track with the satellite.
installed (the tour must be saved as a “text only” or as
a “MS-DOS text” file).
•
The Meade #505 Cable Connector Kit to download
11. Use the AudioStar Arrow keys to center the
36
AudioStar recognizes the following keywords:
tour information to the AudioStar handbox.
TITLE
TEXT
USER
NGC
Tour Modes
IC
SAO
The objects chosen for a tour list are selected from
AudioStar’s database or by entering the object’s R.A.
and Dec. coordinates. The tour is presented in one of
two modes:
MESSIER
PLANET
CALDWELL
MOON
SATELLITE
COMET
ASTEROID
LUNAR ECLIPSE
DEEP SKY
STAR
METEOR SHOWER
CONSTELLATION
LANDMARK
PICK ONE/PICK END
#END
Automatic Mode: The title of an object appears on
first line and descriptive text scrolls on line 2.
DEFINE
Interactive Mode: Tour name appears on the first line
of the AudioStar display and the name of the object
displays on line 2. To display descriptive text in this
mode, the user must press ENTER.
AUTO SLEW ON/OFF
Description String: Description of an object. Must
be surrounded by quotation marks. If the description
is longer than one line, each line must end with a
quotation mark and a hard return. Begin the next
description line with a quotation mark.
Comment Line
Information in the Tour program that is not displayed,
such as authorship, revision history, copyrights, etc. All
comments begin with a “/” character in column 1 of the
line. For example:
If quotation marks are to be displayed in the on-screen
description, use two quote marks at the beginning
and end of the desired phrase. For example: “The
Orion Nebula is considered “awesome” by many who
view it”.
/ Extreme Object
/ (c) 2015 Meade Instruments Corp
Command Line
Writing a Tour
This line contains programming commands, including:
R.A. and DEC. coordinates, a title string, a description
string, and a keyword.
Using the list of commands listed above, a custom
tour can be created. Placing the word AUTO SELECT
before any of the command lines activates Automatic
Mode and, when selected, AudioStar automatically
searches and finds the designated object.
R.A.: Enter the Right Ascension of an object in the
following format: HH:MM:SS.
Eg., 18:51:05
The following is a list of command lines, complete with
keywords and necessary strings:
Dec.: Enter the Declination of an object in the following
format: DDdMMmSSs. Eg., – 06d16m00s
TITLE
Title String: Text within a title string is displayed as
the title of the object. A title string can contain up to
16 characters and must be surrounded by quotation
marks. For example. “M64” or “My Favorite Star”.
Title must be the first keyword in your tour after any
comment lines and must be 15 characters or less.
AudioStar displays this title when “Guided Tour” is
selected from the menus.
In Interactive Mode, the title string appears on line 2
For example: TITLE “A Star’s Life”
until it is selected with the ENTER key.
TEXT “title string” “description string”
In Automatic Mode, or after Interactive Mode
selection, the title string appears on line 1 while the
description scrolls across line 2.
This command allows you to display a text title and
description.
Keywords: Action to be performed during a tour.
37
USER ra dec “title string” “description string”
of the object from its database. For example:
CALDWELL 17
This command line allows you to access a specific
object with your own description. Enter USER, then
the R.A. and DEC. of a desired object, and its title and
description. Use the format described in the Command
Line section.
PLANET “name”
Enter PLANET and then the name of the desired
planet in quotes. AudioStar provides the user with a
description of the selected planet from its database.
For example: PLANET “Pluto”
The following commands specify objects that are
already in the AudioStar database. If these commands
follow the command AUTO SELECT, the object’s title
displays on line 1 and its description scrolls across
line 2.
MOON
This command accesses information about the Moon
from the AudioStar database.
Do not add a description string after the following
command lines; these commands access objects with
existing description in the AudioStar database.
SATELLITE “name”
Enter SATELLITE and then the name of the desired
satellite in quotes. AudioStar displays
NGC xxxx
Enter NGC followed by the desired New General
Catalog number and AudioStar provides the user
with a description of the object from its database. For
example: NGC 4256
Information about the satellite from its database. For
example: SATELLITE: “Intl Space Stn”
ASTEROID “name”
Enter ASTEROID and then the name of the desired
asteroid in quotes. AudioStar displays information
about the asteroid from its database. For example:
ASTEROID: “Ceres”
IC xxxx
Enter IC followed by the desired Index Catalog number
and AudioStar provides the user with a description of
the object from its database. For example: IC 1217
COMET “name”
SAO xxxxxx
Enter COMET and then the name of the desired
comet in quotes. AudioStar displays information
about the comet from its database. For example:
COMET: “Halley”
Enter SAO followed by the desired SAO number and
AudioStar provides the user with a description of the
object from its database. For example: SAO 30200
Messier xxx
LUNAR ECLIPSE
Enter MESSIER followed by the desired Messier
number and AudioStar provides the user with a
description of the object from its database. For
example: M 101
If LUNAR ECLIPSE is part of the tour, AudioStar
checks its database every time the tour is activated
to see if a lunar eclipse is visible that evening. If no
eclipse is visible, this option is skipped and the tour
proceeds on the next object.
CALDWELL xxx
METEOR SHOWER
Enter CALDWELL followed by the Caldwell number
and AudioStar provides the user with a description
If METEOR SHOWER is part of the tour, AudioStar
38
checks its database every time the tour is activated
to see if a meteor shower is visible that evening. If no
meteor shower is visible, this option is skipped and the
tour proceeds on to the next object.
AUTO SELECT TEXT “Globular Cluster” “Globular
clusters are huge balls of stars”.
“They contain 50,000 to 100,000 stars and are located
on the fringes of our “galaxy”.
DEEP SKY “name”
Enter DEEP SKY followed by the name of the desired
object in quotes. For example:
PICK ONE
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 13
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 15
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 92
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 4
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 68
AUTO SELECT NGC 1234
DEEP SKY “Small Magellanic Cloud”
CONSTELLATION “name”
Enter CONSTELLATION followed by the name of
the desired constellation in quotes. For example:
CONSTELLATION “Leo Major”
AUTO SELECT TEXT “None Available” “I’m sorry.
There are no bright globular” “clusters visible at
this time”.
STAR “name”
Enter STAR followed by the name of the desired star in
quotes. For example: STAR “Vega”
PICK END
AUTO SLEW ON / AUTO SLEW OFF
LANDMARK az alt “title” “description”
With AUTO SLEW ON enabled in the tour, AudioStar
automatically slews the telescope to objects first
before displaying the text description. This feature
is useful when designing tours in which observing
certain objects is required. For example, an astronomy
professor may require his students to observe six
objects, four of which AudioStar automatically slews to
in a tour. The students would have to manually slew to
the last two objects. He would then place AUTO SLEW
ON before his first required object and AUTO SLEW
OFF after the fourth object.
Enter the azimuth (az) for the desired object in
the following format: xxxdxxmxxs. For example:
123d27m00s. Then enter the altitude of the desired
object in the following format: xxdxxmxxs. Then enter
the title string and description string in quotes. For
example:
LANDMARK 123d27m00s 57d20m20s “Landmark 1”
“North corner of apartment building”
PICK ONE / PICK END
These two statements are used to surround a list of
items that AudioStar can choose from during a tour.
AudioStar begins at the top of the PICK ONE list and
displays the first object from the list that is above the
horizon and ignores the rest.
#END
To end a tour, type the command #END on a separate
line at the very end of the tour.
This statement is useful for developing tours that can
be presented year round. For each object type you wish
to use to illustrate in your tour, pick 10 to 12 examples
spaced across the range of right ascension. Bracket
them by the PICK ONE / PICK END statements. One
current example displays for the user. For example:
Downloading Tours
Once a tour is written and stored as anASCII file (saved
either as a “text only” or “MS DOS text” file), load it into
AudioStarusingtheAudioStarUpdateUtilityonyourPC.
As tours are downloaded into the handbox, AudioStar
39
5. Press the Scroll Up key twice and “Object:
Landmarks” displays. Press ENTER.
“Landmark: Select” displays.
examines the programming. If it doesn’t understand
the terminology used within a tour, it flags questionable
areas and displays them in a pop-up window on your
computer screen. Make the necessary corrections
and try to download again. See the instruction
sheet with your #505 Cable Connector Kit for more
information about downloading data to and interfacing
with AudioStar.
6. Press the Scroll Down key once. “Landmark:
Add” displays. Press ENTER.
7. “Landmark Name” displays. Using Arrow
keys, enter a name for the landmark you
wish to add to the database. When finished,
press ENTER.
Landmarks
8. “Center Landmark. Press Enter” displays.
Using only the Arrow keys (do not manually
move the telescope), move the telescope to
the desired landmark and center the object in
the eyepiece. Press Enter. The object is now
stored in memory.
This menu option allows you to define and store
terrestrial objects in the Landmark database. First,
a landmark needs to be stored in memory using the
“Landmark: Add” option. To view a landmark, use the
“Landmark: Select” option. Landmarks may also be
viewed using the “Landmark Survey” option in the
Utilities menu.
9. “Landmark: Add” displays. If you wish to add
more landmarks, repeat steps 5 through 7.
To Add a landmark to the database:
To Select a landmark from the database:
In this procedure, you will store the location of terrestrial
landmarks in AudioStar’s memory.
1. Make sure the telescope is located and aligned
exactly as when the desired landmark was
entered into memory.
2. Display the “Landmark: Select” menu option.
Press ENTER.
1. Set the telescope in the home position, if
necessary. Note for future reference where the
telescope is located and if you have aligned the
telescope, which alignment method is used.
3. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
of objects you have previously entered. When
the desired object displays, press ENTER to
select the object. Use the Scroll keys to scroll
through location information about the object, if
desired. Press GO TO to slew the telescope to
the landmark.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark
function, the telescope must be located and
aligned exactly as when the landmark) was
added to the database.
2. Display the “Setup: Targets” menu option.
Choose “Terrestrial” and press ENTER –
“Setup: Targets” displays again. Choosing
this option turns off tracking for astronomical
objects and is not useful for the viewing
of terrestrial objects such as those in the
Landmark database. Be sure to change this
option back to “Astronomical” when you wish to
view celestial objects again.
4. Press MODE to exit.
To perform a Landmark Survey
This procedure allows you to perform a tour of the
objects entered in the “Object: Landmark” menu
option – note that the Landmark Survey will function
only if you have previously entered objects in the
Landmark menu.
3. Press MODE once. “Select Item: Setup”
displays.
1. Navigate to “Utilities: Landmark Survey” menu
and press ENTER.
4. Press the Scroll Down key once and “Select
Item: Object” displays. Press Enter. “Object:
Solar System” displays.
2. “Landmark Survey: Slewing...” displays. The
telescope moves to the first object on the
40
press ENTER.
Survey list and displays the name of the object.
3. “Searching...” displays. When AudioStar
finishes calculating, the name of the closest
object displays.
3. Press MODE to pause the Survey. Press
Enter to restart the survey at the first object of
the survey.
4. Press a Scroll key to display information about
this object. AudioStar displays some or all the
following information about the object with each
press of a Scroll key:
To check on the available amount of memory in
AudioStar.
AudioStar has a limited amount of memory. Once you
begin to store Landmarks, User Objects and other bits
of information in AudioStar, you will begin to use up
memory. This procedure allows you to check on how
much memory is still available.
Displayed information:
Example:
Catalog or common name...Messier 107, NGC 6171,
Orion Nebula, etc
Type of object......................Globular Cluster, Nebula,
Black Hole, etc.
Right Ascension.................. 16:32:4
Declination.......................... 13°03’
Constellation ...................... Virgo, Orion, etc.
Magnitude........................... 3
1. Navigate to the “Setup: Statistics” menu option
and press ENTER.
2. “Statistics: 97.4K Char. Free” displays. This is
the amount of memory that is still available to
the user.
Size..................................... 2’
Scrolling message...............“This Globular Cluster is
10,000 light years
away...”
Identify
This procedure allows you to use AudioStar to identify
objects you have found in the night sky using the Arrow
keys. If the object is not in AudioStar’s database,
AudioStar displays information about an object in its
database that is closest to the one you queried about.
Important Note: The telescope must be
successfully aligned before the Identify feature
can be used. Once aligned, it cannot be
physically moved from that location. Moving
the telescope disrupts the telescopes frame
of reference to the night sky and will prevent it
from identifying objects.
In this procedure, you will center an object you wish to
have identified by AudioStar in the telescope eyepiece
and use the “Identify” menu to find out information
about the object or the nearest object to it in the
AudioStar database.
1. Center the object you wish to have identified in
the telescope’s eyepiece.
2. Navigate to the “Object: Identify” option and
41
C. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of
countries, states, and provinces. Press ENTER
when the correct location displays.
Advanced Alt/Az Alignment
If you would rather choose your own alignment
stars from the AudioStar database during the Alt/Az
alignment procedure, AudioStar offers two methods
described below.
D.The next screen asks for the city (listed
alphabetically) closest to the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
of cities. Press ENTER when the correct city
appears on screen.
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the
night sky. AudioStar provides a database of bright
stars and two stars from this database are chosen by
the observer for alignment.
5. Daylight Savings Time: The next screen
requests the status of Daylight Savings Time.
If Daylight Savings Time is active, press the
1 key. If Daylight Savings Time is not active,
press the 2 key.
1. Turn the telescope on: Turn the telescope
power switch to the ON position. The AudioStar
beeps and the display screen is activated.
AudioStar then takes a few moments to start
up the system.
Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred
ETX OBSERVER TIPS
Too Much Power?
2. Select Alignment Procedure: “Press 0 to Align
or Mode for Menu” displays. Press “Mode” to
access the AudioStar menu.
Can you ever have too much power? If the
type of power you’re referring to is eyepiece
magnification, yes, you can! The most
common mistake of the beginning observer
is to “overpower” a telescope by using high
magnifications which the telescope’s aperture
and atmospheric conditions cannot reasonably
support. Keep in mind that a smaller, but bright
and well-resolved image is far superior to one
that is larger, but dim and poorly resolved (see
Figs. 23a and 23b below). Powers above 175x
should be employed only under the steadiest
atmospheric conditions.
3. Testing Motors: The telescope then tests the
motor function of the telescope by moving in
the horizontal and vertical directions.
4. Set Your Location or Zip Code: The Location
screen displays. This screen asks you if you
wish to choose either the zip code of your
observing location or the location (i.e., entering
the city and state or country of your observing
location). Press “1” to select the zip code option
or “2” to enter the city and state.
Note: The location settings (country/state/
province and city, or zip code) are only asked
for the first time you turn on the control panel.
If you wish to change this setting later on, use
the Site menu. See SITE, page 32 for more
information.
Most observers should have three or four
additional eyepieces to achieve the full range of
reasonable magnifications possible with the ETX
telescopes. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,
page 44.
A. If you chose the zip code option, the left most
“0” is highlighted. Use the Number keys to enter
the digits. As you enter a digit, the next digit to
the right will be highlighted. Enter the next digit.
Repeat this process until all 5 digits of your zip
code are entered. Press ENTER.
B. If you chose the location option, the next
screen asks for the country or state/province
(listed alphabetically) of the observing site.
Figs. 23a & 23b: Jupiter; examples of the right amount of
magnification and too much magnification.
42
to by a different name in various areas of
the world.
when setting the Home Position (Pg. 9, Fig. 1).
Because the other methods use two stars to
align upon, they are more precise than One-
Star Alignment.
6. Telescope Model: AudioStar then asks for the
Telescope Model. Using the scroll keys (Pg. 22,
Fig. 19a, 7) on the AudioStar locate the model
of your telescope and press enter.
Browse
7. The ETX 90 is equipped with an internal time
chip and will know the correct time and date
right out of the box. However, if you need to
change these values they are found in the
setup menu. See page 31 for more information.
Thismenuallowsyoutosearchthedatabaseforobjects
with certain parameters, much like a search engine.
“Edit Parameters” lets you set various parameters for
the search, and “Start Search” activates the search. A
typical search might be performed as follows:
8. With “Align: Easy” displayed, use the Scroll
Keys to display “Align: Two Star”. Press Enter.
1. Select “Browse” from the Object menu. Press
ENTER. “Browse: Start Search” displays.
9. AudioStar will now describe the correct home
position for the telescope. Once the telescope
is in the correct home position, press ENTER.
See page 9 for more information.
2. Press one of the Scroll Keys and “Browse: Edit
Parameters” displays. Press Enter.
3. “Edit Parameters: Largest (mins)” displays.
“Mins” stands for arc-minutes. Press ENTER.
10. “Select Star” displays. AudioStar then displays
a database of stars for the observer to choose
from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star on
the list that you wish to align upon. Select a star
that you can easily locate in the night sky. Press
ENTER.
11. The telescope slews to the star. Use the Arrow
keys to move the telescope until the star is
centered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER.
12.Repeat procedure for the second alignment
star. The telescope is aligned and you are now
ready to use AudioStar’s GO TO capabilities for
a night of observing.
One-Star Alt/Az Alignment
One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the
night sky. AudioStar provides a database of bright
stars. One-Star Alignment is identical to Two-Star
Alt/Az: Alignment (see “Two-Star ALT/AZ Alignment,”
above), except only one star from this database is
chosen by the observer for alignment.
IMPORTANT NOTE : The accuracy of One-
Star Alt/Az Alignment, unlike the Two-Star and
Easy (Alt/Az) Alignment procedures, depends
on how well the observer levels the telescope
and how close to North the telescope is pointed
43
night and site-to-site. Turbulence in the air, even on
an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an
image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, reduce to a lower
power eyepiece.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Meade makes a complete line of accessories to enable
you to get the most fun and performance from your
ETX Series telescope. No matter what you want to
accomplish, we have the equipment to help you get
there.
Your telescope comes supplied with a Super Plössl
26mm & 9.7mm eyepiece. These are very good all
purpose eyepieces for your telescope, but you should
consider buying additional eyepieces in longer and
shorter focal lengths to fully realize the potential of the
excellent ETX optical system.
Choosing Eyepieces
A telescope’s eyepiece magnifies the image formed by
the telescope’s main optics. Each eyepiece has a focal
length, expressed in millimeters, or “mm.” The smaller
the focal length, the higher the magnification. For
example, an eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has
a higher magnification than an eyepiece with a focal
length of 26mm. Experienced users know that higher
powers are, in general, not as useful as lower powers.
Many of the objects in the night sky are relatively large
and faint and look best at low magnifications.
The Series 4000 Super Plössl Eyepieces are excellent
well corrected 4 element optics at popular prices. They
come in a wide range of focal lengths to give you the
right magnification for any type of celestial object you
are viewing.
You can also use one of the Series 4000 Barlow's to
double or triple the magnification of a Super Plössl
eyepiece. These eyepieces have been the standard
for over 30 years.
Thepowerormagnificationofatelescopeisdetermined
by the focal length of the telescope and the focal length
of the eyepiece being used. To calculate magnification,
divide the telescope’s focal length by the eyepiece’s
focal length. For example, a 26mm eyepiece is
supplied with the ETX 90. The focal length of the ETX
90 is 1250mm (see SPECIFICATIONS, pages 53 and
54).
Telescope Focal Length 1250mm
Eyepiece Focal Length 26mm
1250 ÷ 26 = 48.1x
The magnification is therefore 48.1x.
Low power eyepieces offer a wider field of view, bright,
high-contrast images, and long eye relief. To find an
object with a telescope, always start with a lower power
eyepiece such as the Super Plössl 26mm or longer
focal length. When the object is located and centered
in the eyepiece, you may wish to switch to a higher
power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as
practical for prevailing seeing conditions or, for many
objects, the view is best with a high quality low-power
wide-field eyepiece.
NOTE: Seeing conditions vary widely from night-to-
44
Power Supplies
While the ETX will operate with 6 “AA” cell batteries,
several alternative power options are available.
Meade #607 DC Power Cord w/Cigarette Lighter
Adapter (#07043) Lets you power the ETX Observer
from a car cigarette lighter style power socket. Offering
convenient power on the go, this item is great for sav-
ing batteries and for extended star parties. Includes a
25 foot extension cord.
#546 AC Adapter (07576). This adapter supplies
12 volt DC from a standard 115 volt AC household
supply. Connects via the 9v connector in the battery
compartment.
Other Accessories
12 Volt Universal AC Adapter(07584): Supplies 12
volts DC from a standard 115 voltAC household supply.
It is regulated to output 12volts and has a maximum 5
amp output. Connects via the control panel.
#64 or #64ST T-Adapter. The basic means of photog-
raphy through any ETX telescope. ETX 80 users will
use the #64ST T-Adapter. ETX 90 users will use the
#64 T-Adapter. Both thread to the rear cell photo port
of the telescope, followed by a T-Mount appropriate
to the user’s brand of 35mm or DSLR camera. In this
way, the camera body is rigidly coupled to the tele-
scope’s optical system, which in effect becomes the
camera’s lens.
LXPS Portable DC Power Supply (606001 or
606002): A portable rechargeable power source to
operate you ETX in the field. Lead-acid battery offered
in 7 or 17 amp-hour capacities.
45
#932 or #933 45° Erecting Prism. All ETX models
include an internal optically-flat mirror to reflect light to
the telescope’s 90° astronomical observing position.
In this position the telescope’s image is upright, but
reversed. For terrestrial observing with an ETX model,
the 45° Erecting Prism correctly orients the eyepiece
image and provides a convenient observing angle.
ETX 80 users will use the #933 45° Erecting Prism.
ETX 90 users will use the #932 45° Erecting Prism.
#505 Connector Cable Set. For all Au-
dioStar controlled telescopes. Allows you
to connect your ETX Telescope to a PC se-
rial port.
Operate your computer from your
PC, download updates, create custom tours
and more.
USB to Serial Bridge Cable. Allows you to use
#505 or #506 cables above to connect to a USB port.
Driver software included. Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
and Win7 compatible.
Accessories at Meade.com. Now you can order all
these and more accessories or any Meade products
will be shipped right to your door.
46
Note: For ETX 90 users: When cleaning the inside
surface of the correcting lens, leave the lens mounted
in its metal cell throughout the process. Do not remove
the lens from its metal housing or optical alignment of
the lens will be lost.
MAINTENANCE
Your ETX model telescope is a precision optical
instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding
observations. Given the care and respect due any
precision instrument, the telescope will rarely require
factory servicing or maintenance. Use the following
guidelines:
5. If your ETX model is used outdoors on a humid
night, telescope surfaces may accumulate water
condensation. While such condensation does not
normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is
recommended that the entire telescope be wiped
down with a dry cloth before being packed away. Do
not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather,
simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in warm
indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry
unattended. In addition, the dust cap should not be
placed back on to the optical tube until the telescope
is thoroughly dry.
1. Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: a little dust
on the front surface of the telescope’s correcting lens
causes virtually no degradation of image quality and
should not be considered reason to clean the lens.
2. When absolutely necessary, remove dust from the
front lens with gentle strokes of a camel-hair brush
or blow it off with an ear syringe (available at any
pharmacy). Do not use a commercial photographic
lens cleaner.
6. If your ETX model is not to be used for an extended
period, perhaps for one month or more, it is advisable
to remove the eight AA-size batteries from inside
the drive base. Batteries left installed for prolonged
periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope’s
electronic circuitry (see Assembling the tripod, page 5).
3. You may remove organic materials (e.g., fingerprints)
from the front lens with a solution of 3 parts distilled
water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. A single drop of
biodegradable dish washing soap may be added per
pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make
short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often.
7. The super-gloss painted finish of any ETX model’s
optical tube may fade if left in direct sunlight for
prolonged periods.
Caution: Do not use scented, colored or lotioned
tissues or damage could result to the optics.
8. Do not leave your ETX model outdoors on a warm
day or inside a sealed car for an extended period of
time; excessive ambient temperatures can damage the
telescope’s internal lubrication and electronic circuitry.
4. In the very rare situation where cleaning the inside
surface of the corrector lens becomes necessary, un-
thread the lens cell located at the front of the main
tube. The entire correcting lens and secondary mirror
system are mounted in this cell. You may use the lens-
cleaner solution described in step 3 to clean the inside
surface of the lens.
Storage and Transport
When the telescope is not in use, store it in a cool,
dry place. Do not expose the instrument to excessive
heat or moisture. It is best to store the telescope in
its original box with the vertical and horizontal locks
(Pg. 14 , Fig. 5, 10 and and Pg. 15, Fig. 8, 18) in the
unlocked positions. If shipping the telescope, use
the original box and packing material to protect the
telescope during shipment.
Caution: For ETX 90 users: Do not touch the
aluminized circular surface of the secondary mirror
with a finger, a tissue or any other object. This will
almost certainly scratch the mirror surface.
47
When transporting the telescope, take care not to
bump or drop the instrument; this type of abuse can
damage the optical tube and/or the objective lens and
knock the optics out of alignment.
• If using an external power source, verify that
it is properly connected between the 9-volt
connector and wall plug (AC source) .
• If AudioStar does not respond to commands,
move the power switch to OFF and then back
to ON.
Inspecting the Optics
• If the telescope does not slew after power is
applied or if the motor quits or stalls, verify that
there are no physical obstructions that would
impede telescope movement.
A few words about the so-called “flashlight test”: If a
flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed
down the main telescope tube, the view (depending
upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle of the
light) may reveal what appear to be scratches, dark or
bright spots or uneven coatings, giving the appearance
of poor quality optics. These effects are only seen
when a high intensity light is transmitted through lenses
or reflected off the mirrors and can be seen on any
high-quality optical system, including giant research
telescopes.
• If all physical obstacles are removed and the
telescope still does not move properly, turn
off the power and unplug AudioStar. Plug
AudioStar back in and turn the power back on.
Unable to see an image through the eyepiece:
• Confirm that the lens cover has been removed
The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by
the “flashlight test"; the true test of optical quality can
only be conducted through careful star testing.
from the telescope.
• Confirm that the flip-mirror control (Pg 15,
Fig. 6, 14) is in the “up” position if using the
eyepiece holder (Pg 14, Fig. 5, 3 so that light
is directed to the eyepiece. Confirm that the
flip-mirror control is in the “down” position if
using the #932 or #933 Erecting Prism or doing
photography with an ETX model.
Troubleshooting
The following suggestions may be helpful with
operation of the ETX Observer telescopes.
The power indicator light on the telescope does not
come on or there is no response when pressing
the AudioStar Arrow keys:
Object appears in the viewfinder but not in the
eyepiece:
• Verify that the Computer Control panel power
switch (Pg 15, Fig. 11, 12c) is in the ON position.
• The viewfinder is not properly aligned
with the telescope (see ADJUSTING THE
VIEWFINDER, page 9).
• Verify that the AudioStar coil cord is firmly
connected to the HBX port (Pg 15, Fig. 11,
12a).
Slew speed does not change when you change
slew speeds or the telescope moves slowly even
though the fast slew speed is chosen:
• If using internal power (batteries), verify that
the batteries are installed correctly and that
they have sufficient charge (see Installing the
Batteries, page 7).
• The battery power may be low. Replace all
batteries with fresh, new units.
Note: If the batteries are getting low on charge,
there will be a marked difference in the slew
speed. The speed indicator lights may also
flash and the speed may change. If any of
these symptoms occurs, turn the power off and
replace the batteries.
Telescope does not track a celestial object:
• Make sure that the telescope is correctly
aligned. See Easy (Two-Star) Align, page 11,
for more information.
48
•
•
Verify the telescopes date, time, location,
daylight savings time, and telescope model
are correct.
•
Adjust the AZ/RA Percent and/or Alt/DEC
Percent values found in the Setup/Telescope
menu. See page 31 & 32 "Az Percent" & "Alt
Percent" for more information.
Reset the telescope to the factory defaults.
Go to Setup/Reset and press enter.
A terrestrial object appears reversed left-for-right:
Images through the eyepiece appear unfocused or
distorted:
• An eyepiece in the standard 90° observing
position reverses an object left-for-right: To
view a correctly oriented image requires the
optional 45°Erecting Prism (see page 46).
• The magnification may be too high for the
viewing conditions. Back off to a lower power
eyepiece (see “Eyepiece Calc”, page 30) and
“Choosing Eyepiece” page 44.
• If inside a warm house or building, move
outside. Interior air conditions may distort
terrestrial or celestial images, making it difficult,
if not impossible, to obtain a sharp focus. For
optimal viewing, use the telescope outside in
the open air instead of observing through an
open or closed window or screen.
• If viewing a land object on a warm day, heat
waves will distort the image (see Terrestrial
Observing, page 25).
• For clear viewing of objects, turn the focus knob
slowly since the “in-focus” point of a telescope
is precise. Turning the focus knob too quickly
may cause the focus point to pass without
notice.
• The optics within the telescope need time to
adjust to the outside ambient temperature to
provide the sharpest image. To cool down the
optics, set the telescope outside for 10 to 15
minutes before observing begins.
Telescope moves off a terrestrial object while
observing:
• Verify that the vertical and horizontal locks are
tight (see ETX KEY FEATURES, page 14 or
page 18 depending on your telescope model).
Telescope pauses when changing slew direction:
• This pause is normal.
•
Perform the "Training the Drive" routine. See
Appendix A: Training the Drive" on page 50.
49
APPENDIX A:
TRAINING THE DRIVE
Verify that AUTOSTAR
INITIALIZATION is
complete.
Press > until it
is centered
1
2
12
Scope slews left.
Bring target back
to center using
Press MODE until
Select Item is displayed.
Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any
pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 24 depicts the
complete Drive Training procedure.
the Right Arrow key.
Select Item
3
Object
Press < until it
is centered
13
Press the scroll
up key once.
NOTE: Use a far away terrestrial object, such as a
telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. A high
power reticle (cross hair) eyepiece is recommended.
Scope slews right.
Bring target back
to center using
Select Item
Setup
4
the Left Arrow key.
Complete this exercise once every 3 to 6 months, or
when the AudioStar handbox has been reset to the
factory defaults.
Access the Setup
menu.
Train Drive
Az.Train
14
Menu returns to
Az. training.
Setup
5
Align
Multiple presses.
Train Drive
Alt.Train
Altitude
15
Setup
6
(vertical)
training.
Telescope
Access the
Telescope menu.
Drive Setup
For this op. . .
Reminder to
16
17
18
Telescope
Telescope Model
7
use terrestrial
target.
Multiple presses.
Center reference
object
Center target
using Arrow
keys.
Telescope
Train Drive
8
Choose the Train
Drive option.
Press until it
is centered
Scope slews down.
Bring target back
to center using
Train Drive
Az.Train
9
Azimuth
(horizontal)
training.
the Up Arrow key.
Press until it
is centered
19
Drive Setup
For this op. . .
10
Scope slews up.
Bring target back
to center using
Reminder to
use terrestrial
target.
the Down Arrow key.
Center reference
object.
Train Drive
Az.Train
Multiple presses.
11
20
Center target
using Arrow
keys.
MODE
Select Item
Object
21
Figure 24: Training the Drive
50
APPENDIX B:
BASIC ASTRONOMY
The Moon is, on average, a
distance of 239,000 miles
In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using
a crude telescope considerably smaller than the ETX
80, 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 been like being the first human to see moons
revolve around the planet Jupiter or to see the changing
phases of Venus! Because of his observations, Galileo
correctly realized Earth’s movement and position
around the Sun, and in doing so, gave birth to modern
astronomy. Yet Galileo’s telescope was so crude, he
could not clearly make out the rings of Saturn.
(380,000km) from Earth
and is best observed during
its crescent or half phase
when Sunlight strikes the
Moon’s surface at an angle.
It casts shadows and adds
a sense of depth to the
view. No shadows are seen
during a full Moon, causing
the overly bright Moon
to appear flat and rather
uninteresting through the
telescope. Be sure to use a neutral Moon filter when
observing the Moon. Not only does it protect your eyes
from the bright glare of the Moon, but it also helps
enhance contrast, providing a more dramatic image.
Galileo’s discoveries laid the foundation for
understanding the motion and nature of the planets,
stars, and galaxies. Building on his foundation,
Henrietta Leavitt determined how to measure the
distance to stars; Edwin Hubble proposed a glimpse
into the origin of the universe;Albert Einstein unraveled
the relationship of time and light. Almost daily, using
sophisticated successors to Galileo’s crude telescope,
such as the Hubble Space Telescope, more and
more mysteries of the universe are being solved and
understood. We are living in a golden age of astronomy.
Using the ETX, brilliant detail can be observed on the
Moon, including hundreds of lunar craters and Maria,
described below.
Craters are round meteor impact sites covering most
of the Moon’s surface. With no atmosphere on the
Moon, no weather conditions exist, so the only erosive
force is meteor strikes. Under these conditions, lunar
craters can last for millions of years.
Maria (plural for mare) are smooth, dark areas
scattered across the lunar surface. These dark areas
are large ancient impact basins that were filled with
lava from the interior of the Moon by the depth and
force of a meteor or comet impact.
Unlike other sciences, astronomy welcomes
contributions from amateurs. Much of the knowledge
we have on subjects such as comets, meteor showers,
variable stars, the Moon and our solar system comes
from observations made by amateur astronomers. So
as you look through your Meade ETX 90 telescope,
keep Galileo in mind. To him, a telescope was not
merely a machine made of glass and metal, but
something far more - a window through which the
beating heart of the universe might be observed.
Twelve Apollo astronauts left their bootprints on the
Moon in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. However,
no telescope on Earth is able to see these footprints or
any other artifacts. In fact, the smallest lunar features
that may be seen with the largest telescope on Earth
are about one-half mile across.
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. You can also
consult ETX 90 for information about planets. Scroll
Objects in Space
Listed below are some of the many astronomical
objects that can be seen with the ETX
51
to the “Object: Solar System” menu and scroll through
the lists of planets. When a planet you are interested
in displays, press “ENTER”. Use the Scroll keys to
display information about the planet, such as the
planet’s coordinates, and the rise and set times (Tip:
enter a date in the Date menu and you can determine
if a planet) will be visible during the night of the entered
date by checking its rise and set times). Listed below
are the best planets for viewing through the ETX 90.
through the ETX 90. Titan,
the largest of Saturn’s 18
moons can also be seen
as a bright, star-like object
near the planet.
Deep-Sky Objects
Star charts can be used
to locate constellations,
individual stars and deep-
sky objects.
Mars is about half the diameter of Earth, and appears
through the telescope as a tiny reddish-orange disk.
It may be possible to see a hint of white at one of the
planet’s Polar ice caps. Approximately every two years,
when Mars is closest to Earth in its orbit, additional
detail and coloring on the planet’s surface may
be visible.
Examples
deep-sky
of
various
are
objects
given below:
Stars are large gaseous objects that are self-
illuminated by nuclear fusion in their core. Because
of their vast distances from our solar system, all stars
appear as pinpoints of light, irrespective of the size of
the telescope used.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and
is 11 times the diameter of Earth. The planet appears
as a disk with dark lines
Nebulae are vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust where
stars are formed. Most impressive of these is the Great
Nebula in Orion (M42), a diffuse nebula that appears as a
faint wispy gray cloud. M42 is 1600 light years from Earth.
stretching
surface.
across
These
the
lines
are cloud bands in the
atmosphere. Four of
Jupiter’s 16 moons (Io,
Europa, Ganymede, and
Callisto) can be seen as
“star-like” points of light
when using even the lowest
Open Clusters are loose groupings of young stars, all recently
formed from the same diffuse nebula. The Pleiades is an open
cluster 410 light years away. Through the ETX, numerous
stars are visible. Constellations are large, imaginary patterns
of stars believed by ancient civilizations to be the celestial
equivalent of objects, animals, people, or gods. These
patterns are too large to be seen through a telescope. To
learn the constellations, start with an easy grouping of stars,
such as the Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Then, use a star chart
to explore across the sky.
magnification.
These
moons orbit Jupiter so
that the number of moons
visible on any given night
changes as they circle around the giant planet.
Saturn is nine times the diameter of Earth and appears
as a small, round disk with rings extending out from
either side. In 1610, Galileo, the first person to observe
Saturn through a telescope, did not understand that
what he was seeing were rings. Instead, he believed
that Saturn had “ears.” Saturn’s rings are composed of
billions of ice particles ranging in size from a speck of
dusttothesizeofahouse.ThemajordivisioninSaturn’s
rings, called the Cassini Division, is occasionally visible
Galaxies are large assemblies of stars, nebulae, and star
clusters that are bound by gravity. The most common shape
is spiral (such as our own Milky Way), but galaxies can also
be elliptical, or even irregular blobs. The Andromeda Galaxy
(M31) is the closest spiral-type galaxy to our own. This galaxy
appears fuzzy and cigar-shaped. It is 2.2 million light years
away in the constellation Andromeda, located between the
large “W” of Cassiopeia and the great square of Pegasus.
52
APPENDIX C:
SPECIFICATIONS
Model and Product Number
ETX 80 Observer Back Pack Telescope # 205002
Optical System
Optical Design
Achromatic Refractor
3.15” (80mm)
Optical quality glass
400mm, f/5
Front Lens Diameter
Front Lens Material
Focal Length, Focal Ratio
Optical Coatings
Multi-Coated
1.6 arc-seconds
11.5
Resolving Power (arc-seconds)
Limiting Visual Stellar Magnitude
Viewfinder
Red Dot
Mount
Mount Type
Power
Dual Fork Alt-azimuth
6 “AA” Cell Batteries or AC Adapter
20 hours
Battery Life (Approx)
Tripod
Adjustable-Height Aluminum Leg Tripod
Electronics
Controller Hand Box
AudioStar with 30,000 object database
Included Accessories
Eyepiece
Super Plössl 26mm & 9.7mm- 1.25" size
Included - 1.25" size
Bubble Level/Compass
Astronomy Software
Included - for Windows OS
Weight
Telescope
Tripod
9 lbs.
2.75 lbs
53
SPECIFICATIONS
Model and Product Number
ETX 90 Observer Portable Observatory # 205004
Optical System
Optical Design
Maksutov-Cassegrain
3.5” (90mm)
Primary Mirror Diameter
Primary Mirror Material
Focal Length, Focal Ratio
Optical Coatings
Optical quality glass
1250mm, f/13.8
Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC™)
1.3 arc-seconds
Resolving Power (arc-seconds)
Limiting Visual Stellar Magnitude
Viewfinder
11.7
Red Dot
Mount
Mount Type
Power
Dual Fork Alt-azimuth
6 “AA” Cell Batteries or AC Adapter
20 hours
Battery Life
Tripod
Adjustable-Height Steel Leg Tripod
with EQ tilt-plate
Electronics
Controller Hand Box
AudioStar with 30,000 object database
Included Accessories
Eyepieces
Super Plössl 26mm and 9.7mm - 1.25” size
Included - 1.25” size
Bubble Level/Compass
Astronomy Software
Included - for Windows OS
Weight
Telescope
Tripod
9.5 lbs.
9.75 lbs
10 lbs
Carry Case
54
The celestial map also contains two poles and an
equator just like a map of the Earth. The poles of this
coordinate system are defined as those two points
where the Earth’s North and South poles (i.e., the
Earth’s axis), if extended to infinity, would cross the
celestial sphere. Thus, the North Celestial Pole (Fig.
25) is that point in the sky where an extension of the
North Pole intersects the celestial sphere. The North
Star, Polaris, is located very near the North Celestial
Pole). The celestial equator is a projection of the
Earth’s equator onto the celestial sphere.
APPENDIX D:
EQUATORIAL (POLAR) ALIGNMENT
**FOR ETX 90 TELESCOPES ONLY**
Equatorial Alignment
In equatorial (or “polar”) alignment, the telescope is
oriented so that the horizontal and vertical axes of the
telescope are lined up with the celestial coordinate
system.
In order to equatorial align your telescope, it is
essential to have an understanding of how and where
to locate celestial objects as they move across the
sky. This section provides a basic introduction to the
terminology of equatorial-aligned astronomy and
includes instructions for finding the celestial pole and
for finding objects in the night sky using Declination
and Right Ascension.
So just as an object’s position on the Earth’s surface
can be located by its latitude and longitude, celestial
objects may also be located using Right Ascension
and Declination. For example: You could locate Los
Angeles, California, by its latitude (+34°) and longitude
(118°). Similarly, you could locate the Ring Nebula
(M57) by its Right Ascension (18hr) and its Declination
(+33°).
• Right Ascension (R.A.): This celestial version of
longitude is measured in units of hours (hr), minutes
(min) and seconds (sec) on a 24-hour “clock” (similar
to how Earth’s time zones are determined by longitude
lines). The “zero” line was arbitrarily chosen to pass
through the constellation Pegasus, a sort of cosmic
Greenwich meridian. R.A. coordinates range from 0hr
0min 0sec to 23hr 59min 59sec. There are 24 primary
lines of R.A., located at 15-degree intervals along the
celestial equator. Objects located further and further
East of the zero R.A. grid line (0hr 0min 0sec) carry
higher R.A. coordinates.
Celestial Coordinates
A celestial coordinate system was created that maps
an imaginary sphere surrounding the Earth upon which
all stars appear to be placed. This mapping system is
similar to the system of latitude and longitude on Earth
surface maps.
North
Celestial
Pole
(Vicinity
of Polaris)
+90 Dec.
Star
1
12
11
1
13
10
2
14
15
9
8
• Declination (Dec.): This celestial version of latitude
is measured in degrees, arc-minutes and arc-seconds
(e.g., 15° 27’ 33”). Dec. locations North of the celestial
equator are indicated with a plus (+) sign (e.g., the
Dec. of the North celestial pole is +90°). Dec. locations
South of the celestial equator are indicated with a
minus (–) sign (e.g., the Dec. of the South celestial
pole is –90°). Any point on the celestial equator (such
as the constellations of Orion, Virgo and Aquarius) is
said to have a Declination of zero, shown as 0° 0’ 0.”
16
17
7
Earth’s
Rotation
Right Ascensi2o3n
18
6
5
19
4
3
20
Celestial
Equator
21
22
0
0 Dec.
2
South
Celestial
Pole
-90 Dec.
Figure 25: Celestial Sphere
In mapping the surface of the Earth, lines of longitude
are drawn between the North and South Poles and
lines of latitude are drawn in an East-West direction,
parallel to the Earth’s equator. Similarly, imaginary
lines have been drawn to form a latitude and longitude
grid for the celestial sphere. These lines are known as
Right Ascension and Declination.
55
Polar Mounting your Telescope with
the #884 Deluxe Field Tripod
Latitude control bar
As the Earth rotates on its axis, astronomical objects
appear to move across the sky in an arc. This apparent
motion is not obvious to the unaided eye, but when
viewed through a telescope such as an ETX, this
motion is rapid indeed. If the motor drive has not been
engaged, celestial objects viewed in the telescope
eyepiece drift entirely out of the field of view in 15 to 60
seconds, depending on the magnification employed.
Tighten to
“firm-feel”
Figure 26: Attach Telescope to Tripod
attaching the telescope.
3. Turn the tripod, so that the face of the tilt-plate points
North (Figs. 28). If you attach the telescope to the
tripod indoors, be sure to orient the face of the tilt-plate
to point North after moving the telescope outdoors.
Equivalently, point the tripod leg (Fig. 28) North. This is
the leg opposite from the latitude control bar (Fig. 27) .
However, by mounting your telescope and turning on
the motor drive, you can counteract the drift of objects
in the eyepiece. The two basic types of mounting
are: alt-azimuth (alt/az) and equatorial. For many
ETX owners, it will not be necessary to equatorially
mount the telescope; alt/az mounting will suffice.
The AudioStar Controller allows the telescope to be
mounted in the alt-azimuth (alt/az) mode for most
observing purposes. See Easy (TWO-STAR) Align,
page 11, for more information.
4.Lineupthemountingholeonthebaseofthetelescope
Latitude control latch
However,ownerswhowishtoperformastrophotography
will find equatorial mounting indispensable to their
needs.
Equatorial Mount
Figure 27: Set latitude
Equatorial mounting lines up the telescope’s polar axis
with the North Celestial Pole (or the South Celestial
Pole if observing in the southern hemisphere).
so the computer control panel faces westward. Thread
both attachment knobs into the base of the telescope.
Tighten to a firm-feel only.
When using an equatorially mounted telescope,
tracking (following) celestial objects is possible by
turning on your ETX telescope’s motor drive. The motor
counteracts the Earth’s rotation and keeps objects in
the field of view of the eyepiece for hands-off tracking.
5. Determine the latitude of your observing location
from a road map, atlas or the Latitude Chart for Major
Cities of the World, page 60. Loosen the latitude control
latch (Fig. 27) and adjust the latitude control bar (Fig.
26) so that your observing site’s latitude is just visible
above the flat surface of the tripod head. Re-tighten
the latch.
Equatorial Mounting Procedure
1. Assemble the tripod as described in Step #2 of
Getting Started on page 5.
6. If you have not already done so orient the tripod leg
(Fig. 28) so that it is pointing due North (if the location
of Polaris, the North Star, is known, point the telescope
directly at Polaris. Observers located in the Earth’s
Southern Hemisphere must point the telescope due
South).
2. Loosen the latitude control latch (Fig. 27) and lift
up the tilt-plate so that you can easily access the
underside of the plate. Re-lock the latitude control
latch, so the assembly doesn’t slip while you are
56
telescope motor drive will keep a celestial object in the
7. The telescope is now equatorially mounted; the
tripod must not be moved or else the alignment will
be lost. Instead, use one of the following methods to
move the telescope’s optical tube to a desired celestial
object.
telescope eyepiece’s field of view.
Caution: Do not move the tripod or adjust the latitude
setting while observing or the mounting alignment will
be lost. The telescope’s motor drive disengages when
the Horizontal and the Vertical lock levers are unlocked
and re-engages when the levers are relocked.
+
North
Celestial
Pole
AudioStar Polar Alignment
AudioStar provides three different (manual) methods
for polar alignment: Easy, One-Star and Two-Star.
North tripod leg
Figure 28: Example of Polar Alignment. Note that the face
of the tilt-plate points north
Easy Polar Alignment
Two alignment stars are chosen by AudioStar based
on the date, time and location. First, choose “Polar”
from the “Setup: Telescope: Mount” menu. The rest of
the procedure is identical to the Alt/Az Easy (Two-Star)
Align, page 11.
(A) Loosen the vertical and/or horizontal locks (Pg 14,
Fig. 5, 10 and 18) to permit the optical tube to be freely
moved manually. Tighten the locks once you center on
the object.
(B) With the horizontal and vertical locks in their
“locked” positions, use the Arrow keys to move the
optical tube.
One-Star Polar Alignment
Note: For most astronomical observing requirements,
approximate settings of the telescope’s latitude
and North-pointing tripod leg (Steps #5 and #6) are
acceptable. Do not allow undue attention to precise
equatorial mounting of the telescope to interfere with
your enjoyment of the instrument.
Polar One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of
the night sky. AudioStar provides a database of bright
stars and one star from this database is chosen by the
observer for alignment. Polaris is chosen by AudioStar.
First, choose “Polar” from the “Setup: Telescope:
Mount” menu. The rest of the procedure is almost
identical to the Alt/Az One Star Alt/Az Alignment,
page 43, except that AudioStar prompts you to point
the telescope at Polaris and center it in the telescope
eyepiece.
+
North
Celestial
Pole
Latitude control bar
Two-Star Polar Alignment
Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of
the night sky. AudioStar provides a database of bright
Little Dipper
Polaris
Figure 29: Example of Polar Alignment. Note that the
face of the tilt-plate points north
Big Dipper
Cassiopeia
Using an Equatorially Mounted Telescope
Figure 30: Locating Polaris
Once your telescope is equatorially mounted, the
57
Note: The Dec. setting circle is located on the left
arm of the telescope fork mount. The right arm of the
mount contains a graduated circle (mounted behind
the knurled knob of the vertical lock), without Dec.
numbers.
stars and two stars from this database are chosen by
the observer for alignment. First, choose “Polar” from
the “Setup: Telescope: Mount” menu. The rest of the
procedure is almost identical to the Alt/Az Two Star Alt/
Az Alignment, page 42.
• Declination Setting Circle: The Dec. setting circle
(Fig. 31) has been factory set to read the correct
Declination of celestial objects.
Locating the Celestial Pole
To get basic bearings at an observing location, take
note of where the Sun rises (East) and sets (West)
each day. After the site is dark, face North by pointing
your left shoulder toward where the Sun sets. To
precisely point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris)
by using the Big Dipper as a guide (Fig. 30).
Because the smooth knob on this fork mount arm
need never be loosened, the Dec. setting circle should
always remain calibrated. If for some reason this knob
becomes loose and the Dec. setting circle must be re-
calibrated, level the optical tube so that it is parallel to
the drive base. Loosen the smooth knob covering the
Dec. setting circle until the setting circle moves freely.
Reposition the setting circle so that the 0 setting aligns
with the Dec. pointer (the molded triangle beneath the
setting circle). Re-tighten the Dec. knob.
12
12
11
13
10
14
0
Right Ascension
Setting Circle
Declination
Setting Circle
Figure 31: Setting Circles - Dec. and R.A.
• Right Ascension Setting Circle: Since celestial
objects move in R.A., the R.A. setting circle (Fig. 31)
must be reset as each object is located during an
observing session. The R.A. pointer is located on the
drive base.
Important Note: For almost all astronomical observing
requirements, approximate settings of the telescope’s
latitude and Polar axis are acceptable. Do not allow
undue attention to precise Polar Alignment of the
telescope to interfere with your basic enjoyment of the
instrument.
To use the setting circles to find astronomical objects,
the ETX must first be polar aligned. It is advisable that
the motor drive be turned on and that a low-power
eyepiece (e.g., a 26mm eyepiece) be employed. Then
use the following procedure:
Setting Circles
The ETX models are equipped with R.A. and Dec.
setting circles (Pg 15, #13 and #20) to aid in locating
faint celestial objects when the telescope has been
polar aligned. Setting circles emulate the celestial
coordinates found on star charts or in sky catalogs.
Any charted object is easily located by coordinates in
R.A. (in hours, minutes and seconds, from 0h 0m 0s to
23h 59m 59s) and Dec. (in degrees from 0° to ±90°).
1. Identify the celestial coordinates (R.A. and Dec.) of a
bright, easy-to-find object, such as a bright star. (Avoid
using Polaris or any object near Polaris.) Coordinates
of bright stars are listed in astronomy magazines,
text books or star charts. Center this object in the
telescope’s field of view.
With an ETX model polar aligned, use the Arrow keys
to move the telescope in R.A. (left and right keys) and
Dec. (up and down keys).
2. Manually turn the R.A. circle to read the R.A. of the
object at the R.A. pointer (the molded triangle beneath
this setting circle).
58
3. The R.A. circle is now calibrated to read the correct
R.A. of any object at which the telescope is pointed.
The Dec. circle is already calibrated through polar
alignment.
4. To find another object, again identify the R.A. and
Dec. coordinates. Then, without touching the setting
circles, move the telescope (manually, by unlocking
the vertical and horizontal locks or by slewing the
telescope using the Arrow keys) so that the R.A. and
Dec. pointers read the coordinates of the second
object.
5. If the above procedure has been followed carefully,
the second object will now be in the telescope’s field
of view.
Note: Since the second object (i.e., the object to be
located) is in constant motion, once the R.A. circle
is calibrated (step 2, above) the telescope should be
moved rapidly to read the coordinates of the second
object. Otherwise the second object will no longer be
in the position indicated by the R.A. circle.
Using setting circles requires a developed technique.
When using the circles for the first time, try hopping
from one bright star (the calibration star) to another
bright star of known coordinates. Practice moving the
telescope from one easy-to-find object to another. In
this way the precision required for accurate object
location becomes familiar.
59
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. If the site is over 70 miles
South of the listed city, subtract one degree per 70
miles.
APPENDIX E:
LATITUDE CHART
Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World
To aid in the polar alignment procedure (see page 55),
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:
Southern Hemisphere observers (S): If the site is over
70 miles (110 km) North of the listed city, subtract one
degree for every 70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles
South of the listed city, add one degree per 70 miles.
NORTH AMERICA
EUROPE (continued)
City
State/Prov./Country
New Mexico
Alaska
Latitude
35° N
61° N
34° N
42° N
51° N
42° N
41° N
33° N
40° N
42° N
21° N
32° N
39° N
45° N
36° N
35° N
34° N
19° N
26° N
45° N
36° N
30° N
41° N
35° N
45° N
40° N
33° N
46° N
41° N
29° N
33° N
38° N
47° N
39° N
City
Oslo
Paris
Rome
Stockholm
Vienna
Warsaw
Country
Norway
France
Italy
Sweden
Austria
Poland
Latitude
60° N
49° N
42° N
59° N
48° N
52° N
Albuquerque
Anchorage
Atlanta
Georgia
Boston
Calgary
Massachusetts
Alberta
Chicago
Illinois
Cleveland
Dallas
Ohio
Texas
SOUTH AMERICA
City
Bogotá
São Paulo
Buenos Aires
Montevideo
Santiago
Country
Colombia
Brazil
Argentina
Uruguay
Chile
Latitude
4° N
Denver
Detroit
Honolulu
Jackson
Kansas City
Kenosha
Las Vegas
Little Rock
Los Angeles
Mexico City
Miami
Colorado
Michigan
Hawaii
Mississippi
Missouri
Wisconsin
Nevada
Arkansas
California
Mexico
23° S
35° S
35° S
34° S
10° N
Caracas
Venezuela
ASIA
City
Beijing
Hong Kong
Seoul
Country
China
China
South Korea
Taiwan
Japan
Latitude
40° N
23° N
37° N
25° N
36° N
43° N
19° N
22° N
21° N
21° N
Florida
Minneapolis
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Ottawa
Minnesota
Tennessee
Louisiana
New York
Oklahoma
Ontario
Taipei
Tokyo
Sapporo
Bombay
Calcutta
Hanoi
Japan
India
India
Vietnam
Saudi Arabia
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Pennsylvania
Arizona
Jedda
Portland
Oregon
AFRICA
City
Cairo
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Utah
Texas
California
California
Washington
District of Columbia
Country
Egypt
Latitude
30° N
34° S
34° N
37° N
23° S
Cape Town
Rabat
Tunis
South Africa
Morocco
Tunisia
Washington
Windhoek
Namibia
EUROPE
City
Amsterdam
Athens
Bern
Copenhagen
Dublin
Frankfurt
Glasgow
Helsinki
Lisbon
London
Madrid
AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA
Country
Netherlands
Greece
Switzerland
Denmark
Ireland
Germany
Scotland
Finland
Portugal
England
Spain
Latitude
52° N
38° N
47° N
56° N
53° N
50° N
56° N
60° N
39° N
51° N
40° N
City
State/Country
South Australia
Queensland
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Tasmania
Latitude
35° S
27° S
35° S
24° S
43° S
32° S
34° S
38° S
37° S
Adelaide
Brisbane
Canberra
Alice Springs
Hobart
Perth
Sydney
Melbourne
Auckland
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
New Zealand
60
APPENDIX F:
REFRACTOR OPTICAL SYSTEM (ETX 80)
Front lens
Eyepiece
Incident Light
Focal point
Dew shield
Refracting Telescopes use a large objective lens as their primary light-collecting element. Meade ETX refractors
include an achromatic (2-element) objective lenses in order to reduce, or virtually eliminate, the false color
(chromatic aberration) that results in the telescopic image when light passes through a lens.
MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL SYSTEM (ETX 90)
Incident Light
Secondary mirror
Primary Baffle
90mm
Focal point
Primary mirror
Correcting lens
In the optical design of the ETX 90, light enters from the right through a multi-coated meniscus lens, proceeds to an
f/2.2 primary mirror, and then to a convex secondary mirror that multiplies effective focal length by a factor of 6.3.
The secondary mirror light baffle, in combination with the anti-reflection threads inside the primary mirror baffle,
produces extremely high contrast astronomical images at the focal plane.
61
RECYCLING INFORMATION
(EU Countries only)
Correct Disposal of this Product
(Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment)
This marking shown on the product or its literature
indicates that it must not be disposed of in unsorted
municipal waste at the end of its working life
To prevent possible harm to the environment or human
health from uncontrolled waste disposal, please separate
this from other types of wastes and recycle it as required
by law. Household users should contact either the
retailer where they purchased this product, or their local
government office, for details of where and how they can
take this item for environmentally safe recycling. Business
users should contact their supplier and check the terms and conditions of the purchase
contract
This product should not be mixed with other commercial wastes for disposal.
62
62
MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY
Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments
Corp. (“Meade”) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the
date of original purchase in the USA 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. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only and is non-transferable. Meade
products purchased outside North America are not included in this warranty, but are covered under
separate warranties issued by Meade international distributors.
RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA)
number must be obtained from Meade by writing, or calling (800) 626-3233. Each returned part or
product must include a written statement detailing the nature of the claimed defect, as well as the
owner’s name, address, and phone number.
This warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized
repairs have been attempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-
and-tear. Meade specifically disclaims special, indirect, or consequential damages or lost profit which
may result from a breach of this warranty. Any implied warranties which cannot be disclaimed are hereby
limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase.
This warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other rights which vary from state to state.
Meade reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without notice.
MEADE CUSTOMER SERVICE
Have a question concerning your telescope? Call Meade Instruments Customer Service Department!
We're happy to help
Before retruning the telescope to the factory, call the Meade Customer Service Department first as most
problems can be solved over the phone. Make sure to give a full description of the problem, as well
as your name, address, and daytime telephone number. The great majority of servicing issues can be
resolved by telephone, avoiding return of the telescope to the factory.
If you purchased your telescope outside of the USA or Canada, contact your closest Meade Authorized
Dealer or distributor.
CONTACT US
By Phone:
800-626-3233
M-F; 7am - 4pm PST
Via email:
63
We appreciate your business. Keep in touch!
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Share your photos with us:
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For special offers and other products, visit our website:
1-800-626-3233
Meade Instruments
27 Hubble
Irvine, CA 92618
64
Nov 2015 REV 1
14-2050-00
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