Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product ETX-90AT Meade
Go to page of 60
Instruction Manual ETX-90A T Astr o T elescope ETX-105A T Astr o T elescope ETX-125A T Astr o T elescope.
.
Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4 T elescope Features ...................................................... 6 Autostar Features .......................................................... 9 Getting Started .
QUICK-ST ART GUIDE 2 Make sure that the computer control panel power switch ( F ) is in the OFF position. Remove the Autostar ® handbox and the coiled cord from the packing materials.
5 Keep pressing the ENTER key until "Country/State" appears on the display . (Ignore the prompts requesting "Date" and "T ime" for now – these functions will be explained later). When “Country/States” displays, pre ss eit he r on e o f th e SCROLL KEYS to cycle through the choices on the list.
TELESCOPE FEA TURES 6 1 2 9 5 11 10 6 (on left fork arm) 16 4 19 13 15 7 3 Features of the ETX-90A T , ETX-105A T , and ETX-125A T are identical, with the exception of the size of optical tube and the type of viewfinder . Fig. 2 (Inset): Computer Control Panel.
MEADE ETX: YOUR PERSONAL WINDOW TO THE UNIVERSE The Meade ETX-90A T , ETX-105A T and the ETX-125A T are extremely versatile, high- resolution telescopes.
8 j Horizontal Lock : 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.
9 Fig. 4: The Autostar Handbo x. AUTOST AR FEA TURES 1 2 4 7 9 J 8 3 5 6 L K W ant to lear n more about downloading the latest updates of Autostar software from the Meade website ? See pages 29 and 43. T our the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of ETX T elescopes is through the operation of the standard-equipment #497 Autostar .
10 B 2-Line LCD Display: This screen displays Autostar's menus and information about the telescope. • T op line: Lists the primary menu. • Bottom line: Displays other menus that may be chosen, menu options, telescope status or information about a function that is being performed.
11 i ? Key : Press to access the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on how to accomplish whatever task is currently active. Press the ? key and then follow the prompts on the display to access details of Autostar functions in the Help feature.
12 GETTING ST ARTED Fig. 5: Batter y installation. Fig. 6: Spread tripod legs. Fig. 7: Slide spreader on rod. P ar ts Listing Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: • The ETX Astro T elescope with fork mount system.
13 4. Place the 26mm eyepiece ( 12, Fig. 15 ) into the eyepiece holder on the telescope and tighten the attachment thumbscrew ( 13, Fig. 15 ) to a "firm feel" only . Make sure that the flip-mirror control ( 14, Fig. 15 ) is in the “up” position, as shown in the above photo.
14 Focusing the Viewfinder The ETX model viewfinders are pre-focused at the factory . Individual eye variations may require that the viewfinder be re-focused. T o check the focus, point the viewfinder at a distant terrestrial (land) object such as a telephone pole or light pole and look through the viewfinder .
15 Fig. 23a & 23b : Jupiter : Examples of the right amount of magnification and too much magnification. Fig. 22 : Meade Super Plössl ey epieces. T oo Much Power? Can you ever have too much power?.
16 OBSERVING Observing by Mo ving the T elescope Manuall y If you wish to observe a distant land object, such as a mountain top or a bird, you can observe by merely pointing the telescope and looking through the eyepiece. 1. Loosen the telescope’s horizontal lock ( 9, Fig.
17 Slew Speeds Autostar has nine slew speeds that move the optical tube at rates that are directly proportional to the sidereal rate and have been calculated to accomplish specific functions. Press the Number key to change the slew speed. The nine available speeds are: Number Key 1 = 1x = 1 x sidereal (0.
18 Definition: Initialization is a procedure that makes sure that Autostar oper ates correctly . When you first use Autostar , it doesn't yet know where the observa- tion location site is or the time or date of the observation session.
19 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 .
20 Important Note: While performing the automatic tracking procedure, only use the Arrow k eys to mov e the telescope. Once the telescope has been aligned, do not loosen the telescope’ s vertical or horizontal locks ( 6 and 9, Fig. 1 ) or mov e the base manually or alignment will be lost.
21 Using the Guided T our This example demonstrates using “T onight’s Best” Guided T our . 1. After observing Saturn, press MODE twice so that “Select Item: Object” displays again. 2. Press the Scroll Down key twice. “Select Item: Guided T our” displays.
AUTOST AR OPERA TION Object Event Guided T ours Glossary Utilities Setup 22 Date Time Daylight Sa ving T elescope T argets etc. Setup Align Fig. 26: Menu options displa y on the second line. Use the Scroll keys to mov e up or down through the list of options.
23 Tip: When multiple choices are av ailable within a menu option, the current option is usually displa yed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow (>). Look into the Future The Date option in the Setup menu is much more than just an entry of today's date; with it you can look far into the future or learn about past events.
24 T onight's Best How F ar is F ar A Star's Life Downloaded T ours User-created T ours Solar System Mercury Etc . Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc . Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Messier Etc . Star Named SAO Catalog Double V ar iable Etc.
25 W ant to lear n more about Observing Satellites? See page 32. Use the OBJECT menu to select an object from the database. When your telescope is aligned and you select an object from any of these lists, y ou just need to press the GO T O ke y to move the telescope so that it is pointed at the selected object.
26 W ARNING! Never use your ETX T elescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversib le damage to your e ye. Ey e damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late.
27 Tip: The Contrast Adjustment feature is usually only required in very cold weather . If you adjust the contrast so that you can no longer read the display , turn off the power and turn it on again. When V ersion appears on the display (the initial display screens are not affected b y the Contrast control), press MODE.
28 Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down Autostar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. With "Sleep Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate the Sleep function. Autostar goes dark, but the internal clock keeps running.
29 ■ T racking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tracks targets in the sky . a. Sidereal: The default setting for Autostar; sidereal rate is the standard rate at which stars move from East to West across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth.
30 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.
31 Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic operations of Autostar described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic knowledge of Autostar and understand how to scroll to a desired menu or menu option and how to enter numbers and text.
32 Using A utostar to Find Objects Not in the Database In this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial objects that do not appear in any of the Autostar database lists. Y ou will enter the object's name and R.A. and Dec. coordinates (required information).
33 3. Select a satellite from list and press ENTER. 4. "Calculating...." and then "T racking..." 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.
34 Interactiv e Mode: T our name appears on the first line of the Autostar display and the name of the object displays on line 2. T o display descriptive text in this mode, the user must press ENTER. Comment Line Information in the T our program that is not displayed, such as authorship, revision history , copyrights, etc.
35 The following commands specify objects that are already in the Autostar database. If these commands follow the command AUTO SELECT , the object's title displays on line 1 and its description scrolls across line 2.
36 ST AR "name" Enter ST AR followed by the name of the desired star in quotes. For example: ST AR "V ega" LANDMARK az alt "title" "description" Enter the azimuth (az) for the desired object in the following format: xxxdxxmxxs.
37 T o Add a landmark to the database: In this procedure, you will store the location of terrestrial landmarks in Autostar's memory . 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.
38 plays information about an object in its database that is closest to the one you queried about. IMPORT ANT NO TE: F or this function to operate properly , you m ust first set the telescope in the home position and initialize A utostar . If you ph ysically move the telescope after initialization, this function will f ail to operate properly .
39 Bro wse This menu allows you to search the database for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. The "Edit Parameters" option lets you set various parameters for the search and "Start Search" activates the search.
40 Photography with a 35mm Camera Photography through your ETX model requires the addition of the optional #64 T -Adapter (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES , page 43). With the #64 T -Adapter attached to the telescope ( Fig. 28 ), through-the-telescope photography is possible with any 35mm camera body with a removable lens.
41 Photography through a long lens, such as the ETX, requires special technique for good results. The photographer should expect to use several rolls film in acquiring this technique. Long-lens photography has its own rewards, however , which short-focus lenses cannot duplicate.
42 • If the camera is not directly coupled to the eyepiece, keep it as close to the eyepiece as possible and center the image to be photographed to minimize vignetting (darkening of the edges of the photo). • T ry to block ambient light (from street lights, house, etc.
43 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the for ETX telescopes. Meade accessories greatly extend many important applications to the telescope, from low-power , wide-field terrestrial viewing to high-power lunar and planetary observing.
44 #64 T -Adapter: The basic means of photography through any ETX Astro telescope, the #64 T -Adapter threads to the rear cell of the telescope, followed by a T -Mount appropriate to the user ’s brand of 35mm camera.
45 MAINTENANCE Y our 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.
46 Storage and T ranspor t 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 ( 6 and 9, Fig.
47 Object appears in the vie wfinder but not in the ey epiece: • The viewfinder is not properly aligned with the telescope (see ALIGNING THE VIEWFINDER , page 14).
48 SPECIFICA TIONS Specifications: ETX-90A T Astro T elescope Optical design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maksutov-Cassegrain Primary mirror diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96mm (3.78”) Clear aperture . . . . . . . . . . . .
49 Bearings: Altitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ball bearings Azimuth . . . . PTFE thrust bearing and radial ball bearing Materials: T ube body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . aluminum Mounting .
50 A utostar Specifications Processor ............................................................................ 68HC1 1, 8MHz Flash Memory ............................................................1MB, reloadable Keypad ..........................
51 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.
52 However , owners who wish to perform astrophotography or use the Meade LPI (see PHO TOGRAPHY WITH MEADE’S AUT OST AR SUITE , page 42, for more information) will find equatorial mounting indispensible to their needs.
53 5. Press ENTER repeatedly until “Setup: Align” displays. 6. Press the Scroll Down key repeatedly until "Setup: T elescope" displays. Press ENTER. “T elescope: T elescope Model” displays. 7. Press the Scroll Down key repeatedly until "T elescope: Mount" displays.
54 Setting Circ les The ETX models are equipped with R.A. and Dec. setting circles ( 13 and 16, Fig. 1 ) 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.
55 APPENDIX B: LA TITUDE CHART Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the W orld T o aid in the polar alignment procedure (see page 52), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below . T o determine the latitude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site.
56 T rain the telescope motors using Autostar . Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 52 depicts the complete Drive T raining procedure. Note: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive.
57 APPENDIX D:BASIC ASTRONOMY Fig. 53: The Moon. Note the deep shadows in the craters. In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller than your ETX , turned it skyward instead of looking at the distant trees and mountains.
58 Fig. 56: The Pleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters. Tip: Enter a date in the Date menu and you can determine if a planet(s)— or any other object in the database—will be visible during the night of the entered date. After entering a new date, go to the Object menu and select the desired planet from the menu.
.
14-1010-28 5/04 MEADE LIMITED W ARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“Meade”) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.
An important point after buying a device Meade ETX-90AT (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Meade ETX-90AT yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Meade ETX-90AT - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Meade ETX-90AT you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Meade ETX-90AT will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Meade ETX-90AT, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Meade ETX-90AT.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Meade ETX-90AT. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Meade ETX-90AT along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
