Instruction Manual

ETX-80AT-TC

MEADE.COM

CONTENTS

WARNING!

Never use a Meade Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.
Quick-Start Guide... 4 Telescope Features.. 6 AutoStar Features...10 Getting Started..13 Parts Listing..13 Telescope/Tripod Assembly..13 Choosing an Eyepiece...14 Manual Operation of the Telescope w/out AutoStar.14 Manual Operation of the Telescope with AutoStar.15 Slew Speeds..15 Observe the Moon..16 To Track an Object Automatically..16 Moving Through AutoStars Menus.16 Initializing AutoStar..16 Easy Alignment...18 Go To Saturn..18 Using the Guided Tour...19 AutoStar Menus..20 Menu Tree...20 AutoStar Operation...21 AutoStar Navigation Exercise..21 Entering Data, Moving Through AutoStars Menus.22 Objects Menu..23 Event Menu..24 Glossary Menu...24 Utilities Menu..24 Setup Menu..25 Advanced AutoStar Operation..28 Terrestrial Observing, Astronomical Observing.28 Sidereal Rate..28 Advanced Alt/Az Alignment Methods.28 Observing Satellites..29 Digital Photography with the ETX..30 Optional Accessories..32 Maintenance...33 Troubleshooting...34 Specifications...35 Appendix A: Using AutoStar to Enter Coordinates.36 Appendix B: Polar Alignment..37 Appendix C: Latitude Chart..39 Appendix D: Training the Drive..40 Appendix E: Basic Astronomy..41
CAUTION: Use care to install batteries in the orientation indicated by illustration in the battery slots of the battery holder. 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.
If you are anxious to use your telescope for the first time, read the QUICK-START GUIDE on page 4.
The name Meade, the Meade logo, and ETX are trademarks registered with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. Patents: US 6,392,799 and other patents pending. 2005 Meade Instruments Corporation.

QUICK-START GUIDE

Setting up the Tripod 1. Open the tripod: Remove the tripod from the giftbox and stand vertically. Gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. Turn the center tripod lock knob to secure and stabilize the tripod. Tighten to a firm feel. Caution: Make sure you loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing the tripod at the end of your viewing session. 2. Loosen the vertical lock and move the optical tube downward. Then, re-tighten the vertical lock.
Step 1: Open tripod.and tighten lock ring.
3. Attach the telescope to the tripod: Line up the mounting holes on the telescope with the mounting holes on the base. Reach underneath and thread the mounting bolt through the tripod base and into the telescope base. Tighten to a firm feel only, do not overtighten. Note: If you wish to attach the accessory tray to the tripod, see page 13 for more information. It is not necessary to attach the tray for the quick start procedure. 4. Insert the eyepiece: Remove the supplied 25mm eyepiece from its container and slide it into the eyepiece holder. Tighten the thumbscrews to a firm feel only.
Step 2: Loosen vertical lock to move optical tube.
5. Remove the dust cover from the end of optical tube assembly. 6. Use the focus knob to bring objects into focus. Your telescope has a very precise focus control. You may need to turn the focus knob 20 to 40 turns to focus your telescope for the first time. Always start observing using a low power eyepiece (such as a 25mm or 26mm eyepiece) to get a nice wide field of view. Later on you can change to high power, if so desired. But high powered eyepieces have a much narrower field of view and its more difficult to locate objects using high powered eyepieces.
Step 3: Attach telescope to tripod base using mounting bolts.
Connect the AutoStar Handbox 7. Lift the battery cover. Gently remove the battery holder from the compartment so you dont 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 the lid. 8. Make sure that the computer control panel power switch is in the OFF position. Remove AutoStar from the packing materials and plug it into the HBX port. Flip the Power Switch on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on AutoStars LCD display. 9. Press the key prompted by AutoStar to accept the Sun warning.

Fig. 3: The tripod.
18. AutoStar 19. Bubble level compass 20. Tripod base 21. Adjustable legs 22. Accessory tray 23. Locking knob 24. Leg braces 25. Leg locks
ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe
The Meade ETX-80AT is an extremely versatile, high-resolution telescope with features similar to those once available only with larger and more specialized imaging systems. With pushbutton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects, and software downloading capability, an ETX telescope may be all the telescope ever required by many terrestrial and astronomical observers.

Caution:

Using products other than standard Meade accessories may cause damage to the telescopes internal electronics and may void the Meade warranty.
Your ETX telescope reveals nature in an ever-expanding level of detail. Observe the feather structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of 800 million miles. Focus beyond the Solar System and observe majestic nebulae, ancient star clusters, remote galaxies, and even stars recently discovered to have planets orbiting about them. Meade ETX telescopes are instruments fully capable of growing with your interest and are ideal for both the casual observer and serious astronomer alike.

b c d E F

Eyepiece: Place the MA 25mm or other eyepiece into the 90 Eyepiece Holder (3, Fig. 1) and tighten in place with thumbscrew (2, Fig.1). Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew: Secures the eyepiece. Tighten to a "firm feel" only. 90 Eyepiece Holder: Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing. Rear Cell Port: Attach any 35mm camera with a removable lens to this port using an optional #64ST T-Adapter. Flip Mirror Control: ETX telescopes include an internal mirror. With the flip mirror control in the Up position, light is diverted to the eyepiece in the 90 eyepiece holder (3, Fig. 1). With the flip mirror control in the down position, light is diverted through the rear cell port (4, Fig. 1) for use with a camera for photography. See Figs. 4a and 4b. Flip Barlow: Flip the switch to engage the Barlow. The Barlow doubles the magnification of your eyepiece. You may have to turn the focus knob several times to refocus. See page 14 for more information. Battery Compartment: Install batteries in this compartment. See Step #7, page 13 for more information. Fork Arms: Hold the optical tube in place. Optical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus at the eyepiece. Movable Objective Lens Cell: This component contains the telescopes lenses. The focus knob (15, Fig. 1) moves the cell for precise image focus. Base/Bolt Hole for Tripod Bolts: Thread the tripod bolts up through the tripod and into the two holes in the base. Dust Cap: Unthread the dust cap counterclockwise from the front lens of the telescope before observing. Note: The dust cap should be replaced after each observing session and the power turned off to the telescope. Verify that any dew that might have collected during the observing session has evaporated before you replace the dust cap.

Fig. 4a: Flip mirror control in the up position.

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Fig. 4b: Flip mirror control in the down position.
Vertical Lock: Turning the vertical lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope, enabling it to be freely moved up and down. Turning the vertical lock clockwise (tighten to a "firm feel" only) prevents the telescope from being moved manually, but allows the vertical motor drive to operate for AutoStar operation. Caution: When loosening the vertical lock, be sure to hold onto the optical tube (9, Fig. 1). The weight of the objective lens could cause the tube to swing suddenly downward and damage the telescope.
Horizontal Lock: Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Turning the horizontal lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope, allowing it to be freely rotated by hand side-to-side about the horizontal axis. Turning the horizontal lock clockwise prevents the telescope from being rotated manually, but allows the horizontal motor drive to operate
Focus Knob: Moves the telescopes objective lens (10, Fig. 1) in a finely-controlled motion to focus an image. The ETX-80AT telescope can be focused on objects from a distance of about 17 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects. Note: The first time you focus the telescope, you may have to rotate the focus knob 20 to 40 complete turns as this is a fine focus mechanism which allows you to focus an image very precisely.
Computer Control Panel: A. Handbox (HBX) Port: Plug the AutoStar coil cord (8, Fig. 5) into this port. B. LED: The red power indicator light illuminates when power is supplied to the AutoStar handbox and to the telescopes motor drive. C. ON/OFF Switch: Turns the Computer Control Panel and AutoStar ON or OFF. D. Auxiliary (AUX) Port: Provides connection for current and future Meade accessories, such as the Meade AstroFinder Software with Cable Connector Kit, which allows you to control your ETX from a PC. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 32.

1& 1* 1(

Base Housing: Contains mechanical and electrical assemblies that operate the telescope. AutoStar with attached cord: features. See pages 10 to 12 for a description of AutoStars
Bubble Level/Compass: Use when aligning your telescope. When the bubble is in the center circle, the base is level.

The Tripod

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Base: Attach the telescope to the base. Adjustable Tripod legs: Support the telescope. The height of the legs can be adjusted. See

2% below.

Accessory tray: Place eyepieces and other accessories on the tray. Holds the AutoStar handbox as well. Attach to one of the leg braces. See 2$ below. Locking Knob: Rotate to secure the tripod legs. Be sure to loosen this knob before collapsing the tripod. Leg Braces: Strengthens the tripod legs. Leg Locks: Lift the lever to move the inner tripod leg segment in or out when adjusting the height of the tripod.

Note: Seeing conditions vary widely from night-to-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, back off to a lower power eyepiece for a more wellresolved image (Fig. 14a and 14b, page 17). The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of the telescope and the focal length of the eyepiece being used. To calculate eyepiece power, divide the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. E.g., Assume you are using a 25mm eyepiece. The focal length of the ETX-80AT is 400mm (see SPECIFICATIONS, page 35). Telescope Focal Length Eyepiece Focal Length = Magnification 400mm 25mm = 16 The eyepiece power, or magnification is therefore 14x. However, your telescope also contains a built-in 2 times Barlow. This means you also have to multiply magnification figure by two. 16 x 2 = 32 So your telescope has a 32 times magnification. Fig. 12: To use Flip Barlow, rotate the flip control to the down position.
Manual Operation of the Telescope without AutoStar
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. Assemble the telescope, loosen the horizontal and vertical locks (13 and 14, Fig. 1), and turn the telescope towards the object you wish to observe. Sight along the top of the tube until you find the object. When the object appears in the eyepiece, focus the image using the by turning the focus knob (15, Fig. 1). Rotate the knob clockwise to focus on distant objects and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects. You can also observe stars and objects in the night sky using this method, but note that objects begin to slowly drift across the eyepiece field. This motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth. As you become familiar with AutoStar operation, you can counteract the drift using the automatic tracking feature in the Setup menu (see TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTOMATICALLY, page 16), or by using AutoStar's GO TO capabilities (see GO TO SATURN, page 18). Sight along the top of the telescopes tube to line up objects for viewing in the eyepiece. See Fig. 13. Fig. 13: Sight along the top of the optical tube.
Manual Operation of the Telescope Using AutoStar's Arrow Keys
You may also observe land and astronomical objects using AutoStar's Arrow keys. If you have not already done so, prepare your telescope following the steps described in TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY, page 13. Next, flip the On/Off Switch (C, Fig. 1b) on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on AutoStars display. Press the Speed/? key (7, Fig. 5) to accept the Sun warning. The "Getting Started" message displays. Keep pressing the ENTER key until "Country/State" appears on the display. (Ignore the prompts requesting "Date" and "Time" for now these functions will be explained later in the manual). Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of countries/states. Press ENTER when your location displays. Next, use the Scroll keys to scroll to the nearest city to your observing site and press ENTER. Next, use the Scroll keys to scroll to your telescope model and press ENTER. The display then reads "Setup: Align." You can now use the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 5) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. To change the telescopes slew speed, briefly press the Speed/? key (7, Fig. 5). Each press decreases the slew speed down one level, and then cycles back to the fastest speed. See page 15 for more information. Tighten (to a "firm feel" only, do not overtighten) the vertical and horizontal locks (13 and 14, Fig. 1). Sight along the side of the telescopes main tube to locate an object and practice using the AutoStars Arrow keys to center the object in the telescopes field of view. Use the telescopes focus knob (15, Fig. 1) to bring the object into focus. This procedure demonstrates just a very small part of AutoStar's capabilities. In the next section of this manual, you will begin to learn how to make use of AutoStar's extensive and powerful features.

Fig. 15: Alt/Az Alignment Home Position.

Go To Saturn

Fig. 16: The ETX-80 is supplied with a bubble level. When setting the home position, use the bubble level to help level the telescope and to find North. Remove the eyepiece from the 90 holder and drop in the bubble level. Adjust the telescope tube the bubble enters the center circle of the bubble level. Line up the North - South line of the compass with you telescope tube. Move the tube until the tube points North.
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. IMPORTANT NOTE: Once aligned, only use the GO TO or Arrow keys to move the telescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks (13 and 14, Fig. 1), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost. This exercise demonstrates how to select an object for viewing from AutoStars database. This example demonstrates how to select Saturn. NOTE: Saturn is not visible the entire year and you may need to choose another object from AutoStar's database; however, the procedure, as described below, remains the same. 1 2. 3. After the telescope is aligned, Select Item: Object displays. Press ENTER. Object: Solar System displays. Press ENTER. Solar System: Mercury displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until Solar System: Saturn displays.
4. 5. NOTE: Keep in mind that when viewing through an eyepiece in the 90eyepiece holder, images of terrestrial objects are right-side-up, but reversed left-forright. Normally, such an image orientation is not bothersome, unless trying to read a distant sign, for example. If you wish to use the telescope for terrestrial observation, use the eyepiece in the 45 prism. The image in this eyepiece will be correctly oriented.
Press ENTER. Calculating displays. Then Saturn and a set of coordinates displays. Saturns (and other planets) coordinates change throughout the year. 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. AutoStar then automatically slews (moves) the telescope so that it "tracks" Saturn (or whatever other object you may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains centered in the eyepiece. If an object is observed in the telescope without using AutoStar's GO TO or automatic tracking capabilities, objects in the eyepiece gradually drift out of the field of view due to the Earth's rotation.

Fig. 19: Menus set in a loop.
Press the Scroll Down key four times or the Scroll Up key once.
Select Item Object Select Item Solar System
The screen in Fig. 20 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. When the desired option is displayed on the second line, press the ENTER key to choose that option and move down one menu level. Press the MODE key to leave a level; e.g., the wrong menu option is chosen. IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter how many levels into AutoStar 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."
Fig. 20: AutoStar menu levels.
AutoStar Navigation Exercise
To demonstrate how the AutoStar menu structure works, the following exercise calculates Sunset time so an evening observing session can be planned. NOTE: To perform an accurate calculation, AutoStar must be properly initialized with the current date, time, and location of the observing site. To enter the current date, time, and location information of your observing site, see INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 16, before proceeding with this exercise.
To Calculate Sunset time: 1. Press the MODE key several times, until Select Item: Object is displayed. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the Event option in the Select Item menu. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise" is displayed. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level. Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar then displays the results of the calculation. Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar levels. The first level up is the Event menu. Press MODE again to move up another level. This is the top level, "Select Item." Press MODE again to return to the starting point of "Select Item: Object."

Setup Menu

The Setup menus primary function is to align the telescope (see EASY ALIGN, page 18). However, there are numerous other features available within the Setup menu, including:
Date changes the date used by Autostar. 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 24. Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar 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. 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. Telescope accesses the several options, including: { Model: Allows you to select the telescope model connected to Autostar.
Focal Length: Displays the focal length of the selected telescope. 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 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. Alt Percent: The Alt (Altitude) Percent operates identical to the AZ Percent option (see above), but allows you to change the altitude backlash, i.e., the way the Arrow keys move the telescope when moving along the altitude (vertical) axis. Train Drive: Trains the Altitude and Azimuth motors to locate objects TIPS FOR BEGINNERS with more precision. If you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy, follow the procedure described in APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE, page 40, to insure accurate pointing and tracking. Tracking 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. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions. Custom: Allows entry of userdefined tracking rates.

Fig. 26: Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl Eyepieces.
#126 2x Barlow Lens (1.25"): For telescopes that accommodate 1.25" eyepieces, the Barlow lens doubles each eyepiece power while maintaining excellent image corrections. #3200 Lunar & Planetary Color Filter Set: Meade optical glass color filters increase image contrast and resolution of the Moon and planets. The #3200 Set includes light yellow, very light red, very light blue, and neutral density filters. Each filter threads into the barrels of all Meade MA, PL, and WA eyepieces and is packed in a separate plastic case for secure storage. #x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder and Bracket: For easy sighting of terrestrial or astronomical objects prior to their observation in the main telescope, the #x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder (Fig. 30) displays a wide 7.5 field of view. Includes a crosshair eyepiece and precise helicoid focusing; the included viewfinder bracket attaches to the main telescope in seconds. 64ST T-Adapter: The T-adapter allows you connect a 35mm camera to your ETX telescope. Obtain the T-mount that is correct for your individual brand of camera separately.
Fig 27: #827 Right-Angle Viewfinder.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING

General Maintenance

The ETX-80AT telescope is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your telescope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance. Maintenance guidelines include: 1. Avoid cleaning the telescopes optics. A little dust on the front surface of the telescopes correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens. When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with gentle strokes of a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at any pharmacy). Do not use a commercial photographic lens cleaner. Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. A single drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap may be added per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often. CAUTION: Do not use scented, colored, or lotioned tissues as damage could result to the optics. 4. If your telescope 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. If your telescope is not to be used for an extended period, perhaps for one month or more, it is advisable to remove the six AB-size batteries from inside the drive base. Batteries left installed for prolonged periods may leak, causing damage to the telescopes electronic circuitry. See TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY, page 13. Do not leave your telescope outdoors on a warm day or inside a sealed car for an extended period of time. Excessive ambient temperatures can damage the telescopes internal lubrication and electronic circuitry. A (English-format) hex wrench is provided with the ETX-80AT. Use the wrench to tighten the set-screws of any knobs which may loosen, such as the horizontal lock knob or focus knob.

Storage and Transport

When not in use, store the telescope 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 (13 and 14, Fig. 1) in the unlocked positions. If shipping the telescope, use the original box and packing material to protect the telescope during shipment. 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. It is highly recommended to use the optional Hard Case to transport the telescope. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 32.

Inspecting the Optics

A Note About the Flashlight Test": If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observers line of sight and the angle of the light) may reveal what appears 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 the lens or reflected off the mirror, and can be seen on any high quality optical system, including giant research telescopes. 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.

Troubleshooting

The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-80AT. The power indicator light on the telescope does not come on or there is no response when pressing AutoStar Arrow keys: Verify that the Computer Control Panel power switch (C, Fig. 1b) is in the ON position. Verify that the AutoStar cord (8, Fig. 5) is firmly connected to the HBX port (A, Fig. 1b). Verify that the batteries are installed correctly and that they have sufficient charge. See TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY, page 13. 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 occur, turn the power off and replace the batteries. If AutoStar does not respond to commands, set the Computer Control Panel power switch to OFF and then back to ON. 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. If all physical obstacles are removed and the telescope still does not move properly, turn off the power and unplug AutoStar. Plug the AutoStar back in and turn the power back on.
Cannot seem to focus (No image appears in the eyepiece): Keep turning the focus knob. Your ETX telescope has a fine focusing mechanism which allows you to focus an image very precisely. However, this means that you may have to rotate the focus knob 20 to 40 complete turns to achieve focus, particularly the first time you use your telescope. After that, fewer turns will be needed. Still unable to see an image through the eyepiece: Confirm that the dust cap has been removed from the telescope. Confirm that the flip-mirror control (5, Fig. 1) is in the up position (Fig. 4a) if using the eyepiece holder (3, Fig. 1) so that light is directed to the eyepiece (1, Fig. 1). Confirm that the flip-mirror control is in the down position (Fig. 4b) if using the #933 Erecting Prism.

Slew speed does not change when the Speed/? key is pressed, or the telescope moves slowly even though the fast slew speed is chosen: The battery power may be low. See TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY, page 13. Images through the eyepiece appear unfocused or distorted: The magnification used may be too high for the seeing conditions. Back off to a lower power eyepiece. See TOO MUCH POWER?, page 17. 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 distort the image. 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 have been tightened to a "firm feel" (13 and 14, Fig. 1). Telescope pauses when changing slew direction: This pause is normal.

Meade Customer Service

If you have a question concerning your ETX-80AT, contact the Meade Instruments Customer Service Department at: Telephone: (800) 626-3233 Customer Service hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. In the unlikely event that the ETX requires factory servicing or repairs, write or call the Meade Customer Service Department first, before returning the telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as to the nature 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.

ETX-80AT Specifications

Optical design...Achromatic Refractor Clear aperture...80mm (2.76) Focal length...400mm Focal ratio (photographic speed).f/4.4 Near focus (approx.)..17 ft. (5.2m) Resolving power..1.6 arc secs Multi-coatings on objective lens.Standard Limiting visual stellar magnitude (approx.)..11.5 Image scale...4.1/inch Maximum practical visual power.240X Optical tube dimensions (dia. x length).9.3cm x 30.4-37.1cm (3.6 x 12-14.6) Eyepieces 2x Flip Barlow...Built in Telescope mounting...Fork type; double tine Setting circle diameters..Dec: 3.5; RA: 7 Input voltage...9-volts DC Motor Drive System..DC servo motors with encoders, both axes Slow-Motion Controls..Electric, 9 speed, both axes Hemispheres of operation...North and South, switchable Bearings: Altitude...Acetal Azimuth...Nylon Materials Tube body..ABS Mounting...High-impact ABS Objective lens (crown, flint).BK7, F2 Telescope dimensions..40.4cm x 18cm x 22cm (15.9 x 7 x 9) Prism...45 roof Battery Life (approx.) with AutoStar..20 hrs. Compass/Bubble Level included

3. 4. 5.

To GO TO a user-entered object: 1. 2. 3. 4. With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Up key once. "User Object: Select" displays. Press ENTER. Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to the desired object. Press ENTER. The name of the object and the Right Ascension and Declination coordinates display. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.
APPENDIX B: EQUATORIAL (POLAR) ALIGNMENT

Polar Alignment

The great majority of ETX-80AT owners will find it unnecessary ever to Polar align the telescope. With these ETX telescope models the standard-equipment Autostar controller allows the telescope to be used in the altazimuth (Alt/Az) orientation for all observing purpose. This section is included only for educational purposes, where the observer might wish to operate the analog setting circles (Fig. 28 and Fig. 29) in place of the digital setting circles built into the Autostar hand controller. Absent a desire to use the analog circles or simply to be informed about the use of the equatorial (Polaraligned) mount, reading of this appendix may be omitted.
North Celestial Pole (Vicinity of Polaris) +90 Dec. Star

ation clin De

Earths Rotation

Right Ascension

Celestial Equator 0 Dec.
South Celestial Pole -90 Dec.
Fig. 30: Celestial Sphere.
Fig. 28: Declination setting circle.
In Polar Alignment, the telescope is oriented so that the horizontal and vertical axes of the telescope are lined up with the celestial coordinate system. Polar Alignment requires the telescope to be mounted to the optional #884 Deluxe Field Tripod. In order to Polar 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 Polar-aligned astronomy, and includes instructions for finding the celestial pole and for finding objects in the night sky using Declination and Right Ascension.
Fig. 29: Right Ascension setting circle.

Celestial Coordinates

Celestial objects are mapped according to a coordinate system on the Celestial Sphere (Fig. 30), an imaginary sphere surrounding Earth on which all stars appear to be placed. This celestial object mapping system is analogous to the Earth-based coordinate system of latitude and longitude. The poles of the celestial coordinate system are defined as those two points where the Earths rotational axis, if extended to infinity, North and South, intersect the celestial sphere. Thus, the North Celestial Pole (1, Fig. 30) is that point in the sky where an extension of the Earths axis through the North Pole intersects the celestial sphere. This point in the sky is located near the North Star, Polaris. In mapping the surface of the Earth, lines of longitude are drawn between the North and South Poles. Similarly, lines of latitude are drawn in an East-West direction, parallel to the Earths Equator. The Celestial Equator (2, Fig. 30) is a projection of the Earths Equator onto the celestial sphere. Just as on the surface of the Earth, in mapping the celestial sphere, imaginary lines have been drawn to form a coordinate grid. Thus, object positions on the Earths surface are specified by their latitude and longitude. For example, you could locate Los Angeles, California, by its latitude (+34) and longitude (118 West); similarly, you could locate the constellation Ursa Major (which includes the Big Dipper) by its general position on the celestial sphere: R.A.: 11hr; Dec: +50. Right Ascension: The celestial analog to Earth longitude is called Right Ascension, or R.A., and is measured in time on the 24 hour clock and shown in hours or hr," minutes or min," and seconds or sec," from an arbitrarily defined zero line of Right Ascension passing through the constellation Pegasus. Right Ascension coordinates range from 0hr 0min 0sec to 23hr 59min 59sec. Thus 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 prime Right Ascension grid line, 0hr 0min 0sec, carry increasing R.A. coordinates. Declination: The celestial analog to Earth latitude is called Declination, or Dec, and is measured in degrees, arc-minutes and arc-seconds, e.g., 15 27' 33". Declination shown as North of the celestial equator is indicated with a + sign in front of the measurement,

Fig. 34: The Moon. Note the deep shadows in the craters.
Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the ETX-80AT. Venus is about nine-tenths the diameter of Earth. As Venus orbits the Sun, observers can see it go through phases (crescent, half, and full) much like those of the Moon. The disk of Venus appears white as Sunlight is reflected off the thick cloud cover that completely obscures any surface detail. Mars is about half the diameter of Earth, and appears through the telescope as a tiny reddishorange disk. It may be possible to see a hint of white at one of the planets 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.

Little Dipper

Fig. 35: Jupiter and its four largest moons. The moons can be observed in a different position every night.
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 stretching across the surface. These lines are cloud bands in the atmosphere. Four of Jupiters 16 moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) can be seen as star-like points of light when using even the lowest magnification (Fig. 35). 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 (Fig. 36). 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. Saturns rings are composed of billions of ice particles ranging in size from a speck of dust to the size of a house. The major division in Saturn's rings, called the Cassini Division, is occasionally visible through the ETX-80AT. Titan, the largest of Saturns 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. Examples of various deep-sky objects are 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.
Fig. 36: Saturn has the most extensive ring structure in our Solar System.
Fig. 327 The Pleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters.
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. 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 (Fig. 37). Through the ETX-80AT, 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. 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.

MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY

Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (Meade) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A. and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase. 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 owners 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. This warranty supercedes all previous Meade product warranties.

(800) 626-3233

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Part no. 14-6882-00 07/00

ETX-80AT (80mm Altazimuth Refractor)

GO-TO TELESCOPE

Super Plssl Eyepieces
#494 AutoStar Controller Bubble Level Compass
Meades new, larger 80mm diameter ETX delivers more light-gathering for increased image brightness and greater detail. Moon craters by the hundreds, cloud belts on Jupiter, and Saturns rings are just the beginning of what can be seen with this telescope.
Meades brainy AutoStar computer solves the stargazers two biggest challenges in navigating the heavens with a computer telescope: aligning the telescope with the night sky and finding celestial phenomenon in the vast starry firmament. Right out of the box with a simple initialization, AutoStar makes finding the skys elusive jewels virtually as easy as pushing a few buttons. Observe land or over 1400 sky objects in stunning high resolution, and learn about the sky with Meades extensive astro-library. The Meade ETX-80AT-TC has these new advanced features as standard-equipment: A built-in Barlow lens flips into position when needed. This highly desirable feature provides more power when studying lunar and planetary surface features. An internal Time Chip (TC) keeps precise factory calibrated time and date. A Bubble-level/ Compass is provided to make initialization faster and easier. Now includes two premium 4-element 1.25" Super Plssl eyepieces (SP9.7mm, SP26mm) offering comfortable long eye-relief and an expansive wide visual field. Bonus! AutoStar Suite Astronomer Software on DVD for PC, now with instructional DVD. For other amazing standard features and specifications see reverse side of this page.

Bonus Software DVD

Includes Sturdy Field Tripod

MEADE.COM

(800) 626-3233

ETX-80AT

REFRACTING TELESCOPE

Moon Planets Nature

#494 AutoStar Computer Controller
The AutoStar computer controller automatically guides your telescope to over 1400 objects. View planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulas all at the push of a button. Dont know what to see on a particular night? Dont worry. Just select the Tonights Best tour and AutoStar will automatically take you on a guided tour of the best planets, stars, nebulas and other objects out that particular night. Want to know more about what youre looking at? The LCD display teaches you about what youre viewing with details like distance, temperature, mass, and historical information. AutoStar is your guide to the universe.
Solar System Planets. 8 Moon. 1 Asteroids. 26 Comets. 15 Constellations. 88 Stars Named Stars. 79 Double Stars. 395 Variable Stars. 189 SAO Stars. 200 Deep-Sky Named Objects. 66 Galaxies. 74 Diffuse Nebulae. 31 Planetary Nebulae. 19 Quasars. 11 Caldwell Objects. 109 Messier Objects. 110 Earth Satellites. 50 Total Objects. 1471

SPECIFICATIONS

Model / Part# Optical Design Clear Aperture Focal Length, Focal Ratio Maximum Practical Visual Power Optical Tube Dimensions (dia x l) Eyepiece(s) Barlow Lens Telescope Mounting RA and Dec. Motor Drive Systems Slow-Motion Controls AutoStar Controller Planetarium Software and Instructional DVD Batteries (user-supplied) Battery Life (approx.) UPC Master Carton (Size/Weight) ETX-80AT / 0805-04-21 Achromatic Refractor 80mm (3.15") 400mm f/5 275X 3.6" dia x 14.5" Super Plssl 9.7mm and 26mm Built-in flip Barlow Fork type; double tine 12V DC servo motors w/encoders Electric, 9-speed; both axes #494 Included Included 6 x AA 20 hrs. 22.6" x 9.4" x 31.3" / 22. lbs.
More Power Than Youll Ever Need.
Any astronomer will tell you that light gathering not power is what matters. A small, crisp image is better than a large hazy one. Meades 1.25" diameter Super Plssl eyepieces provide wider fields of view, allowing you to see more of the sky at greater magnifications. Additional eyepieces and other accessories for this telescope are available at www.meade.com/accessories

Wide field of view (52)

AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition Software on DVD + Instructional Video
AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition software will help you learn the night sky. It displays more than 10,000 celestial objects including planets, stars, galaxies and nebulas. You can print out star charts and even plan your observing sessions. It operates on any Windows based PC.

Meade Premium Optics

Serious astronomers for years have flocked to Meade telescopes for their premium quality optical systems and patented technology. Consumers know that Meade Optics Inside means that what they see through our telescopes will be views that are detailed, crisp and full of contrast. Look through a Meade this evening and see what you've been missing.
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