.and the other end of the coiled cord into the coiled cord port at the bottom of AutoStar handbox (H), as shown above.
Place the 26mm eyepiece (C) into the eyepiece holder on the telescope and tighten the attachment thumbscrew (D, not visible in photo) to a "firm feel" only. See page 7, for more information. Remove the dust cover (E) from the end of the telescope tube.
Tighten (to a "firm feel" only, do not overtighten) the vertical lock (I) and the horizontal lock (J). See page 7 and 8 for more information.
Flip the Power Switch (F) on the computer control panel to the ON position. A version screen briefly appears, followed by "Welcome to AutoStar."
The screen displays "Press 0 to align or press Mode for Menu."
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. Plug one end of the cord into the HBX port (G).

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Enter Key
To change the speed at which the telescope moves (known as the slew speed) press a NUMBER KEY from 1 through 9. 1 is the slowest speed and 9 is the fastest.

Scroll Up Key

Scroll Down Key
Make sure that the flip mirror control (K) is in the Up position, as shown the diagram above.
To begin automatic alignment, press "0." AutoStar then displays: Location Option: 1-Zipcode 2-City. This option allows you to choose how you wish to enter the location of your observing site: you can enter your zip code or choose the site from a list of countries, states and cities. Press the number key 1 if you wish to enter by zip code. Then enter the five digits of the zip code of your observing site and press ENTER. Press the number key 2 if you wish to select your observing site from a list of country, states and cities. Follow the on-screen instructions. Finally Telescope Models displays. Using the SCROLL KEYS, cycle through the list of telescope models and press ENTER when your model displays. The display now displays "Press "0" for Tour or MODE for menu." See page 17 and 18 for more information about automatic alignment and Guided Tour.
If AutoStar does not request the Country/State, City and Telescope Model information, use "Site" options in the Setup menu to change this information. See pages 27 and 29 for more information.
Sight along the side of the telescopes main tube to locate an object. If you wish to learn how to align the telescopes SmartFinder, see page 13.

Arrow Keys

Use the telescopes focus knob (L) to bring the object into focus.

Number Keys

If you wish to learn more about observing with AutoStar and other features of your telescope, see: Page 13 to learn how to use SmartFinder Page 17 to learn how to perform an Automatic Alignment Page 18 to learn how to Go To Saturn Page 18 to learn about Guided Tours Page 22 for a Menu tree of AutoStars menus Pages 23 to 38 to learn more about AutoStars menus

NEVER point the telescope directly at or near the Sun at any time! Observing the Sun, even for the smallest fraction of a second, will result in instant and irreversible eye damage, as well as physical damage to the telescope itself. Do not look through the telescope's eyepiece while it is rapidly moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.
Observing Using AutoStar Arrow Keys
You may observe land and astronomical objects using AutoStar's Arrow keys to move the telescope. 1. 2. 3. Tighten the horizontal (9, Fig. 1a) and vertical locks (6, Fig. 1b). Make sure that AutoStars coiled cord is connected to the computer control panels HBX port (C, Fig. 2). Flip the Power Switch (A, Fig. 2) on the computer control panel to the ON position. A copyright message lights on AutoStars LCD display, followed by a warning not to look at the Sun. Press the AutoStar key prompted by the message when you are done reading. See page 9 to 11 for more information about AutoStars keys. A Getting Started message displays. Press ENTER to skip this message. AutoStar then displays: Location Option: 1-Zipcode 2-City. This option allows you to choose how you wish to enter the location of your observing site: you can enter your zip code or choose the site from a list of countries, states and cities. Press the number key 1 if you wish to enter by zip code. Then enter the five digits of the zip code of your observing site and press ENTER. Press the number key 2 if you wish to select your observing site from a list of country, states and cities. First, use a Scroll key to cycle through the list of countries and states (listed alphabetically). Press ENTER when the correct location displays. Next, use a Scroll key to cycle through the list of cities (also listed alphabetically). Press ENTER when the closest city displays. 6. 7. Finally Telescope Models displays. Using the SCROLL KEYS, cycle through the list of telescope models and press ENTER when your model displays. The display now displays "Align: Automatic."
Important Note: AutoStar requests the Country/State, City and Telescope Model information only the first time AutoStar is activated. Subsequently, AutoStar uses the location and model number you have chosen.
If you wish to change this information, use the "Telescope Model" and "Site" options in the Setup menu. See pages 27 and 29 for more information.
You can now use the ARROW KEYS to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right or left. Practice using the ARROW KEYS to center objects in the eyepiece.To change the speed at which the telescope moves (known as the slew speed), press a NUMBER KEY from 1 through 9. 1 is the slowest speed and 9 is the fastest.

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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 (0.25 arc-min/sec or 0.004/sec) Number Key 2 = 2x = 2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008/sec) Number Key 3 = 8x = 8 x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or 0.033/sec) Number Key 4 = 16x = 16 x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec or 0.067/sec) Number Key 5 = 64x = 64 x sidereal (16 arc-min/sec or 0.27/sec) Number Key 6 = 128x = 30 arc-min/sec or 0.5/sec Number Key 7 = 1.0 = 60 arc-min/sec or 1.0/sec Number Key 8 = 1.5 = 90 arc-min/sec or 1.5/sec Number Key 9 = Max = approx. 4.5/sec 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 9mm eyepiece. Speeds 4, 5 or 6: Enable centering of an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as a 26mm. Speeds 7 or 8: Best used for rough centering of an object in the SmartFinder. Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another.
Note: Throughout this manual, you will notice the term "alt/az." Alt/az is frequently used to refer to altitude (vertical) and azimuth (horizontal). Alt/az is just one of many methods used by amateur astronomers to help locate stars in the night sky.
Another method of alignment is called Equatorial (also known as Polar). To learn more about equatorial alignment, see page 50.

Astronomical Observing

Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electromechanical capabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of optical performance is readily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is limited only by the observers motivation.

Observe the Moon

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. 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, making the overly bright surface appear flat and rather uninteresting. Try using 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.

Use the Glossary menu to look up definitions of astronomical terms and get a description of AutoStar features.

Glossary Menu

The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and AutoStar functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in AutoStar. A hypertext word

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is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the AutoStar 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 AutoStar goes to the glossary entry for that word. 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.

Utilities Menu

The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within AutoStar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:
Use the Utilities menu to perform many of AutoStars useful features, such as setting an alarm, adjust the display contrast, calculate the best eyepiece for viewing an object, set up your own landmark survey, and so forth.
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites. See OBSERVING SATELLITES, page 30. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose Set or Start/Stop."
Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes and seconds, then press ENTER. 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."
Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm to sound, in hours, minutes and seconds, then press ENTER. 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, AutoStar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm.
Tip: The Contrast Adjustment feature is usually only required in very cold weather.
Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which AutoStar is connected.
If you adjust the contrast so that you can no longer read the display, turn off the power and turn it on again. When Version appears on the display (the initial display screens are not affected by the Contrast control), press MODE.

Want to learn more about Periodic Error Correction? See page 37.
Tip: If the "ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake (holding the ENTER key for more than 2 seconds), press MODE to return to the previous screen.
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 and the telescope is aligned, the tracking motor is turned off. To learn how to track an object automatically, see page 16. Site provides access to several options including:
Select: Displays the currently selected observing site or zip code. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through all the sites. Press ENTER when the site you wish to select displays. Use this option when you move to a different geographic location. The cities you have chosen or zip codes you have added will appear at the top of this list (see ADD below).

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Want to learn more about adding and editing sites? See page 29.
Time Zone Atlantic Eastern Central Mountain Pacific Alaska Hawaii Shift -4 Hours -5 Hours -6 Hours -7 Hours -8 Hours -9 Hours -10 Hours
Add: 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. Choose Zip Code to enter your zip code, if you wish. Choose Custom if you wish enter the name of an observing site. In this method, you will enter its name, plus its longitude and latitude. See the margin note on page 29 for more information. Delete: Deletes a stored site from 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 table above.
Table 1: Time Zone Shift. Calculations are for standard time.
Note: AutoStar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See Setup Menu: Daylight Saving, page 26. 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.

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 42.
Download transfers information from another AutoStar. During the operation, the warning Downloading Do Not Turn Off appears. Clone uploads information from one AutoStar handbox to another. Three options are available:
Catalogs: Sends only user-defined object information, such as new satellite orbits or comet data to another AutoStar handbox. Software: Sends only the basic AutoStar software. This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version of AutoStar software from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and wants to pass this software along to friends. All: Everything user-defined information and AutoStar software is sent to another AutoStar. Characters Free: Shows how much room is available in user-defined object memory. Version: Shows the current version of the AutoStar software.
Statistics provides basic statistical data about AutoStar, including:
Reset completely resets AutoStar. Most values entered into the menus revert to factory defaults. AutoStar requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding with observations. See INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 19.
Join an Astronomy Club, Attend a Star Party
One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library or telescope dealer/store to find out if theres a club in your area. At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy enthusiasts with whom you will be able to share your discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way to learn more about observing the sky, to find out where the best observing sites are and to compare notes about telescopes, eyepieces, filters, tripods and so forth. Often, club members are excellent astrophotographers. Not only will you be able to see examples of their art, but you may even be able to pick up some tricks of the trade to try out with your ETX telescope. See page 40 for more information about photography with the ETX. Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky & Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star Parties around the United States and Canada.

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ADVANCED AUTOSTAR OPERATION
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. It also assumes that you have initialized AutoStar and have placed the telescope in the "Home" position (when appropriate).

Page 34

STAR "name" Enter STAR followed by the name of the desired star in quotes. For example: STAR "Vega" LANDMARK az alt "title" "description" 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 AutoStar can choose from during a tour. AutoStar 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. 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: 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." PICK ONE AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO SELECT MESSIER 13 SELECT MESSIER 15 SELECT MESSIER 92 SELECT MESSIER 4 SELECT MESSIER 68 SELECT NGC 1234 SELECT TEXT "None Available" "I'm sorry. There are no bright globular"
"clusters visible at this time." PICK END AUTO SLEW ON / AUTO SLEW OFF With AUTO SLEW ON enabled in the tour, AutoStar 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 AutoStar 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. #END To end a tour, type the command #END on a separate line at the very end of the tour. Downloading Tours Once a tour is written and stored as an ASCII file (saved either as a "text only" or "MS DOS text" file), load it into AutoStar using the AutoStar Update Utility on your PC. As tours are downloaded into the handbox, AutoStar 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 AutoStar.

Fig. 33: The Deep Sky Imager.
Fig. 34: The Lunar Planetary Imager.

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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. The premium quality of these accessories is well-suited to the quality of the instrument itself. Meade telescopes and accessories, including optional accessories for ETX telescopes, are available at more than 3,000 dealer locations in the U.S. and Canada and through Meade international distributors worldwide. Once you have identified the accessories you wish to order, contact your local Meade authorized dealer. To find a dealer near you call (949) 451-1450 or visit the Meade website at www.meade.com. #505 Cable Connector Kit: With Meade AstroFinder software loaded into your PC, AutoStar-equipped ETX90PE and ETX-125PE telescopes may be remotely controlled from the PC display. The #505 Cable Connector Set, permitting connection of ETX, AutoStar and PC, is included with each AstroFinder package. Eyepieces: For higher and lower magnifications, Meade Super Plssl (SP) and Super Wide Angle (SWA) eyepieces (Fig. 35), as well as the Series 4000 8mm to 24mm Zoom eyepiece, yield high-resolution imaging with all ETX telescope models. A useful selection includes the SP 9.7mm, SP 12.4mm and SWA 16mm. Under good seeing conditions, Meade Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle 4.7mm and 6.7mm eyepieces present the widest obtainable fields of view at high powers and are well suited for observing the Moon and planets (other eyepieces are available in this series). Powers obtained with each eyepiece are shown in the following table.
Eyepiece SP 6.4mm SP 9.7mm SP 12.4mm SP 15mm SP 20mm SP 26mm * SP 32mm SP 40mm SWA 16mm SWA 20mm SWA 24mm UWA 4.7mm UWA 6.7mm ETX-90PE Power 2x Barlow 195X 129X 101X 83X 63X 48X 39X 31X 78X 63X 52X 266X 187X 390X 258X 202X 166X 126X 96X 78X 62X 156X 126X 104X N/A 374X ** ETX-125PE Power 2x Barlow 297X 196X 153X 127X 95X 73X 59X 48X 119X 106X 79X 404X 284X 594X** 392X 306X 253X 190X 146X 119X 96X 238X 211X 158X N/A 567X**

Fig. 39: #774 Hard Carrying Case shown with an ETX-90PE.
Fig. 40: The #765 Soft Carry Bag for the ETX-90PE.
Fig. 41: #1244 Electric Focuser.
Fig. 42: Meade Deep Sky Imager

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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: 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. 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. 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 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 or damage could result to the optics. 4. In the very rare situation where cleaning the inside surface of the corrector lens becomes necessary, unthread 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. Caution: 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. Note: 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, necessitating a return of the telescope to the Meade factory. 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. 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 telescopes electronic circuitry (see HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE AND TRIPOD, page 12). 7. The super-gloss anodized finish of any ETX models deep-violet optical tube fades if left in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. 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 telescopes internal lubrication and electronic circuitry. 9. A (English-format) hex wrench is provided with ETX models. This wrench is used as follows: Small wrench (.05): Use the small wrench to tighten the set-screws of any knobs that may loosen (e.g., the focus knob or flip-mirror control knob).

Fig. 43: Celestial Sphere.
Polar Mounting your Telescope with the #884 Deluxe Field Tripod 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. 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: altazimuth (alt/az) and equatorial. For many ETX owners, it will not be necessary to equatorially mount the telescope; alt/az mounting will suffice. The AutoStar Controller allows the telescope to be mounted in the altazimuth (alt/az) mode for most observing purposes. See AUTOMATIC ALIGNMENT, page 17, for more information.

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However, owners who wish to perform astrophotography or use the Meade LPI or Deep Sky Imager (see PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MEADES AUTOSTAR SUITE, page 41, for more information) will want to use equatorial mounting.
Equatorial Mount Equatorial mounting lines up the telescopes polar axis with the North Celestial Pole (or the South Celestial Pole if observing in the southern hemisphere). 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. Equatorial Mounting Procedure 1. Assemble the tripod as described in Step #2 of How to Assemble Your Telescope and Tripod, page 12. 2. Loosen the latitude control latch (1, Fig. 44) and lift up the tilt-plate (2, Fig. 44) so that you can easily access the underside of the plate. Relock the latitude control latch, so the assembly doesn't slip while you are attaching the telescope. 3. Turn the tripod, so that the face of the tilt-plate points North (Figs. 48 and 49, on next page). 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 (5, Fig. 48) North. This is the leg opposite from the latitude control bar (4, Fig. 48). 4. Line up the mounting hole on the base of the telescope labeled "High Latitude Leg" with the attachment knob that is closest to the latitude control bar (see Fig. 45). Line up the other mounting hole with the remaining attachment knob. Thread both attachment knobs into the base of the telescope. Tighten to a firm-feel only. 5. Determine the latitude of your observing location from a road map, atlas or the LATITUDE CHART FOR MAJOR CITIES OF THE WORLD, page 54. Loosen the latitude control latch (1, Fig. 47, on next page) and adjust the latitude control bar (4, Fig. 47) so that your observing site's latitude is just visible above the flat surface of the tripod head. Retighten the latch. 6. If you have not already done so orient the tripod leg (see Step #3 and 5, Fig. 48) 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 Earths Southern Hemisphere must point the telescope due South). 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. (a) Loosen the vertical and/or horizontal locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1a and 1b) 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. 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. Using an Equatorially Mounted Telescope Once your telescope is equatorially mounted, the telescope motor drive will keep a celestial object in the telescope eyepiece's field of view. To Track a Star When Polar Mounted: Make sure you have initialized your telescope before you try out this feature (see INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 19). 1. Tighten the vertical and horizontal locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1a and 1b) if necessary. 2. Make sure that AutoStar is connected to the HBX port (C, Fig. 2) of the telescopes computer control panel. 3. Flip the telescope power switch (A, Fig. 2) to the ON position. The AutoStar screen displays a copyright message displays, followed by a short beep. Then AutoStar takes a few moments to start up the system. 4. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by AutoStar to signify that the message has been read and understood.

Fig. 56 Interior top view of SmartFinder unit.

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APPENDIX E:BASIC ASTRONOMY
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. What he saw and what he realized about what he saw, has forever changed the way mankind thinks about 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. 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 gave us a glimpse into the possible origin of the universe, Albert Einstein unraveled the crucial relationship of time and light and 21st-century astronomers are currently discovering planets around stars outside our solar system. Almost daily, using sophisticated successors to Galileo's telescope, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Telescope, more and more mysteries of the universe are being probed and understood. We are living in the golden age of astronomy. Unlike other sciences, astronomy welcomes contributions from amateurs. Much of the knowledge we have on subjects such as comets, meteor showers, double and variable stars, the Moon and our solar system comes from observations made by amateur astronomers. So as you look through your Meade ETX telescope, keep in mind Galileo. To him, a telescope was not merely a machine made of glass and metal, but something far morea window of incredible discovery. AutoStar Glossary Be sure to make use of AutoStars Glossary feature. The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions of common astronomical terms. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in AutoStar. See GLOSSARY MENU, page 24, for more information. The Moon The Moon is, on average, a distance of 239,000 miles (380,000km) from Earth and is best observed during its crescent or half phase when Sunlight strikes the Moons surface at an angle. It casts shadows and adds a sense of depth to the view (Fig. 57). 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. Using your ETX model, 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 Moons 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, seas) are smooth, dark areas scattered across the lunar surface. These areas are ancient impact basins that were filled with lava from the interior of the Moon by the depth and force of the meteor or comet impact. Highland (mountainous) areas appear to be broken crater rims. They are about as tall as the highest mountains on earth, with peaks ranging from 20,000 to 26,000 feet. 12 Apollo astronauts left their bootprints on the Moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, no telescope on Earth can 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.

Fig. 59: Saturn has the most extensive ring structure in our Solar System.
Fig. 60: The Pleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters.

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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.

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