Meade ETX125 Instruction Manual

Meade ETX125 Manual

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  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 1
    Instruction Manual ETX® Premier Edition Telescope Series AutoStar® - LNT™ - SmartFinder™ ™
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 2
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 3
    the Telescope Manually ........15 Terrestrial Observing 15 Observing Using AutoStar's Arrow Keys 15 Slew Speeds 16 Astronomical Observing, Observe the Moon 16 To Track an Object Automatically 16 Moving Through AutoStar's Menus 16 Automatic Alignment 17 Using the Guided Tour, Go To Saturn 18
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 4
    GUIDE This Quick Start Guide demonstrates how to install the batteries and eyepiece, and how to observe using the AutoStar Arrow keys. If you wish to try out AutoStar's "Go To" capabilities, check out the list of page references at the bottom of the following page 2 Ạ ạ Remove the ETX® telescope
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 5
    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
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 6
    Fig. 1a: Side View Fig. 1a, b and Fig. 2: The ETX Premier Telescope 1 Eyepiece 2 SmartFinder 3 Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew 4 90° Eyepiece Holder 5 Optical 8 9 Fig. 1b: Rear View Features of the ETX-90PE and ETX125PE are identical, with the exception of the size of optical tube and two styles
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 7
    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 Premier telescopes prevents the telescope from being moved manually, and
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 8
    observing session has evaporated prior to replacing the dust cap. Do not overtighten. 8 j Horizontal (R.A.) Lock: Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Loosen the horizontal lock counterclockwise to unlock the telescope for current and future Meade accessories. See OPTIONAL
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 9
    to learn more about downloading the latest updates of AutoStar software from the Meade website? See pages 28 and 42. AUTOSTAR FEATURES ¹ ᕡ ᕢ ᕤ telescope to any of the 30,000 objects stored in the database or manually enter the astronomical coordinates of any celestial object. • Take a guided
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 10
    AutoStar to the topmost screen: "Select Item: Object." If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, information about the telescope's status displays. When the status displays, press one of the Scroll keys (7, Fig. 4) to display the following information: • Right Ascension and Declination
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 11
    feature. The Help system is essentially an on-screen instruction manual. If you have a question about an AutoStar Meade offers AutoStar Suite™ and other star locator software. Contact your Meade dealer or Meade's Customer Service department for more information. Astronomy and Sky and Telescope
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 12
    Parts Listing Getting the telescope ready for first observations parts: • ETX Premier Telescope with fork mount system and SmartFinder • #497 AutoStar handbox with coil cord. • One or more eyepieces, packed in plastic storage containers. • Hex-wrench, packed with the instruction manual your Meade
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 13
    ) the vertical lock (Fig. 16) and the horizontal lock (Fig. 17). Using SmartFinder As with most astronomical telescopes, an eyepieces presents a narrow field of view to the observer. As a result it is sometimes difficult to locate objects just using your eyepiece. The SmartFinder has a projected red
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 14
    adjustment screws. Fig. 19: Meade Super Plössl eyepieces. Ti telescope's optical tube by the focal length of the eyepiece. For example ETX125PE: Telescope observer is to "overpower" a telescope by using high magnifications which the telescope and atmospheric conditions cannot reasonably support
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 15
    Telescope Model" and "Site" options in the Setup menu. See pages 27 and 29 for more information. OBSERVING Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually If you wish to observe TO SATURN, page 18). Terrestrial Observing ETX telescopes are excellent high-resolution terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 16
    Note: Throughout this manual, you will notice the term "alt/az." Alt/az is frequently used to optical performance is readily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is limited only by the observer's motivation. Observe the Moon Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 17
    observation location site is. AutoStar also needs to know the time and date, which is set at the factory and may also be reset using Meade press Mode if you wish to choose a manual alignment method. Press "0" to begin Automatic TO when the telescope stops slewing. The telescope will begin to
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 18
    ENTER when you find the next object you wish to observe. 5. Press and hold down MODE for two seconds to leave the Guided Tour menu. Go To Saturn After performing the Automatic Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 19
    may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. AutoStar then automatically moves the telescope so that it "tracks" Saturn (or whatever other object you may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains centered in the eyepiece. Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature In
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 20
    AUTOSTAR OPERATION Object Event Guided Tours Glossary Utilities Setup Fig. 27a: Menus set in a loop. Setup Align Date Time Daylight Saving Telescope Targets etc. Fig , the following exercise calculates Sunset time so an evening observing session can be planned. Note To perform an accurate
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 21
    minimums of Algol. One very practical use of the Event menu is to check the Sunset option to determine when you can begin your astronomical observing session. 21
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 22
    Autumn Equinox Vernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice Select Item: Guided Tour Tour Objects Tonight's Best How Far is Far A Select Item: Setup Align Easy One Star Two Star Date Time Daylight Saving Telescope Telescope Model Focal Length Az/RA Ratio Alt/Dec Ratio Mount Az/RA Percent Alt/
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 23
    quasars, satellites, asteroids and comets. Also, try out the Guided Tour feature; the "Tonight's Best" Guided Tour will point your telescope at the best objects visible in the sky for every given night of the year. Want to learn more about Observing Satellites? See page 32. Want to learn more about
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 24
    menu options until the "Object: Identify" screen appears. 3. Press ENTER. AutoStar searches the database for the identity of the object being observed. 4. If the telescope is not directly on an AutoStar database object, the nearest database object is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 25
    . Beep: Turns the beep on or off. Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a short pause at each location. Press skip that object and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe a landmark for a longer period, press MODE when paused on the object to
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 26
    telescope. Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Align the telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope . The first time you use your telescope or if you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy, follow the procedure
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 27
    of 5°. See OBSERVING SATELLITES, page 30, for more information about satellites. ‫ ܖ‬Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have a problem, use this eyepiece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescope has a high precision alignment to that part of the sky and it then slews to the
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 28
    and Cable Connector Kit. See the instruction sheet included with the kit for more new version of AutoStar software from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and wants to pass this observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky & Telescope
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 29
    with the basic operations of AutoStar described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic knowledge AutoStar and have placed the telescope in the "Home" position (when appropriate). Adding Observing Sites If you plan to observe using AutoStar at different geographic
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 30
    , planets, etc.) that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are not part of the database. AutoStar provides a Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object. Observing Satellites In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass. 1. Navigate
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 31
    for an observer to create their own Guided Tour. See PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MEADE'S AUTOSTAR SUITE Meade web site (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information and instructions a few minutes, requiring AutoStar to slew the telescope rapidly. Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunset
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 32
    the line. For example: / Extreme Objects / (c) 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation Command Line This line contains programming commands, including: lines and must be 15 characters or less. AutoStar displays this title when "Guided Tour" is selected from the menus. For example: TITLE "A Star's Life
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 33
    database. For example: COMET: "Halley" LUNAR ECLIPSE If LUNAR ECLIPSE is part of the tour, AutoStar checks its database every time the tour is activated proceeds on to the next object. METEOR SHOWER If METEOR SHOWER is part of the tour, AutoStar checks its database every time the tour is activated
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 34
    telescope to objects first before displaying the text description. This feature is useful when designing tours in which observing observe six objects, four of which AutoStar automatically slews to in a tour. The students would have to manually download again. See the instruction sheet with your #505
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 35
    add to the database. When finished, press ENTER. 8. "Center Landmark. Press Enter" displays. Using only the Arrow keys (do not manually move the telescope), move the telescope to the desired landmark and center the object in the eyepiece. Press ENTER. The object is now stored in memory. 9. "Landmark
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 36
    will center an object you wish to have identified by AutoStar in the telescope eyepiece and use the "Identify" menu to find out information about 4. "Select Star" displays. AutoStar then displays a database of stars for the observer to choose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star on the
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 37
    procedures, depends on how well the observer levels the telescope and how close to North the telescope is pointed when setting the Home Position craters on the Moon or the rings of Saturn. • Bring your instructions manual along with you when you observe. Become familiar with its layout, so it
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 38
    2. Look through the reticle. Use the Arrow keys to keep the star centered in the reticle cross-hairs. AutoStar displays a count of the 150 positions of the worm gear. When the count reaches 150, one cycle is complete. A full cycle takes about 24 minutes. 3. Press MODE to exit. PEC Update Menu Option
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 39
    port's dust cover removed, you can see the front lens of the telescope when you look through the photo port. The #64 T-Adapter threads onto the #64 T-Adapter to permit close-coupling of a camera body to the telescope. In this format vignetting will occur; the photographic image will appear on film
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 40
    in this case. Lunar or planetary photography requires that the telescope be polar optical guiding devices not available for this telescope. problems for the astrophotographer: Many models have lenses that cannot be removed, difficulties in attaching to a telescope, possible vignetting, lack manual
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 41
    • Control all AutoStar functions from your PC. • Talking Telescope software translates AutoStar text to synthesized speech through PC speaker. • Includes a cable to connect your ETX model to your PC. See the CD Rom that is included with AutoStar Suite for more information and instruction manual. 41
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 42
    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
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 43
    observing angle. #774 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-90PE) and #775 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-125PE): For secure portability of ETX Astro Telescope models in the field, Meade hard carrying cases controls which greatly facilitate locking onto the guide star: Turn the finely-threaded controls
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 44
    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 telescope front lens with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. A single drop of
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 45
    an optional carry case to transport the telescope (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer's line of Troubleshooting The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-90PE and ETX125PE. The power indicator light on the telescope
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 46
    . For optimal viewing, use the telescope outside in the open air instead of observing through an open or closed window or servicing or repairs, call the Meade Consumer Solutions Department first, before returning the telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as to the nature of the problem
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 47
    11") Secondary mirror obstruction (dia.; %) . . 27.9mm (1.1"); 9.6% Telescope mounting fork type; double tine Setting circle diameters Dec.: 3.5"; R.A.: 7" Module High accuracy, temperature-compensated oscillator, updatable using Meade's optional ATUM accessory Input voltage 12 volts DC Motor
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 48
    -angle Secondary mirror obstruction (dia.; %) . . 39.4mm (1.6"); 9.6% Telescope mounting fork type; double tine Setting circle diameters Dec.: 4.3"; R.A.: 9" Module High accuracy, temperature-compensated oscillator, updatable using Meade's optional ATUM accessory Input voltage 12 volts DC
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 49
    find our website at: www.meade.com/ Here are some other sites you might find interesting: • Sky & Telescope: http://www.SkyandTelescope.com • observing information): http://www.heavens-above.com • Photographic Atlas of the Moon: http://www.lpi.ursa.edu/research/lunar_orbiter • Hubble Space Telescope
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 50
    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.
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 51
    Sky Imager (see PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MEADE'S AUTOSTAR SUITE, page 41, for more information) will want to use equatorial mounting. Equatorial Mount Equatorial mounting lines up the telescope's polar axis with the North Celestial Pole (or the South Celestial Pole if observing in the southern hemisphere
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 52
    point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris) by using the Big Dipper as a guide (Fig. 50, next page). Important Note: For almost all astronomical observing requirements, approximate settings of the telescope's latitude and Polar axis are acceptable. Do not allow undue attention to precise Polar
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 53
    object is located during an observing session. The R.A. pointer is located on the drive base 90° counterclockwise from the telescope's Computer Control panel (10, text books or star charts. Center this object in the telescope's field of view. 2. Manually turn the R.A. circle (13, Fig. 1a) to read
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 54
    degree for every 70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city, subtract one degree per 70 miles. Southern Hemisphere observers (S): If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) North of the listed city, subtract one degree for every 70 miles. If the site is
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 55
    telescope motors using AutoStar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems Study.... This manual gives only Guide by David Levy 3. Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis 4. Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael Covington Magazines 1. Sky & Telescope
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 56
    the telescope's sensors and reset the time and date. You will need a new battery. Also, you may use Meade's telescope, and calibrate the sensors. 12. Next, follow the instructions included with the Atomic Time Update Module optional accessory to reset the clock. OR Enter the date and time manually
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 57
    , 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 more-a window
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 58
    to view through the telescope. To reduce the brightness and glare, use the #905 Variable Polarizing Filter (see the MEADE GENERAL CATALOG for to observe Saturn through a telescope, did not understand that what he was seeing were rings. Instead, he believed that Saturn had "ears." Saturn's rings
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 59
  • Meade ETX125 | Instruction Manual - Page 60
    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
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Instruction Manual
ETX
®
Premier Edition Telescope Series
AutoStar
®
— LNT
™
— SmartFinder
™
™