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Quick-Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Telescope Electronic Controller Functions . . . . . . . . .5
ETX: Your Personal Window on the Universe . . . . . . .6
Telescope Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Electronic Controller Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Parts Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Assembly Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Focusing the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Aligning the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Observation Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Choosing an Eyepiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Understanding Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Terrestrial Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Astronomical Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Sidereal Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
The Electronic Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Slew Speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Modes of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Telescope Mountings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Alt/Az Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Polar Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Celestial Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Locating the Celestial Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Polar Alignment Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
A Few Tips on Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Storage and Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Inspecting the Optics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Meade Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Telescope Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Appendix A: Advanced Controller Functions . . . . . . .26
Tracking Motor Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Changing Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Appendix B: Helpful Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World . . . .27
Star Locator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Appendix C: Polar Alignment; Setting Circles . . . . . .28
Precise Polar Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Setting Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Appendix D:You and the Universe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Objects in Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
The Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Planets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Deep-Sky Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
CONTENTS
WARNING!
Never use a Meade
®
ETX
®
Astro 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.
® The name “Meade,” the Meade logo, and “ETX” are
trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in
principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved.
© 2001 Meade Instruments Corporation.
If you are anxious to use your ETX Astro
Telescope for the first time, before a
thorough reading of this instruction manual,
see the QUICK-START GUIDE on page 4.
CAUTION!
Use care to install batteries as indicated by
the battery compartment. Follow battery
manufacturer's precautions. Do not install
batteries backward 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.
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