Meade ETX-125EC Telescope User Manual


 
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825 8 x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder: Included as standard-equipment on ETX-105EC and ETX-125EC
models, the 8 x25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder (Fig. 25) permits a comfortable 90° viewing position with
90mm ETX models as well. The #825 fits into the same bracket as the 8x21mm viewfinder supplied with
ETX-90EC telescopes. The viewfinders wide-angle 7.5° actual field facilitates object location. Precise
focusing of the image is accomplished with a helicoid mechanism.
#64 T-Adapter: The basic means of photography through any ETX Astro telescope, the #64 T-Adapter
threads to the rear cell of the telescope, followed by a T-Mount appropriate to the users brand of 35mm
camera. In this way, the camera body is rigidly coupled to the telescope's optical system, which in effect
becomes the camera's lens (see PHOTOGRAPHY, page 18).
#932 45° Erecting Prism: All ETX models include an internal optically-flat mirror to reflect light to the
telescopes 90° astronomical observing position. In this position the telescopes image is upright, but
reversed. For terrestrial observing with an ETX model, the #932 Erecting Prism (Fig. 26) results in a fully
correctly oriented image and a convenient 45° observing angle.
#774 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-90EC), #776 Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-105EC), and #775
Hard Carrying Case (for the ETX-125EC): For secure portability of ETX Astro Telescope models in the field,
Meade hard carrying cases (Fig. 27) are fully lined with fitted foam inserts. They accept the complete ETX
Astro Telescope plus optional accessories.
#765 Soft Carry Bag: The Meade soft-padded carry bag (Fig. 28) is well suited to travel with the ETX-90EC
Astro Telescope. Each carry bag includes a shoulder strap and permits ready transport of the complete
telescope, including accessories.
Power Adapters and Cords: In addition to their internal battery packs, ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-
125EC telescopes may be powered from standard 115vAC home electricity with the #541 AC Adapter. The
#541 plugs into any standard home outlet and includes a 25 ft. cord connecting to the telescopes control
panel. Input voltage to the telescope is 12vDC. Alternately, an ETX telescope may be powered in the field
from an automobile cigarette lighter plug by using the #607 Power Cord, a 25-ft. cord that plugs into the
telescopes control panel and supplies 12vDC directly from the car battery.
#1244 Electric Focuser (for the ETX-90EC and ETX-105EC) and #1247 Electric Focuser (ETX-125EC):
Meade-engineered for smooth, rapid focusing with any ETX model, each electric focuser (Fig. 29) includes
coarse and micro-fine speeds. The standard-equipment hand controller accepts one (user-supplied) 9-volt
battery and focuses the ETX telescope. On the ETX models, the focuser plugs into, and is powered by, the
telescopes control panel, with operation effected through either the Electronic Controller or the optional
#497 Autostar Computer Controller.
#880 Table Tripod (for ETX-90EC) and #881 Table Tripod (for ETX-105EC and the ETX-125EC): ETX-
90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models permit pushbutton tracking of astronomical objects from their
standard-equipment Electronic Controllers. For fully automatic tracking, a table tripod (Fig. 16), or the #883
Deluxe Field Tripod, may be added allowing for polar alignment of the telescope.
Each table tripod includes two fixed legs and two variable-length legs inscribed with a range of latitude
settings for quick polar alignment. At observing latitudes below about 25°, the optional #1422 Low-Latitude
Balance Weight (8, Fig. 16) is recommended for ETX-90 Astro Telescope models; the low-latitude balance
weight is included with the table tripod for the ETX-105EC and the ETX-125EC Astro Telescopes.
#883 Deluxe Field Tripod: Provides a rigid mounting platform for the ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-
125EC Astro Telescope models. The #883 tripod includes micrometric controls for precise equatorial
alignment of the telescope at any observing latitude from 20° to 90°. The ETX telescope may be mounted
in the altazimuth orientation (Fig. 30a) for terrestrial viewing or in the equatorial (or polar) mode (Fig. 30b)
for automatic tracking of astronomical objects.
#887 Advanced Field Tripod for the ETX-105EC or ETX-125EC: For extra stability in sensitive
applications of the ETX-105EC or the ETX-125EC even at the highest magnifications, the fixed height #887
Tripod permits either altazimuth or equatorial orientation of the telescope for astronomical or terrestrial
observing. The #887 includes an equatorial wedge for polar alignment. The tripod's 2"-diameter steel legs
collapse for easy transport in the field.
Fig. 25: #825 Right-
Angle Viewfinder.
Fig. 26: The #932 45°
Erecting Prism.
Fig. 30b: The #883
Deluxe Field Tripod
shown with tripod head
tilted for polar alignment.
Fig. 27: #774 Hard
Carrying Case shown with
an ETX-90EC.
Fig. 28: The #765 Soft
Carry Bag for the ETX-
90EC.
Fig. 29: #1244 Electric
Focuser.
Fig. 30a: The #883
Deluxe Field Tripod
shown with an ETX-
90EC Astro Telescope,
set up in the Alt/Az
configuration (tripod
head locked at 90°), for
terrestrial applications.