Instruction ManualETX-60AT Astro Telescope with Autostar Hand Controller
ETX-70AT Astro Telescope with Autostar Hand Controller

Meade Instruments Corporation

CONTENTS
Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 3

WARNING!

Telescope Features ...................................................... 4

Meade®

Getting Started ..............................................................10

ETX®

Never use a
Astro
Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at ornear the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage isoften painless, so there is no warning to theobserver that damage has occurred until it is
too late. Do not point the telescope or its
viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not lookthrough the telescope or its viewfinder as it ismoving. Children should always have adultsupervision while observing.

Autostar Features .......................................................... 7
Parts Listing ..............................................................10
How to Assemble Your Telescope ............................10
Choosing an Eyepiece ..............................................10
Manual Operation Without Using Autostar................11
Manual Operation Using Autostar's Arrow Keys ......11
Moving Through Autostar’s Menus ..........................12
Initializing Autostar ....................................................12
Autostar Operation ........................................................13
Autostar Navigation Exercise ....................................13
Easy Two-Star Alignment..........................................14
Observing Exercises ......................................................15

CAUTION: Use care to install batteries in
the orientation indicated by illustration in thebattery slots of the battery holder. Follow
battery manufacturer's precautions. Do notinstall batteries backwards or mix new andused 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.

Go To Saturn ............................................................15
Using the Guided Tour ..............................................15
Autostar Menus ..............................................................16
Complete Autostar Menu Structure ..........................16
Objects Menu ............................................................16
Event Menu ..............................................................17
Glossary Menu ..........................................................18
Utilities Menu ............................................................18
Setup Menu ..............................................................19
Advanced Features ........................................................21

If you are anxious to use your telescope
for the first time, read the QUICK-STARTGUIDE on page 3.

Terrestrial and Astronomical Observing ....................21
Sidereal Rate ............................................................21
Alignment (Mount) ....................................................21
Alt/Az Alignment ..................................................21
Alt/Az Home Position ....................................21
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment..............................21
One-Star Alt/Az Alignment ............................21
Slew Speeds........................................................22
Observing a Satellite ..........................................23
Photography with the ETX ..................................23
Optional Accessories ......................................................25
Maintenance and Servicing ............................................27
Storage and Transport ........................................27
Inspecting the Optics ..........................................27
Troubleshooting ..................................................28® 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.

Meade Customer Service ....................................29
Specifications ......................................................29
Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment ......................31

Design: Automated Telescope - Patent No. D417881© 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation.

Appendix B: Using Autostar to Enter Coordinates ........33
Appendix C: Helpful Charts ............................................34
Appendix D: Training the Drive ......................................35
Appendix E: Initialization Example ................................36
Basic Astronomy ............................................................37
Roadmap to the Stars ....................................................39QUICK-START GUIDE
1

4Slew Speed:

A

Slow
.
.
.
Medium
.
.
.
Fast

B
C
D

4.

B

A
1.

Press the Speed/? key (C) to accept the Sun
warning. Keep pressing the ENTER key (A) until"Country/State" appears on the display. (Ignore
the prompts requesting "Date" and "Time" for now– these functions will be explained later). Use theScroll keys (D) to cycle through the lists ofCountry/States, Cities, and Telescope Models.
Press ENTER (A) when the correct information foreach prompt displays. The display then reads"Setup: Align." See page 11 for more information.

Take the ETX from its packaging and place it on a
sturdy surface. Remove the cover from the battery compartment (20, Fig. 1, page 4) located on
top of the drive base and carefully lift the 9v connector and the battery holder from the compartment. Insert six AA-size batteries into the battery
holder, oriented as shown on the battery holder.
Connect the 9v connector plug (A) to the connector (B) on the battery holder. Return the battery
holder to the battery compartment. Replace thecover. See page 10 for more information.

You can now use the Arrow keys (B) to slew
(move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. Tochange the telescope’s slew speed, briefly press
the Speed/? key (C). Each press decreases theslew speed down one level, and then will cycle
back to the fastest speed.

5

2

B

A
C

A

5.
2.

Tighten (to a "firm feel" only, do not overtighten) thevertical and horizontal locks (6, 9, Fig. 1). See page
5 for more information. Remove the dust coverfrom the end of the telescope tube. Place the MA
25mm eyepiece (A) into the eyepiece holder on
the telescope and tighten the attachment thumbscrew (B) to a "firm feel" only. Make sure that theflip-mirror control (C) is in the “up” position. See
page 6, for more information.

Make sure that the computer control panel powerswitch is in the OFF position. Remove Autostar(18, Fig. 1) from the packing materials and plug it
into the HBX port (A).

3
6
A

3.

Flip the Power Switch (A) on the computer control
panel to the ON position. The copyright message
lights on Autostar’s LCD display.

6.

Sight along the side of the telescope’s main tube
to locate an object. Practice using the Autostar’s
Arrow keys to center an object in the telescope’s
field of view. Use the telescope’s focus knob (8,Fig. 1) to bring the object into focus.

If you wish to observe using Autostar’s
databases, go to:Page 14 to learn how to perform an Easy Two-Star Alignment;
Page 15 for some practice observing exercises;
Page 16 to learn about Autostar’s menus and databases.

Quick Start Guide 3

TELESCOPE FEATURES

19

5
4
2

17

7

1

3
20

15

(on top of base,not shown)(opposite side)

14

6

16

7

9

8

13

18
11
10

12
(not shown)

A

Fig. 1: The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT Telescope.

4 Telescope Features

B

C

D

Except for the lensdiameter, theMeade ETX-60AT
and the ETX-70AT
are identical; allprocedures anddescriptions in thismanual apply toboth telescopes.

ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe
The Meade ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopeswith 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.
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 starclusters, 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 andare ideal for both the casual observer and serious astronomer alike.

CAUTION:
Using products otherthan standard
Meade accessories
may cause damage
to the telescope’s
internal electronics
and may void the
Meade warranty.

1

Eyepiece - Place the MA 25mm eyepiece into the 90° Eyepiece Holder (3, Fig. 1) and tighten
in place with thumbscrew (2, Fig.1).

2

Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew - Tightens the eyepiece in place. Tighten to a "firm feel"
only.

3

90° Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing.

4

Optical Tube - The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects andbrings this light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece.

5

Movable Objective Lens Cell - This component contains the telescope’s lenses. The
focus knob (8, Fig. 1) moves the cell for precise image focus.

6

Vertical Lock - Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the vertical lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated by handabout the vertical axis. Turning the vertical lock clockwise (to a "firm feel" only) prevents
the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the vertical motor drive for
Autostar operation.
NOTE: The vertical lock knob (6, Fig. 1) is a knurled knob located on the fork arm
to the right of the focus knob (8, Fig. 1). Mounted beneath the knob is a circularscale with no numbers. Do not confuse this scale with the Dec setting circle(17, Fig. 1) on the opposite fork arm which has a numbered scale used to locate
astronomical objects.
CAUTION: When loosening the vertical lock, be sure to support the objective lens
cell (5, Fig. 1). The weight of the objective lens could cause the tube to swing downward suddenly and damage the telescope.

7

Fork Arms - Hold the optical tube in place.

8

Focus Knob - Moves the telescope’s objective lens (5, Fig. 1) in a finely-controlled motion
to achieve precise image focus. The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT telescopes can be focusedon objects from a distance of about 17 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise tofocus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects.

9

Horizontal Lock - Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Turning thehorizontal lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated byhand about the horizontal axis. Turning the horizontal lock clockwise prevents the telescope from being rotated manually, but engages the horizontal motor drive for Autostar
operation.

Telescope Features 5

10

Computer Control Panel
A. Handbox (HBX) Port - Plug the Autostar coil cord (9, Fig. 3) into this port.
B. LED - The red power indicator light illuminates when power is supplied to
the Autostar handbox and to the telescope’s 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,” whichallows you to control your ETX from a PC. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,”
page 25.

11

Base Housing - Supports the telescope for placement on a flat, level surface, such asa tabletop or optional tripod. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.

12

Holes for Optional Tripod (not shown, on the bottom plate) - See your tripod’s instruction sheet for mounting information.

13

Right Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle - See "APPENDIX A," page 31, for detailed information.

14 15

Cellback containing Flip-Mirror and Flip-Mirror Control Knob - ETX telescopes
include an internal mirror. With the flip-mirror control in the “up” position, as shown in Fig.
2a, light is diverted to the eyepiece. With the flip-mirror control in the “down” position, as
shown in Fig. 2b, light proceeds straight out the photo port for photography. See“PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE ETX,” page 23.

Fig. 2a: Flip mirror
control in the “up”
position.

NOTE: The flip-mirror control is in the “up” position when the control is vertical(perpendicular to the telescope tube). To place the flip-mirror in the “down” position, turn the control counterclockwise until it stops.
16

Photo Port - Attach any 35mm camera with a removable lens to this port using an
optional #64ST T-Adapter or attach the #933 Erecting Prism for correctly oriented images
through the eyepiece. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.

17

Declination (Dec) Setting Circle (on left fork arm) - See "APPENDIX A," page 31, fordetailed information.

18

Autostar with attached coil cord - See page 7 for a description of Autostar’s features.

19

Dust Cap - Unthread the dust cap counterclockwise from the front lens of the telescope.

Fig. 2b: Flip mirror
control in the “down”
position.

NOTE: The dust cap should be replaced after each observing session and thepower turned off to the telescope. Verify that any dew that might have collectedduring the observing session has evaporated prior to replacing the dust cap.
20

6 Telescope Features

Battery Compartment - Install batteries in this compartment. See page 10 for more
information.

AUTOSTAR FEATURES
1

4

2

5

3

8

6

7

9
Fig. 3: #494 Autostar Handbox.

Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button
Control of the ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT is through the operation of the standard-equipment#494 Autostar. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes ofAutostar’s buttons. Some of the major features of Autostar are:•Automatically move the telescope to any of the 1400 objects stored in the database or
manually enter the astronomical coordinates of any celestial object.

•

Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year.

•

Download the latest satellite data and software revisions directly from the Meade website(www.meade.com) and share software with other Autostar enthusiasts. (Requires optional #506 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.)•

Access a glossary of astronomical terms.

•

Calculate which eyepiece to use for optimum viewing of a celestial object.

•

Mount the telescope in the “Alt/Az” mode (Altitude - Azimuth, or vertical - horizontal) for
fully automatic tracking of celestial objects using a flat, level surface, such as a tabletop,or the optional #882 Standard Field Tripod. (See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.)

Autostar Features 7

The Autostar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope function within
a compact handbox. Autostar has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in thedark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make Autostar extremelyuser friendly.
NOTE: Autostar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power
to Autostar.
1

2

2-Line LCD Display - Provides an interface between Autostar and the telescope.
•

Top line: Lists the primary category or menu item.

•

Bottom line: Contains a menu option or information about an object or subject,depending on which function is being performed.

ENTER Key - Accesses, in a sequential manner, the next menu or data level in the
Autostar database. See “MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR'S MENUS,” page 12 and“AUTOSTAR’S MENUS,” page 16.
NOTE: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or more and then released, Autostar
emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER to Sync" is relevant only
after the telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. If the "ENTER to
Sync" feature is accessed by mistake, press MODE to return to the previous
screen. See “HIGH PRECISION,” page 20, for more details about this feature.

3

MODE Key - Returns to the previous menu or data level in the Autostar database until the
top level, “Select Item," is reached. The MODE key is similar to the ESCAPE key on a computer.
NOTE: Pressing MODE while in the “Select Item” level moves Autostar to the topmost screen: “Select Item: Object.”
NOTE: If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, the following information is then available using the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3):• Right Ascension and Declination (astronomical) coordinates (see "APPENDIX A")• Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal) coordinates• Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST)• Timer and Alarm Status
Press MODE again to return to the previous menu.

NOTE:
Throughout this manual, you will notice
the term "Alt/Az."
Alt/Az is frequently
used to refer to altitude or horizontal
and azimuth or vertical. Alt/Az is just oneof many methods
used by amateur
astronomers to help
locate stars in thenight sky.

8 Autostar Features

4

GO TO Key - Slews (moves) the telescope to the coordinates of the currently selected
object. While the telescope is slewing, the operation may be aborted at any time by pressing any key except GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumes the slew to the object.

5

Arrow Keys - Slew the telescope in a specific direction (up, down, left, and right), at any
one of nine different speeds. Speed selection is explained in “SLEW SPEEDS,” page 22.
The following functions are also available with the Arrow keys:•

Data Entry - Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to scroll through the letters of
the alphabet and numerical digits. The Down Arrow key starts with the letter "A"and the Up Arrow key starts with the digit "9." The Left and Right Arrow keys areused to move the blinking cursor left and right across the LCD display.

•

Alt/Az Alignment - Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move the telescopevertically up and down. The Left Arrow key rotates the telescope horizontallycounterclockwise, while the Right Arrow key rotates it clockwise.

6

7

Scroll Keys - Accesses database options within a selected menu. The menu is displayedon the first line of the screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one at a time, on thesecond line. Press the Scroll keys to move through the options. Press and hold a Scroll
key to move quickly through the options.
The Scroll keys also scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits.
NOTE: The Scroll Down key and the Down Arrow key move forward through thealphabet & digits (A to Z, 0 to 9). The Scroll Up key and the Up Arrow key movebackward (Z to A, 9 to 0). Common symbols are also available in the list.

8

Speed/? Key - Pressing the Speed/? key cycles through the nine slew speeds that movethe telescope. Each time the Speed/? key is pressed briefly, the current slew speed isshown for about two seconds on the display. See “SLEW SPEEDS,” page 22.
The Speed/? key also accesses the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on
how to accomplish whatever task is currently active.
NOTE: Pressing the Speed/? key very briefly changes the slew speed. Holding
down the Speed/? key longer (one to two seconds) accesses the Help function.
Hold down the Speed/? key and then follow the prompts on the display to access detailsof Autostar functions in the Help feature. The Help system is essentially an on-screen
instruction manual.
If you have a question about an Autostar operation, e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT,
etc., hold down the Speed/? key and follow the directions that scroll on the second line of
the LCD screen. When a word appears in [brackets], press ENTER to access the Autostar
Glossary. A definition or more detailed information is displayed. Press MODE to return tothe scrolling Autostar Help display.
When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the original screen andcontinue with the chosen procedure.

9

Coil Cord - Plug the Autostar coilcord into the HBX port (10A, Fig. 1)of the computer control panel of thetelescope.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
Join an Astronomy Club
Attend a Star Party
One of the fun ways to learn about astronomy is tojoin an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/store to findout if there’s a club in your area.
At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy
enthusiasts with whom you will be able to shareyour discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way tolearn 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 on your ETX telescope. See page 23 for more information aboutphotography with the ETX.
Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star
Parties at which you can check out and observewith many different telescopes and other pieces ofastronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky &Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many
popular Star Parties around the United States andCanada.

Autostar Features 9

GETTING STARTED
Parts Listing
Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts:••••

The ETX Astro Telescope with fork mount system.
#494 Autostar handbox with attached coil cord.
MA 25mm and MA 9mm eyepieces, each packed in a plastic storage container.
Hex-wrench, packed with the instruction manual. See “GENERAL MAINTENANCE,”
page 27.

How to Assemble Your Telescope
Assembly of the ETX telescope requires only six AA-size (user-supplied) batteries and a few, simple steps:
1

2

3

4

1.

The telescope’s battery compartment (1, Fig. 4) is located on top of the drive base. Openthe battery compartment by lifting the release latch and pulling it away from the drive base.

2.

Remove the battery holder from the compartment and carefully lift the 9v connector out
from the compartment. Take care not to accidentally detach the wires of the battery connector from the base. Whenever you replace the batteries, to safeguard the wires, disconnect the 9v connector from the battery holder before removing the batteries.

3.

Insert six AA-size batteries into the battery holder, oriented as shown on the diagram on
the battery slots of the battery holder. Insert the center battery on each side last for easier installation. Connect the 9v connector plug to the battery holder. Carefully replace thebattery holder back into the battery compartment. Replace the cover.

Fig. 4: View of the ETX telescope showing six AA-size
batteries mounted inside thebattery compartment:

CAUTION: Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery compartment.
Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards ormix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are notfollowed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries
void your Meade warranty. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used
for a long period of time.

(1) Battery Compartment(2) Battery Holder(3) 9v Connector(4) Battery Holder Connector

4.

Be certain that the power switch on the computer control panel (10C, Fig. 1) is in the OFF
position. Plug the coil cord of the Autostar Controller into the HBX port (10A, Fig. 1).
NOTE: Autostar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power
to Autostar.

5.

Remove the MA 25mm eyepiece (1, Fig. 1) from its container and place it in the eyepiece
holder (3, Fig. 1). Tighten the thumbscrew (2, Fig. 1) to a "firm feel" only. Unscrew the dust
cover counterclockwise to remove it from the telescope.

Basic assembly of the telescope is now complete.

Choosing an Eyepiece
A telescope’s eyepiece magnifies the image formed by the telescope’s main optics. Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters, or “mm.” The smaller the focal length, thehigher the magnification. For example, an eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has a higher
magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 25mm.
Your telescope comes supplied with two standard eyepieces. The MA 25mm eyepiece gives awide, comfortable field of view with high image resolution, while the MA 9mm eyepiece provides a smaller field of view but higher magnification when seeing conditions permit.
Fig.5: MA 25mm andMA 9mm eyepieces.

Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions. To find an object with a telescope, always start with a low power
eyepiece such as the MA 25mm. When the object is located and centered in the eyepiece, you
may wish to switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practical forprevailing seeing conditions.
NOTE: Seeing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and site-to-site. Turbulencein 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. 7a and 7b).

10 Getting Started

NOTE:For a list of magnification ratings of the eyepieces available for
the ETX-60AT and
ETX-70AT telescopes,
see "OPTIONALACCESSORIES,"
page 25.

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., a 25mm eyepiece is used with theETX-60AT. The focal length of the ETX-60AT is 350mm (see "SPECIFICATIONS," page 29).
Eyepiece Power =Telescope Focal Length=

Eyepiece Focal Length

350mm
25mm

= 14X

The eyepiece power, or magnification is therefore 14x.

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 observeby merely pointing the telescope and looking through the eyepiece. Set the telescope on a table
top or tripod, loosen the horizontal and vertical locks (6 and 9, 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
(8, 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 20), or by using Autostar's GO TO capabilities (see "GO TO SATURN," page 15).

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 "HOW
TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE," page 10. Next, flip the On/Off Switch (10, Fig. 1) on thecomputer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on Autostar’s display.
Press the Speed/? key (8, Fig. 3) to accept the Sun warning. The "Getting Started" message
displays. Keep pressing the ENTER key (A) until "Country/State" appears on the display.
(Ignore the prompts requesting "Date" and "Time" for now – these functions will be explainedlater in the manual).
Use the Scroll keys (D) to cycle throughthe database of countries/states. Press
ENTER (A) when your location displays.
Next, use the Scroll keys (D) to scroll tothe nearest city to your observing siteand press ENTER. Next, use the Scroll
keys (D) to scroll to your telescopemodel and press ENTER. The display
then reads "Setup: Align."

Fig. 6: Autostar's Arrow
keys.

NOTE:
Autostar requests theCountry/State,
City,and Telescope Model
information only the
first time Autostar is
activated. If you wish tochange this information, use the "Site" and"Telescope
Model"
options in the Setupmenu.

You can now use the Arrow keys (5, Fig.
3) to slew (move) the telescope up,
down, right, or left. To change the telescope’s slew speed, briefly press the
Speed/? key (8, Fig. 3). Each press
decreases the slew speed down one
level, and then cycles back to the fastest
speed. See page 22 for more information.
Tighten (to a "firm feel" only, do not overtighten) the vertical and horizontal locks(6 and 9, Fig. 1). Sight along the side of
the telescope’s main tube to locate an
object and practice using the Autostar’s
Arrow keys to center the object in thetelescope’s field of view. Use the telescope’s focus knob (8, Fig. 1) to bringthe object into focus.
This procedure demonstrates just a verysmall part of Autostar's capabilities. In thenext section of this manual, you will begin
to learn how to make use of Autostar's
extensive and powerful features.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
Too Much Power?
Can you ever have too much power? If the type of
power you’re referring to is eyepiece magnification,
yes, you can! The most common mistake of the
beginning observer is to “overpower” his or her telescope by using high magnifications which the telescope’s aperture and atmospheric conditions can
not reasonably support. Keep in mind that a smaller, but bright and well-resolved image is far superior to one that is larger, but dim and poorly resolved(see below). Powers above 110X should be
employed only under the steadiest atmosphericconditions.
Autostar can calculate the best eyepiece for you touse. Try out the “Eyepiece Calc” feature in the
Utilities menu.
Most observers should have three or four additional eyepieces to achieve the full range of reasonablemagnifications possible with the ETX telescopes.
See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.

Fig. 7a & b: Jupiter; example of too much magnification.

Getting Started 11

Moving Through Autostar’s Menus
The Autostar database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation.
•••

Press ENTER to go deeper into Autostar's menu levels.
Press MODE to move back toward the top menu level.
Press the Scroll keys to move up and down through the options available foreach level.
• Press the Arrow keys to enter characters and digits.
The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope.

Initializing Autostar
Initialization is a procedure that ensuresthat Autostar operates correctly. Whenyou first use Autostar,
it doesn't yet know
where the observation location site is or
the time or date of
the observation session.
During the procedure,
you will enter information, such as thecurrent time and date,observation location,and telescope model.
Autostar uses thisinformation to precisely calculate thelocation of celestial
objects (such as stars
and planets) and how
to move your telescope correctly forvarious operations.

This section describes how to initialize Autostar. Perform this procedure the first time you use
Autostar or after performing a RESET. An example of this procedure is presented in"APPENDIX E," page 36.
1.

Make sure that the vertical and horizontal locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1) are secured as describedon page 5.

2.

Verify that Autostar is properly connected to your telescope. See “HOW TO ASSEMBLE
YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 10.

3.

Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
The Autostar screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by ashort 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 Speed/? key to signify that the message has been read and understood.

5.

The Getting Started menu displays a scrolling message with two choices:a.

Hold down the Speed/? key (8, Fig. 3) for information on Autostar functions and controls.
When finished, press MODE (3, Fig. 3) to exit Help and to return to the Getting Started procedure, or,b.

Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3) to bypass the Help tutorial and continue with initialization.

6.

Autostar then requests the current date. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys (5, Fig. 3) toenter the digits for the date. Use the Right Arrow key (5, Fig. 3) to move from one number
to the next in the day display, and also to move to the month. Then, use the Scroll keys (6and 7, Fig. 3) to cycle through the list of months.
When the current month is displayed, use the Right Arrow (5, Fig. 3) to move to the year.
Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter all four digits of the current year. Press ENTER
when the date has been entered.

7.

Autostar then requests the current time. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter thetime. (Use a "0" for the first digit if less than 10.) Use the Right (or Left) Arrow key to movefrom one number to the next. Press one of the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 3) to scroll to "AM" or"PM." If you select the "blank" choice that follows "AM" and "PM," the clock displays timein a 24-hour (military time) format. Then, press ENTER to start the clock.
NOTE: When multiple choices are available within a menu option, the current option

is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing Arrow (>).
8.

The next screen requests the status of Daylight Savings Time. Pressing a Scroll key toggles between the YES/NO settings. Select the desired setting by pressing ENTER.
NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by a different name in various

areas of the world.
9.

The next screen asks for the Country or State (listed alphabetically) of the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of countries, states, and provinces.
Press ENTER when the correct location displays.

10. The next screen asks for the city (listed alphabetically) closest to the observing site. Use
the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of cities. Press ENTER when the correct city
appears on screen.
11. The next screen asks for the telescope model. Use the Scroll keys to locate ETX-60 orETX-70. Press ENTER to select the appropriate model.
12. System initialization is complete and the screen reads "Setup: Align".

12 Getting Started

AUTOSTAR OPERATIONOBJECT
Select from over 1400 database objects andpress GO TO to move the telescope automatically to theobject and place it in the telescopic field of view.
SETUP
Quick, easy alignment
permits all telescope
operations with only
a 2-minute setup.

Select Item:
ObjectSelect Item:
Setup
UTILITIES
Calculate eyepiecemagnifications; set the
timer for an observing
session; or survey user
landmarks in 30-second
intervals.
Select Item:
Utilities

GLOSSARY
Discover the world of astronomy
by alphabetically accessing
astronomical terms.

The Universe of

Autostar

Select Item:
Event
EVENT
Access the time ofan astronomical
event, such as therising or setting
times of the Moon.
Select Item:
Guided Tour

Select Item:
Glossary

GUIDED TOUR
Journey through theuniverse as Autostar
escorts you to thebest celestial objects
at your location.

Fig. 8: The Autostar Universe: The six primary categories listed in the Select Item menu of Autostar.

ObjectEvent
Guided Tours
Glossary
Utilities
Setup

It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 9). This means thatpressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 3) cycles down through all the available options within agiven category, then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (6, Fig. 3) cycles up through theoptions in the opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to get to an option that isnear the bottom of the list. The following example demonstrates this capability.
Example:To navigate to the “Select Item: Setup” menu option when the “Select Item: Object” menu is displayed:

Fig. 9: Menus set in a
loop.

ENTER

Select Item
ObjectSelect Item
Solar System

1.

Press the Scroll Down key four times or the Scroll Up key once.

The screen in Figure 10 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.

Fig. 10: Autostar levels.

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, eachpress of the MODE key moves up a level, until the top level, "Select Item," isreached. Once in the Select Item level, press MODE to return to the topmost level,"Select Item: Object."

Autostar Navigation Exercise
To demonstrate how the Autostar menu structure works, the following exercise calculatesSunset time so an evening observing session can be planned.
NOTE: To perform an accurate calculation, Autostar must be properly initializedwith the current date, time, and location of the observing site. To enter the current
date, time, and location information of your observing site, see “INITIALIZINGAUTOSTAR,” page 12, before proceeding with this exercise.

Autostar Operation 13

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The "Telescope: Mount"option of the Setup
menu is set to "Alt/Az"
as the default alignmentby the factory.The
example presented inthis section assumes
that you are performing
an alignment procedure
for the first time withyour telescope andtherefore, the"Telescope: Mount"option does not need to
be selected. For information on equatorial(Polar) alignment, see“APPENDIX A,” page2.

Press the Scroll Down key once to display the “Event” option in the “Select Item” menu.

3.

Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event:Sunrise" is displayed.

4.

Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu.

5.

Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level.

6.

Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar
then displays the results of the calculation.

7.

Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar levels. The first level up
is the Event menu.

8.

Press MODE again to move up another level. This is the top level, "Select Item."

9.

Press MODE again to return to the starting point of "Select Item: Object."Easy Two-Star Alignment
The fastest and easiest way to start observing with Autostar is to use Easy Two-Star Alignment.
Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database for the Easy Two-Star Alignment procedure. During the Easy Alignment procedure, Autostar slews the telescope to a first alignment
star. The user is asked to verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then to center the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the alignment.

North

Declination
at 0˚

To Calculate Sunset time:
1. Press the MODE key several times, until “Select Item: Object” is displayed.

NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,”
page 12, has been performed. See “MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR’S MENUS,”
page 12, for a description of how Autostar’s keys operate.

PointerFig. 11: Alt/Az Alignment
Home Position.

NOTE:
The GO TO key also
allows you to perform a"spiral search." A spiralsearch is useful when
the telescope slews to
an object, but that object
is not visible in the eyepiece after the telescopefinishes it search. (Thissometimes occurs during an alignment procedure.) Press GO TO
when the slew is finishedand the telescope starts
slewing in a spiral pattern
at a very slow speed
around the search area.
Look through the eyepiece and when theobject does become visible, press MODE to stop
the spiral search. Then
use the Arrow keys tocenter the object.

Easy Two-Star Alignment Procedure:
1.

Sun Warning - Press the Speed/? key to accept.

2.

Getting Started - Press ENTER to continue, or the Speed/? key to access the Autostar
Help tutorial. Press MODE to leave the tutorial at any time.

3.

Enter Date - Enter the current date, then press ENTER.

4.

Enter Time - Enter the current time. Select "AM," "PM," or 24-hour clock (blank). Thenpress ENTER.

5.

Daylight Savings - Select “Yes” or “No,” then press ENTER.

6.

Alignment Option Screen - “Setup: Align” displays. Press ENTER.

7.

Select Alignment - “Align Easy” displays. Press ENTER.

8.

Set Home Position - Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az
Alignment home position. To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position:
•
•
•
•
•

Loosen the telescope’s vertical lock (6, Fig. 1).
Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec setting circle (17, Fig. 1) with thepointer (Fig. 13).
Tighten the vertical lock (6, Fig. 1) to a "firm feel" only.
Unlock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points
North. Re-lock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1).
Press ENTER. See “ALT/AZ HOME POSITION,” page 21, for more information.

9 . Star Alignment - The Autostar then chooses two stars to align upon. When the telescope
slews to the first star for alignment, it may not appear in the field of view in the eyepiece.
The alignment star should be easily recognized and be the brightest star in the area of thesky where the telescope is pointing. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until thestar is visible and centered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for the second alignment star.
NOTE: Autostar locates alignment stars based on the date, time, and locationentered. The alignment stars may change from night to night. All that is required isfor the observer to center the selected stars in the eyepiece when prompted.

14 Autostar OperationOBSERVING EXERCISES
Go To Saturn
NOTE:
Keep in mind thatwhen viewing
through the eyepiece, images ofterrestrial objects
are right-side-up,
but reversed left-forright. Normally, suchan image orientation is not bothersome, unless trying
to read a distantsign, for example.
If the telescope is to
be used for extensive terrestrial
observations, a correctly oriented
image is provided
with the #933 45°
Erecting Prism. See“OPTIONALACCESSORIES,”
page 25.

After performing the Easy Two-Star Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating andthe telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain theirposition even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once aligned, only use the GO TO or Arrow keys to move thetelescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1), or move the basemanually, or alignment will be lost.
This exercise demonstrates how to select an object for viewing from Autostar’s database. This
example demonstrates how to select Saturn.
NOTE: Saturn is not visible the entire year and you may need to choose anotherobject from Autostar's database; however, the procedure, as described below,
remains the same.
1

After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item: Object” displays. Press ENTER.

2.

“Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.

3.

“Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until “Solar System:
Saturn” displays.

4.

Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then “Saturn” and a set of coordinates displays.
Saturn’s (and other planets’) coordinates change throughout the year.

5.

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 whateverother 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 (see "TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTOMATICALLY," page 20), objects in theeyepiece gradually drift out of the field of view due to the Earth's rotation.

Using the Guided TourThis example demonstrates using “Tonight’s Best” Guided Tour.
1.

After observing Saturn, press MODE twice so that “Select Item: Object” displays again.

2.

Press the Scroll Down key twice. “Select Item: Guided Tour” displays.

3.

Press ENTER. “Guided Tour: Tonight’s Best” displays. Press ENTER.
NOTE: If you wish to try out other Guided Tours, press the Scroll Down key to scroll
through other tour choices. Whenthe tour you wish to select disTIPS FOR BEGINNERS
plays, press ENTER.

4.

“Tonight’s Best: Searching...” displays. After calculating, “Tonight’s
Best: Jupiter” displays.

Which One’s the AlignmentStar?

NOTE: Different objects may bedisplayed on a tour list on any
given night.

If Autostar has chosen an alignment star with which
you are unfamiliar, how can you be sure if the starin your eyepiece is really the alignment star?

Press ENTER or Speed/? to display
information about the object. Press
GO TO to move the telescope to theobject.

The rule of thumb is that an alignment star is usually the brightest star in that area of the sky. Whenyou view an alignment star in an eyepiece, it stands
out dramatically from the rest of the stars in that
portion of the sky.

5.

Press MODE to return to the Tour
list. Press the Scroll keys to scroll
through the list. Press ENTER when
you find the next object you wish toobserve.

6.

Press MODE repeatedly to leave
the Guided Tour menu.

If you have an obstruction, such as a tree or a building blocking your view of the alignment star, or if
you have any doubts at all about the star that has
been chosen, no problem. Just press the Scroll
Down key and Autostar will find another star to alignupon.

Observing Exercises 15

AUTOSTAR MENUSThe Complete Autostar Menu Structure
Select Item:
ObjectSolar System
Mercury
Etc.
Moon
Asteroids
CometsConstellations
Andromeda
Etc.
Deep Sky
Named Object
Galaxies
NebulaePlanetary Neb.
Etc.
Star
Named
SAO Catalog
DoubleEtc.
Satellite
SelectAdd
Delete
Edit
User Objects
SelectAdd
DeleteEdit
Landmarks
SelectAdd
DeleteIdentify

Select Item:
Event
SunriseSunsetMoonriseMoonsetMoon Phases
Next Full Moon
Next New Moon
Next 1st Qtr
Next 3rd Qtr
Meteor Showers
Quadrantids
LyridsEta Aquarids
Delta Aquarids
Perseids
Orionids
Taurids
Leonids
Geminids
UrsidsSolar Eclipses
Lunar Eclipses
Min. of Algol
Autumn Equinox
Vernal Equinox
Winter SolsticeSummer Solstice

Select Item:
Guided Tour

Select Item:
Glossary

Tour Objects

A...

Tonight's BestHow Far is Far
A Star's Life

Accretion Disk
Etc.
B...
C...
D...
E...
F...
G...
H...
I...
J...
K...
L...
M...
N...
O...
P...
Q...
R...
S...
T...
U...
V...
W...
X...
Y...
Z...

Select Item:
Utilities
Timer
Set
Start & Stop
Alarm
Set
On & OffEyepiece Calc.
Field of View
Magnification
Suggest
Display Options
Sun Warning
Getting Started
Brightness Adj.
Contrast Adj.
Battery Alarm
Landmark Survey
Sleep Scope
Park Scope

Select Item:
Setup
Align
Easy
One Star
Two Star
Date
Time
Daylight Saving
TelescopeTele. Model
Focal Length
Az/Alt Ratio
Mount
Train Drive
Tracking Rate
Reverse L/R
Reverse Up/Dn
Calibrate Motor
High Precision
Targets
Astronomical
Terrestrial
Site
SelectAdd
DeleteEdit
Owner Info
Download
Statistics
Reset

Object Menu
Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (NOTE:
Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See “GO TO SATURN,” page 15, for an
example of observing using the Object menu. Also see “USING THE GUIDED TOUR,” page 15.
Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. An Autostar database is a list of viewable
objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of these objects isselected, Autostar moves your telescope (if properly aligned) and points it at the selected
object.
The Object Menu functions include:
Solar System is a database of the eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from theSun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets.
Constellation is a database of all 88 Northern and Southern Hemisphere constellations. When
this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen,press GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to that star. Use the Scroll keys tocycle through the list of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest.
Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our Solar System such as nebulae, star clusters,
galaxies, and quasars.
Star is a database of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or
nearby.
Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, theHubble Space Telescope, Iridium, Global Positioning System satellites, and geosynchronous
orbit satellites. See “OBSERVING SATELLITES,” page 23.
User Objects allows the user to define deep-sky objects of specific interest that are not currently in the Autostar database. See "APPENDIX B," page 33, for more information.
Use the Landmark Survey option in the Utilities menu to sequentially view all Landmarks
entered into Autostar.
Landmarks stores the location of terrestrial points of interest in the permanent Autostar database.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function, the telescope must be locatedand aligned exactly as when the landmark was added to the database. Additionally,
the telescope needs to be mounted in the same configuration, i.e., Alt/Az or Polar.

16 Autostar Menus

•

Select - To select a Landmark already in the database, choose the "Select" option andscroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

•

Add - To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark.
Locate and center the Landmark, then press ENTER.

Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar Arrow keys to move about
in the sky. Then follow this procedure:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope during the
Identify procedure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the base. Alignment
is lost.
1.

When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keep pressing MODE until the “Select
Item: Object” menu is displayed.

2.

Scroll through the Object 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 and the telescope slews to that
object.

Event Menu
The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event database includes:
Sunrise and Sunset calculates the timethat the Sun rises or sets on the current
date. Find rise and set times for otherdates by entering a new date into the“Setup: Date” menu.
Moonrise and Moonset calculates thetime that the Moon rises or sets on thecurrent date. Find rise and set times forother dates by entering a new date into
the “Setup: Date” menu.
Moon Phases displays the date andtime of the next Full, New, 1st Quarter,and 3rd Quarter Moon.
Meteor Showers provides information
on upcoming meteor showers, such as
the Perseids, the Leonids, etc. Also lists
the dates of the showers and when theyreach maximum.
NOTE: Meteors are fast moving
objects that cover large areas ofthe sky and are usually best
observed with the naked eye.
Solar Eclipse lists upcoming Solar
Eclipses, including the date and type (total,
annular, or partial) of eclipse, and the locationand time of the first and last contacts of the
Moon's shadow. Use the Scroll Up and Down
keys to display the available data. Remember,never use a telescope to look at the sun! See“WARNING!” page 2.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS•

Try to pick an observing site away from street
and house lights and car headlights. While thisis not always possible, the darker the site, thebetter.

•Give your eyes about ten minutes to adjust to
the darkness before observing. Give your eyesa rest from observing every ten or fifteen minutes to relieve eyestrain.

•

Try not to use a standard flashlight. A lot of
observers use red LED flashlights or tape redcellophane over their flashlights to use for
setup and map reading so they don’t have tocontinually readjust their eyes to the darkness.
Be careful not to shine bright lights if there areother observers in the area. Do not shine aflashlight into the telescope while someone isobserving!

•

Dress warmly. It gets chilly when you’re sitting
for prolonged periods.

•

Practice setting up your equipment during the
day or in a lighted area to become familiar with
it before going to a dark site.

•

Use your 25mm eyepiece to view terrestrial
objects and wider areas of space, such as
open star clusters. Use your 9mm eyepiece
when you wish to view something up close,
such as craters on the Moon or the rings ofSaturn.

•Know your observing site. If you’re going to try
out an unfamiliar site, check it out in the daylightfor possible obstructions and pitfalls.

Autostar Menus 17

Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data.
Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days during a 10-hour
period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes
behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimumof +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. Autostar calculates minimum
magnitude time at mid-eclipse.
Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of thecurrent year.
Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and date of the winter or summer solstice ofthe current year.

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 is any word in [brackets],
usually found when using the Autostar Help function or when reading a scrolling message suchas a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is on screen andAutostar links directly 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, then press ENTER to read thedescription.

Utilities Menu
The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within Autostar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography
and tracking satellites. See “OBSERVING SATELLITES,” page 23. 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, thenchoose "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.

Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which
Autostar is connected.
•

Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected,
the field of view is calculated.

•

Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected,
the magnification is calculated.

•

Suggest: Autostar calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on thetelescope and the object being viewed.

Display Options enables or disables Autostar’s two initial displays. If both displays are disabled, Autostar begins with the Date display.

18 Autostar Menus•

Sun Warning: Turns the “Sun Warning” message on or off.

•

Getting Started: Turns the “Getting Started” message on or off.

Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press
ENTER.
Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press
ENTER.
NOTE: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather.
Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a shortpause at each location. Press ENTER to start the survey. While a slew is in progress, press
any key to skip that object and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe a landmark fora longer period, press MODE when paused on the object to stop the survey. Press ENTER torestart the survey at the first object on the list. See "Landmark," page 16.
Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down Autostar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. With "Sleep Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate the Sleep function. Autostar goes dark, but the internal clock keeps running. Press any key, except ENTER,
to re-activate Autostar and the telescope.
Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Alignthe telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope. Next time it is powered up,
enter the correct date and time - no alignment is required. Pressing ENTER causes the telescope to move to its pre-determined Park position. Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off
power.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When the "Park Scope" option is chosen and the display
prompts you to turn off the telescope's power, Autostar is unable to be returned tooperation without turning the power off and then back on.

Setup Menu
The Setup menu’s primary function is to align the telescope (see pages 14 and 21). 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 17.
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
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 to24-hour mode (military time) by selecting
the "blank" option which follows the "AM"and "PM" options.
Daylight Saving is used to enable ordisable Daylight Savings time.
NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may
be referred to by different names invarious areas of the world. Check
local time to verify.
Telescope accesses the several
options, including:•
Telescope Model: Selects themodel of telescope 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 thesenumbers.
•
Mount: Choose between Alt/Az
mount or Polar Mount. Mount requiresthat the telescope be physicallyaligned to the mount selected in thismenu. The default setting is "Alt/Az."

Surf the Web
One of the most exciting resources for astronomy is
the internet. The internet is full of websites with newimages, discoveries, and the latest astronomical
information. For example, when comet Hale-Bopp
made its approach to our Sun in 1998, astronomers
around the world posted new photos daily.
You can find websites for almost any topic relating
to astronomy on the internet. Try the following key
word searches: NASA, Hubble, HST, astronomy,
Messier, satellite, nebula, black hole, variable stars,
etc.
Check out Meade’s website for the latest productand technical information. You can download thelatest software revisions, links to other astronomical sites, coordinates of celestial objects and thelatest satellite tracking information for your #494
Autostar handset. See page 20 for more information. You’ll find our website at:
http://www.meade.com/
Here are some other sites you might find interesting:• Sky & Telescope:
http://www.skypub.com/• Astronomy:
http://www2.astronomy.com/astro/• The Starfield:
http://users.nac.net/gburke/• Astronomy Picture of the Day:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.goc/apod/• Heaven’s Above (satellite observing information):
http://www.heavens-above.com/

Autostar Menus 19

••

IMPORTANT NOTE:
While performing theautomatic tracking procedure, only use theArrow keys to movethe telescope. Oncethe telescope has
been set in the Alt/Az
home position, do notloosen the telescope
locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1),
or move the basemanually, or alignment
will be lost.

Train Drive: Trains the altitude and azimuth motors to locate objects with more precision.
If you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy, follow the proceduredescribed in “APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE,” page 35, 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 whichstars move from East to West across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth.

b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions.
c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates.
•
Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left and Right Arrow keys (i.e., the Right key
moves the telescope to the left).
•
Reverse UP/DOWN: Reverses the functions of the Up and Down Arrow keys (i.e., the Up
key moves the telescope down).
•
Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have a problem, use this option toretest the motors before doing a Reset. This option is also used if an Autostar unit is moved
between telescopes to match Autostar to the telescope.
•High Precision: If High Precision is turned on, when looking for a faint celestial object (i.e.,a nebula or galaxy), Autostar first slews to a nearby bright star and displays "ENTER to
Sync." Center the star in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescope hasa high precision alignment to that part of the sky and it then slews to the object that was
originally requested.
Targets switches between Astronomical targets and Terrestrial targets. If Astronomical targets
are selected, the telescope tracking motor is activated and objects you're observing will remain
centered in the eyepiece. If Terrestrial targets are selected, the tracking motor is turned off.
To track an object automatically, set the telescope in the Alt/Az home position (see "EASY
TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE, step #8", page 14), locate an object you wish toobserve using Autostar's Arrow keys (see page 11), and center the object in the eyepiece. Then
scroll to the "Targets: Astronomical" menu display and press ENTER. Autostar then automatically slews (moves) the telescope to keep the object centered in the eyepiece.
Site provides access to several options including:•Select: Displays the currently selected observing site and and also allows you to selectother sites you have entered into a user-defined database (see "Add" below). Use
the Scroll keys to cycle through all available sites in this database. Press ENTER when thesite you wish to select displays. Use this option when you move to a different geographic
location.
NOTE: Only the site that is entered during Initialization (see page 16) will be displayed until other sites are entered with the "Add" option.

Time Zone
Atlantic
Eastern
CentralMountainPacific
HawaiiShift-4 Hours-5 Hours-6 Hours-7 Hours-8 Hours-10 Hours•

Add: Allows you to add a new observing site to the database (up to six sites may be
stored). 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.

•

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 thetime zone shift in Table 1.
NOTE: Autostar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See “Setup
Menu: Daylight Saving,” page 19.

Table 1: Time Zone Shift.

NOTE:
The Download function
requires the optional#506 Astrofinder
Software and Cable
Connector Kit. See theinstruction sheet
included with the kit for
more information on
how to download. Alsosee “OPTIONALACCESSORIES,” page
25.

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, andzip code. Press ENTER when the entry is complete.
Download transfers information from a personal computer or another Autostar. During theoperation, the warning “Downloading Do Not Turn Off” appears.
•

Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including:•Characters Free: Shows how much room is available in user-defined object memory.
•

Version: Shows the current version of the Autostar software.

Reset completely resets Autostar. Autostar requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding with observations. See “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 12. You also need to perform “TRAINING THE DRIVE,” page 35.
20 Autostar Menus

ADVANCED FEATURES
Terrestrial Observing
The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT make excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescopes.
Viewing terrestrial objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves.
These heat waves often cause degradation of image quality. Low power eyepieces, like theMA 25mm eyepiece, magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. Therefore,
low power eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image. If the image is fuzzy or illdefined, reduce to a lower power eyepiece, where the heat waves do not have such an effecton image quality. Observing in early morning hours, before the ground has built up internalheat, produces better viewing conditions than during late afternoon hours.

Astronomical Observing
Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electromechanicalcapabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of optical performance isreadily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is, with minor qualification, limited only by the observer’s motivation.

Sidereal RateAs the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The
speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate.
If the telescope is aligned, the motor drive is designed to rotate the telescope at the sidereal
rate so that it automatically tracks the stars. This tracking makes it easy to locate objects andkeep them centered in the telescope’s eyepiece.

Alignment (Mount)
The telescope's mount permits the movement of the telescope in both Altitude (vertically) andAzimuth (horizontally). In order to automatically track a celestial object, the mount must be
properly aligned. Easy Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment is described on page 14.

Alt/Az Alignment
Fig. 12: Tripod set in Alt/Az
Configuration on optional#882 tripod.

One-Star Alt/AZ Alignment or Two-Star Alt/AZ Alignment allows you to choose the alignmentstars during the alignment procedure. The stars are chosen from Autostar’s database of alignment stars. The database displays after One-Star Alt/Az or Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment is selected. .
The term "Alt/Az." is frequently used to refer to the Altitude or horizontal and Azimuth or vertical movements of the ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT telescopes. Other terms to describe a telescope's movement may be used with telescopes that have mounts different from the ETX-60AT
and ETX-70AT.

Alt/Az Home Position
To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position:North

Declination
at 0˚

PointerFig. 13: Alt/Az Home Position.

•

Set the telescope on a flat level surface, such as a tabletop, or by mount it on theoptional #882 tripod•

Loosen the telescope’s vertical lock (6, Fig. 1).

•

Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec setting circle (17, Fig. 1) with thepointer (Fig. 13).

•Tighten the vertical lock (6, Fig. 1) to a "firm feel" only.

•

Unlock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points
North. Learn the position of Polaris, the North Star, which lies due North (Fig. 20).
A small pocket compass may be useful•

Re-lock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1).

•

Press ENTER.

Advanced Features 21

Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database ofbright stars and two stars from this database are chosen by the observer for alignment.
1.

Perform steps 1 through 8 as described in the "EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENTPROCEDURE," page 14.

2 . Align to the first star. Autostar then displays a database of stars for the observer tochoose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star that you wish to align upon. Select astar that you can easily locate in the night sky.
Fig. 14: Alt/Az Two-Star
Alignment.

3.

Press ENTER. The telescope slews to the star for alignment. Use the Arrow keys to movethe telescope until the star is visible and centered in the eyepiece.

4.

Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for the second alignment star. The telescope is aligned
and you are now ready to use Autostar's GO TO capabilities for a night of observing.

One-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Level: Intermediate
One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database ofbright stars. One-Star Alignment is identical to Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (see “TWO-STAR
ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT,” above), except only one star from this database is chosen by the observer for alignment.

Fig. 15: Alt/Az One-Star
Alignment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The accuracy of One-Star Alt/Az Alignment, unlike the TwoStar Alt/Az Alignment procedure, depends on how well the observer levels the telescope and how close to North the telescope is pointed when setting the Home
Position (Fig. 12). Because Two-Star Alignment uses two stars to align upon, it ismore precise than One-Star Alignment.

Slew Speeds:
Autostar has nine slew speeds that are directly proportional to the sidereal rate and have been
calculated to accomplish specific functions. Pressing the Speed/? key briefly changes the slew
speed, which is shown for about two seconds on Autostar’s display.
NOTE: Pressing the Speed/? key very briefly changes the slew speed. Holding down the
Speed/? key longer (one to two seconds) accesses the Help function.
The nine available speeds are:Speed 1 =5° = 1200 x sidereal (300 arc-min/sec or 5°/sec)

Speed 2 =2° =480 x sidereal (120 arc-min/sec or 2°/sec)

Speed 3 =1° =240 x sidereal (60 arc-min/sec or 1°/sec)

Speed 4 = 0.5° =120 x sidereal (30 arc-min/sec or 0.5°/sec)

Speed 5 = 64x =64 x sidereal (16 arc-min/sec or 0.27°/sec)

Speed 6 = 32x =32 x sidereal (8 arc-min/sec or 0.13°/sec)

Speed 7 = 16x =16 x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec or 0.067°/sec)

Speed 8 =8x =8 x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or 0.033°/sec)

Speed 9 =2x =2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008°/sec)

Speed 1: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another
Speeds 2 or 3: Best used for rough centering of an object in the eyepiece.
Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enables centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard MA 25mm.
Speeds 7, 8, or 9: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a high power
eyepiece, such as the standard MA 9mm or higher powers.

22 Advanced Features

Observing a Satellite
NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit,
traveling at approximately 17,500 mph. They move quickly across the sky and are
visible only for a few minutes, requiring Autostar to slew the telescope rapidly. Bestviewing is near Sunrise or Sunset when the sky is still dark. Viewing in the middleof the night can be problematic because the satellite may pass overhead, but not
be visible as it is in the Earth's shadow.
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

Choose a satellite from the Select menu, then press ENTER. Autostar scans its databaseto find if that satellite is expected to pass overhead within the next 6 hours.
If a satellite is expected, use the Scroll keys to access a list of information about the pass,including acquisition time, location, etc.
At the end of the list is “Alarm.” Press ENTER and Autostar automatically sets the alarm tosound several minutes before the scheduled appearance. You may return to regular observations until the alarm goes off.
When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite menu and press a Scroll key until thedesired satellite is on the top line of the display.
Press GO TO. Autostar slews the telescope to where the satellite should appear. The motor
drive stops and a countdown starts.
NOTE: If the scheduled appearance position of the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by abuilding, tree, or hill), press ENTER and Autostar starts to move the telescopealong the expected satellite track. When the track clears the obstruction, press
ENTER again to pause the telescope, then continue with this procedure.
With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the eyepiece
for the satellite to enter the field of view.
When the satellite enters the field of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts to track withthe satellite.
Use the Arrow keys to center the object in the eyepiece to view the object. Satellite orbitschange and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade
website (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information andinstructions on how to download this data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more than
one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at the time predicted by Autostar. To
download new satellite data into Autostar memory requires the optional Astrofinder
Software and Cable Connector Kit. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.

Photography with the ETX
Photography through the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT requires the addition of the optional #64ST
T–Adapter. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25. With the #64ST T-Adapter attached tothe telescope (Fig. 17), through-the-telescope photography is possible with any 35mm camera
body with a removable lens. In this way, the telescope effectively becomes the lens of the camera.
For through-the-telescope photography, turn the flip-mirror control (15, Fig. 1) to the “down”
position, allowing light to pass straight through the telescope and out the photo port (16, Fig. 1).
With the flip-mirror control in the “down” position and the photo port’s dust cover removed, thefront lens of the telescope can be seen when looking through the photo port. The #64ST TAdapter (1, Fig. 17) threads on to the photo port, followed by a T-Mount (2, Fig. 17) for the particular brand of 35mm camera being used, followed by the camera body (3, Fig. 17).
To frame an object in the viewfinder of the 35mm camera body, use a small jeweler’s screwdriver to slightly loosen three adjustment screws (4, Fig. 17) around the outer knurled ring of
the T-Mount. Rotate the camera body to achieve proper framing of the object; then re-tighten
the adjustment screws.

Advanced Features 23

The #64ST T–Adapter permits close-coupling ofa camera body to the telescope at a focal lengthof 350mm and an effective photographic speedof f/5.8 for the ETX-60 and f/5 for the ETX-70. In
this format vignetting occurs: the photographic
image appears on film with a slight darkening(vignetting) at the corners of the 35mm frame(Fig. 16).

Fig. 16: Example ofvignetting.

1
3
4

When removing the T-Adapter and T-Mount fromthe photo port, the T-Adapter may become
torqued to either the photo port or the T-Mount.
2
If this occurs, the T-Adapter has a slot on bothsides which may be used to loosen the TAdapter. Place a metal straight edge, or similar Fig. 17: ETX with #64ST T-Adapter.
instrument across the two slots and turn counterclockwise to remove the T-Adapter. Photography through a long lens such as the ETX-60AT
or ETX-70AT requires special technique for good results, and the photographer should probably expect to waste a roll or two of film in acquiring this technique. Long-lens photography has
its own rewards, however, rewards that short-focus lenses cannot duplicate.
A few tips on photography with the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT:
1.

Use the optional #882 Standard Field Tripod or the #883 Deluxe Field Tripod as a platform
for the telescope. At an effective focal length of 350mm, even small external vibrations caneasily ruin an otherwise good photo.
CAUTION: With the #64ST T-Adapter and a camera body mounted to the ETX60AT or ETX-70AT photo port, the telescope can only be rotated vertically about
45°. Moving past this point may damage the telescope and camera.

2.

Use a cable-operated shutter release. Touching the camera body to initiate shutter operation almost certainly introduces undesirable vibrations.

3.

Focus the image with extreme care. While observing the subject through the camera’s
reflex viewfinder, turn the telescope’s focus knob (8, Fig. 1) to achieve the sharpest possible focus. Note that some 35mm cameras may have an optional focusing screen (available from the manufacturer) for use with a long telephoto lens. This screen provides abrighter and clearer image to focus, and is highly recommended.

4.

Correct shutter speeds vary widely, depending on lighting conditions and film used. Trialand-error is the best way to determine proper shutter speed in any given application.
NOTE: The camera used with your telescope may have an exposure meter that isstill active when the standard lens is removed and the body is connected to the telescope with the T–Mount. If used for terrestrial photography, the camera metershould be acceptable. If used for astrophotography, the meter probably will not provide good results since camera meters are not made to compensate for a dark sky.

5.

Terrestrial photography through the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT is sensitive to heat waves rising from the Earth’s surface. Long distance photography is best accomplished in the earlymorning hours before the earth has had time to build up heat.

6.

Photography of the Moon and planets through the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT can be especially gratifying, but points 1 through 4 should be particularly noted in this case. Lunar orplanetary photography requires that the telescope be Polar aligned. See “APPENDIX A,”
page 31.
NOTE: Long exposure photography of deep-sky objects is not practical with theETX-60AT and ETX-70AT, since this type of photography requires special electronic and optical guiding devices not available for these telescopes.

24 Advanced Features

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the ETX-60AT and
ETX-70AT. 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, areavailable 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 orvisit the Meade website at www.meade.com.
#506 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit: Displays more than 10,000 celestial wonders – galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets – on your PC, enabling eventhe beginner to locate and identify objects to observe with the telescope or to print out star
charts for use in observing sessions. Operates with any Windows™-based personal computer.
The Cable Connector Kit permits connection of the ETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT, Autostar, andPC, for downloading of new software to Autostar or for updating of Earth satellite or other celestial object positions. This kit is included with each AstroFinder Software package.
Fig. 18: Astrofinder
Software.

Eyepieces: Meade Modified Achromatic eyepieces, supplied as standard-equipment with theETX-60AT and the ETX-70AT, permit observing powers of 39X (MA 9mm) and 14X (MA 25mm).
Optional eyepieces of the Plössl (PL) optical design yield higher and lower powers, combinedwith bright, sharp images. Any of these eyepieces may be used in conjunction with the #124 2x
Barlow Lens or #128 3x Barlow Lens (below) to double or triple, respectively, eyepiece powers.
Meade Modified Achromatic (MA) and Wide Angle (WA) eyepieces in the standard Americansize (1.25”) barrel diameter (Fig. 19) permit a wide range of magnifying powers with the ETX60AT and ETX-70AT. Powers obtained with each available eyepiece are shown in the following table:

Fig. 19: Optional
Eyepieces.

Eyepiece
MA 9mm*
MA 25mm*
PL 4mm
PL 5mm
PL 6mm
WA 18mm
*

Power
39X
14X
88X
70X
58X
19X

with #124
2x Barlow lens
78X
28X
176X
140X
116X
38X

with #128
3x Barlow lens
117X
42X
264X
210X
174X
57X

Included as standard-equipment with the ETX-60AT and
ETX-70AT

Meade Modified Achromatic (MA), Wide Angle (WA), and Plössl (PL) eyepieces are ideal for
general-purpose astronomical or terrestrial observing. The typical ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT user
may wish to add two or three of these eyepieces to his or her telescope. An introductory selection might include the PL 6mm eyepiece, while the more advanced observer might select the
PL 4mm, PL 5mm, and WA 18mm. The Meade Wide Angle 18mm eyepiece yields wide fieldsof view, perfect for the examination of star fields, diffuse nebulae, or for terrestrial applications.
#124 2x Barlow Lens and #128 3x Barlow Lens: For high-power astronomical applications
these coated, amplifying lenses double (#124) or triple (#128) eyepiece magnifying powers
without any reduction of image resolution. Example: By itself the PL 5mm eyepiece yields a
power of 70X with the ETX-70AT; used with the #128 3x Barlow Lens, this eyepiece yields a
power of 210X. Insert either Barlow Lens into the telescope's eyepiece holder, followed by aneyepiece.
These lenses are achromatic, high-performance, short-focus Barlow lenses, perfectly suited to
the low-profile design of the ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT. Lens surfaces are coated for maximum
image contrast and light transmission.

Optional Accessories 25

#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.
#773 Hard Carry Case: For secure portability in the field, the #773 Hard Carry Case (Fig. 20)
is fully lined with fitted foam inserts and accepts the complete ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT Astro
Telescope, plus optional accessories. In order for the telescope to fit in its optional Hard CarryCase, the telescope’s objective lens must be fully retracted.

Fig 20: #773 Hard Carry
Case.

#64ST T-Adapter: The #64ST T-Adapter (Fig. 21) is the basic means of photography throughthe ETX-60AT or the ETX-70AT. Attach the #64ST T-Adapter to the rear cell of the telescope,
followed by a T-Mount appropriate to your 35mm camera body, and the ETX-60AT or ETX70AT is a supertelephoto lens of 350mm focal length. See “PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE ETX,”
page 23.
#827 8 x 25mm Right-Angle Viewfinder and Bracket: For easy sighting of terrestrial or astronomical objects prior to their observation in the main telescope, the #827 8 x 25mm RightAngle Viewfinder (Fig. 22) displays a wide 7.5° field of view. Includes a crosshair eyepiece andprecise helicoid focusing; the included viewfinder bracket attaches to the main telescope inseconds.

Fig 21: #64ST T-Adapter.

Fig 22: #827 Right-Angle
Viewfinder.

#933 45° Erecting Prism: The ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT includes an internal optically-flat mirror to reflect light to the telescope’s 90° astronomical observing position. In this position, thetelescope’s image is upright, but reversed left for right. For terrestrial observing with the ETX60AT or ETX-70AT, the #933 45° Erecting Prism (Fig. 23) results in a fully correctly oriented
image and a convenient 45° observing angle. The #933 Prism threads on to the telescope’s
photo port (16, Fig. 1). An eyepiece of any focal length (magnifying power) may be inserted into
the #933 Prism. The #933 includes an internal relay lens which increases each eyepiece powerby 2.4x. Note that the flip-mirror control (15, Fig. 1) must be in the “down” position (Fig. 2b) for
use with the #933 Prism.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the most discriminating applications, such as in observing
delicate bird feather structure at long distance, the telescope’s internal, opticallyflat mirror yields a higher-resolution image than is possible with any prism, including the #933. In these special cases, users are advised to observe with the eyepiece in the standard 90° eyepiece-holder (15, Fig. 1), with the flip-mirror control inthe “up” position (Fig. 2a). This admonition applies only to situations requiringextraordinarily high optical resolution where the observer’s eye is well-trained toobserve very fine detail. In typical terrestrial applications, no image differences
between the two eyepiece locations can generally be noted.
#670 Dew Shield: In moist climates, water in the atmosphere may condense on the telescope’s lens. Dew formation may be reduced significantly by the addition of a #670 Dew Shield(Fig. 24), which threads into the front cell of the telescope.

Fig 23: #933 Erecting
Prism.

Fig 24: #670 Dew Shield.
Fig. 25a: #882
Standard Field Tripod
set in Alt/Az
Configuration.

26 Optional Accessories

Fig 25b: #883 Deluxe
Field Tripod set in
Polar Configuration.

Tripods: Manufactured of strong, lightweight
extruded aluminum, the #882 Standard Field
Tripod (Fig. 25a) and the #883 Deluxe Field
Tripod (Fig. 25b) allow standing or seatedobservations. The heights of both tripods arecontinuously adjustable from 34” to 54”.
Micrometric controls in both azimuth and elevation-angle of the #883 Deluxe Field Tripod
permit precise Polar Alignment of the telescope’s fork mount for advanced astronomical
applications. When Alt/Az Alignment of the telescope is desirable, the tripod head of the#883 tilts and locks at 90°. Both tripods include
all the rigidity and stability required for highpower observing through the telescope.

MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
General Maintenance
The ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield alifetime 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 telescope’s optics. A little dust on the front surface of the telescope’s
correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens.

2.

When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with gentle strokesof a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at any pharmacy). Do not
use a commercial photographic lens cleaner.

3.

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 makeshort, 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 thetelescope, 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 theoptical tube until the telescope is thoroughly dry.

5

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 AA-size batteries from inside the drive base. Batteries left
installed for prolonged periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope’s electronic circuitry. See “HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 10.

6.

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 telescope’s internal
lubrication and electronic circuitry.

7.

A (English-format) hex wrench is provided with the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT. Use thewrench 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 toexcessive heat or moisture. It is best to store the telescope in its original box with the verticaland horizontal locks (6 and 9, 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 abusecan damage the optical tube and/or the objective lens. It is highly recommended to use theoptional Hard Case to transport the telescope. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 25.

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 observer’s line of sight andthe angle of the light) may reveal what appears to be scratches, dark or bright spots, or unevencoatings, giving the appearance of poor quality optics. These effects are only seen when a highintensity 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.

Maintenance 27

Troubleshooting
The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT.
The power indicator light on the telescope does not come on or there is no responsewhen pressing Autostar Arrow keys:•
Verify that the Computer Control Panel power switch (10C, Fig. 1) is in the ON position.
•

Verify that the Autostar cord (4, Fig. 3) is firmly connected to the HBX port (10A, Fig. 1).

•

Verify that the batteries are installed correctly and that they have sufficient charge. See“HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 10.
NOTE: If the batteries are getting low on charge, there will be a marked differencein the slew speed. The speed indicator lights may also flash and the speed maychange. 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, turnoff the power and unplug Autostar. Plug the Autostar back in and turn the power back on.

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 (15, Fig. 1) is in the “up” position (Fig. 2a) if using theeyepiece holder (3, Fig. 1) so that light is directed to the eyepiece (1, Fig. 1). Confirm thatthe flip-mirror control is in the “down” position (Fig. 2b) if using the #933 Erecting Prism or
performing photography with the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT. See “TELESCOPE FEATURES,” page 4 and “PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE ETX,” page 23.

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 “HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 10.
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 11.
•

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. See “TERRESTRIAL
OBSERVING,” page 21.

•

For clear viewing of objects, turn the focus knob (8, Fig. 1) slowly since the “in-focus” pointof a telescope is precise. Turning the focus knob too quickly may cause the focus point topass without notice.

•

The optics within the telescope need time to adjust to the outside ambient temperature toprovide the sharpest image. To "cool down" the optics, set the telescope outside for 10 to
15 minutes before observing begins.

When turning the focus knob, it takes a moment for the image to change:•
The focus knob may need to be reset. Verify that the dust cover is in place at the front of
the objective lens cell (5, Fig. 1). Turn the optical tube so that is pointing straight up
through the fork arms and lock the vertical lock. Carefully, turn the telescope upside down
so that the front of the objective lens cell is resting on a clean, flat surface. Use the provided hex wrench to slightly loosen the focus knob set screw. Make sure the focus knob isflush against the rear cell of the telescope and retighten the focus knob set screw.

28 MaintenanceTelescope moves off a terrestrial object while observing:•
Verify that the vertical and horizontal locks have been tightened to a "firm feel" (6 and 9 Fig. 1).
Telescope pauses when changing slew direction:•
This pause is normal.
A terrestrial object appears reversed left-for-right:•
An eyepiece in the standard 90° observing position (3, Fig. 1) yields this image orientation. Toview a correctly oriented image, the optional #933 Erecting Prism is required. See “OPTIONALACCESSORIES,” page 25.

Meade Customer Service
If you have a question concerning your ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT, contact the Meade Instruments
Customer Service Department at:
Telephone: (949) 451-1450
Customer Service hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 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 ofservicing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding return of the telescope to the factory.

ETX-60AT/ETX-70AT Specifications
Optical design ................................................................Achromatic Refractor
Clear apertureETX-60AT ..............................................................60mm (2.36”)
ETX-70AT ..............................................................70mm (2.76”)
Focal length ....................................................................350mm
Focal ratio (photographic speed)
ETX-60AT ..............................................................f/5.8
ETX-70AT ..............................................................f/5
Near focus (approx.)
ETX-60AT ..............................................................15 ft. (4.6m)
ETX-70AT ..............................................................17 ft. (5.2m)
Resolving power
ETX-60AT ..............................................................1.9 arc secs
ETX-70AT ..............................................................1.6 arc secs
Multi-coatings on objective lens ....................................Standard
Limiting visual stellar magnitude (approx.)
ETX-60AT ..............................................................11.2
ETX-70AT ..............................................................11.5
Image scale
ETX-60AT ..............................................................4.1°/inch
ETX-70AT ..............................................................4.1°/inch
Maximum practical visual power
ETX-60AT ..............................................................200X
ETX-70AT ..............................................................240X
Optical tube dimensions(dia. x length) ..........................................................9.3cm x 30.4-37.1cm (3.6” x 12-14.6”)
Eyepieces
Modified Achromatic ..............................................MA 25mm (1.25” O.D.)
Modified Achromatic ..............................................MA 9mm (1.25” O.D.)
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

Maintenance 29

ETX-60AT/ETX-70AT Specifications (cont'd)
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”)
Telescope net weight: (telescope only, without batteries, eyepieces)
ETX-60AT ................................................................2.6 kg (5.8 lbs.)
ETX-70AT ................................................................2.7 kg (5.9 lbs.)
Telescope shipping weight(telescope, accessories, instruction manual and packing)ETX-60AT ................................................................5.4 kg (11.9 lbs.)
ETX-70AT ................................................................5.3 kg (11.7 lbs.)
Battery Life (approx.)
with Autostar ..........................................................20 hrs.

Autostar Specifications
Processor ................................................................................68HC11, 8MHz
Flash Memory ................................................................512KB, reloadable
Keypad............................................................................10 key alphanumeric
Display ............................................................................2 line, 16 character LCD
Backlight ........................................................................Red LED
Coil Cord ........................................................................24"

Autostar Dimensions
Length ............................................................................14.2cm (5.60")
Width (LCD end) ............................................................78.0cm (3.08")
Width (Connector end) ..................................................53.5cm (2.10")
Depth ..............................................................................23.5cm (0.93")
Autostar net weight ........................................................0.169kg (0.35 lbs.)

30 MaintenanceAPPENDIX A: EQUATORIAL (POLAR) ALIGNMENT
Polar Alignment

North
Celestial
Pole(Vicinityof Polaris)+90 Dec.
Star

1
17
18
19

16

15

14

13 12

11

ation
clin
De

Fig. 26: Tripod set in Polarconfiguration on optional#883 tripod.

The great majority of ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT
owners will find it unnecessary ever to Polar alignthe 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 (13 and 17, Fig.1) in place of the digital setting circles built into the Autostar hand controller. Absent a desire to use the analog circles orsimply to be informed about the use of the equatorial (Polar-aligned) mount, reading of this appendix
may be omitted.

109Earth’s
Rotation

20 21

22

23

0

1

Right Ascension

2

3

8
4

7
6
5

Celestial
Equator
0 Dec.

2South
Celestial
Pole-90 Dec.

Fig. 27: Celestial Sphere.

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 #883 Deluxe Field Tripod (Fig. 26).
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 thecelestial pole and for finding objects in the night sky using Declination and Right Ascension.

Celestial Coordinates
Celestial objects are mapped according to a coordinate system on the Celestial Sphere (Fig. 26),
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 Earth’s
rotational axis, if extended to infinity, North and South, intersect the celestial sphere. Thus, theNorth Celestial Pole (1, Fig. 27) is that point in the sky where an extension of the Earth’s 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 Earth’s
Equator. The Celestial Equator (2, Fig. 27) is a projection of the Earth’s Equator onto the celestial sphere.
Just as on the surface of the Earth, in mapping the celestial sphere, imaginary lines have beendrawn to form a coordinate grid. Thus, object positions on the Earth’s surface are specified bytheir 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 theprime 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 ismeasured in degrees, arc-minutes and arc-seconds, e.g., 15° 27' 33". Declination shownas North of the celestial equator is indicated with a “+” sign in front of the measurement,

Appendix A 31

e.g., the Declination of the North Celestial Pole is +90°, with Declination South of the celestial equatorindicated with a “–” sign, e.g., the Declination of the South Celestial Pole is –90°. Any point on the celestial equator itself which, for example, passes through the constellations Orion, Virgo, and Aquarius, is
specified as having a Declination of zero, shown as 0° 0' 0".
All celestial objects are specified in position by their celestial coordinates of Right Ascension and Declination.
NOTE: Since the second object (i.e., the object to be located) is in constant motion,
once the R.A. circle is calibrated (step 2 above), the telescope should be moved
rapidly to read the coordinates of the second object. Otherwise the second object
will no longer be in the position indicated by the R.A. circle.
IMPORTANTNOTE: In order toselect any ofAutostar's three
Polar Alignment
options, you mustfirst select "Polar"in the "Mount"option of the"Setup: Telescope"
menu.

Using setting circles requires a developed technique. When using the circles for the first time, try hoppingfrom one bright star (the calibration star) to another bright star of known coordinates. Practice moving the telescope from one easy-to-find object to another. In this way, the precision required for accurate object location becomes evident.
NOTE: You may also enter an object's
R.A. and Dec coordinates using the "User:
Objects" option of Autostar's Object menu.
Autostar then automatically slews the telescope to the entered coordinates.

Locating the Celestial Pole

PolarisLittle Dipper

Big Dipper

PolarisCassiopeia

Fig. 28: Locating Polaris.

To get basic bearings at an observing location, take noteof where the Sun rises (East) and sets (West) each day. After the site is dark, face North by pointing yourleft shoulder toward where the Sun set. To precisely point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris) by using
the Big Dipper as a guide (Fig. 28).
For precise tracking of astronomical objects, your telescope should be Polar aligned.
To Polar Align using the #883 Deluxe Field Tripod, follow the instructions provided with the tripod.
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 toprecise Polar Alignment of the telescope to interfere with your basic enjoyment of the instrument. In those unusual cases where more precise.

Fig. 29: Polar One-Star
Alignment.

NOTE: When the telescope is Polar aligned, the Vertical Lock (6, Fig. 1) serves as a
Declination Lock and the Horizontal Lock serves as a Right Ascension, or R.A. Lock (9, Fig.
1).

Autostar Polar Alignment
PolarisAutostar provides three different methods for Polar Alignment: Easy, One-Star and Two-Star. In eachmethod, the telescope is pointed at Polaris, which Autostar uses the star as a reference.

Easy Polar Alignment
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Polaris and two alignment stars are chosen by Autostar based on the date, time, and location entered. The
rest of the procedure is identical to the Easy Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (Fig. 30).

One-Star Polar Alignment
Fig. 30: Polar Easy and TwoStar Alignment.

Level: Advanced
Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database of brightstars and one star from this database is chosen by the observer for alignment. Polaris is chosen by Autostar.
The rest of the alignment procedure is identical to the Easy Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (Fig. 29). See “EASY
TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT,” page 14.

Two-Star Polar Alignment
Level: Advanced
Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database of brightstars and two stars from this database are chosen by the observer for alignment. Polaris is chosen by
Autostar. The rest of the alignment procedure is identical to the Easy Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (Fig. 30).
See “EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT,” page 14.

32 Appendix AAPPENDIX B: USING AUTOSTAR TO ENTER R.A.
AND DEC COORDINATES
Although Autostar's database contains more than 1400 objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc.)that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are not part of the database. Autostar provides a feature that allows you to enter an object's R.A and Dec coordinatesin the "User: Objects" option of Autostar's Object menu and then automatically slews the telescope to the user-entered coordinates.
In order to use this menu option, you first need to look up the R.A and Dec coordinates of theobject or objects you wish to observe. Check out your local library, computer store or bookstore
for astronomy books, CD Roms, or magazines (such as Sky & Telescope or Astronomy), to findcoordinates of celestial objects. A list of the coordinates of 14 common stars are printed at theend of this manual; see "STAR LOCATOR," page 39.
The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your own permanent database, called "User
Objects." You may use this menu to view these object as often as you like, but the objects' coordinates just need to be entered once.
To enter coordinates of an object into the "User: Objects" option of the Object menu:
1.

Make sure Autostar has been initialized (see "INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR," page 12) andthe telescope has been aligned and set to the Alt/Az home alignment position (see "EASY
TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT," page 14).

2.

After the telescope is aligned, "Select Item: Object" displays. (If necessary, use the Scroll
keys to scroll through the menus, as previously described, to find this option.) Press
ENTER.

3.

"Object: Solar System" displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Up key until "Object: User
Object" displays and press ENTER.

4.

"User Object: Select" displays. Press the Scroll Down key once. "User Object: Add" displays. Press ENTER.

5.

"Name" displays on the top line and a blinking cursor on the second line. Use the Arrowkeys (as previously described) to enter the name of the object you wish to add to the database. When you are finished, press ENTER.

6.

"Right Asc.: +00.00.0" displays. Use the Arrow keys to enter the digits for the Right
Ascension coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+" to "-."
When you are finished, press ENTER.

7.

"Declination: +00°.00'" displays. Use the Arrow keys to enter the digits for the Declination
coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+" to "-." When you
are finished, press ENTER.

8.

Autostar then prompts you to enter the Size of the object. This step is optional. Use theArrow keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press ENTER to go to the next display. If you do not wish to enter this information, simply press ENTER.

9.

Autostar then prompts you to enter the Magnitude of the object. This step is also optional.
Use the Arrow keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press ENTER to go to thenext display. "User Object: Add" displays again.

To GO TO a user-entered object:
1.

With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Up key once. "User Object: Select" displays. Press ENTER.

2.

Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to the desired object. Press ENTER.

3.

The name of the object and the Right Ascension and Declination coordinates display.

4.

Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

Appendix B 33

APPENDIX C: HELPFUL CHARTS
Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldTo aid in the Polar Alignment procedure (see page 30), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below. To
determine the latitude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site. Then follow theprocedure below:
Northern Hemisphere observers (N): If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) North of the listed city, add one degree forevery 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 North of the listed city, subtract one degree for every
70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city, add one degree per 70 miles.
UNITED STATES
City

State

LatitudeAlbuquerqueAnchorage
Atlanta
BostonChicagoCleveland
DallasDenverDetroitHonolulu
JacksonKansas City
Las Vegas
Little RockLos Angeles
Miami
Milwaukee
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Philadelphia
Phoenix
PortlandRichmond
Salt Lake CitySan Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
SeattleWashington
Wichita

New Mexico
AlaskaGeorgia
Massachusetts
Illinois
Ohio
Texas
Colorado
Michigan
Hawaii
Mississippi
Missouri
NevadaArkansas
California
FloridaWisconsin
Tennessee
Louisiana
New York
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Arizona
OregonVirginia
Utah
Texas
California
California
Washington
District of Columbia
Kansas

35° N
61° N
34° N
42° N
42° N
41° N
33° N
40° N
42° N
21° N
32° N
39° N
36° N
35° N
34° N
26° N
46° N
36° N
30° N
41° N
35° N
40° N
33° N
46° N
37° N
41° N
29° N
33° N
38° N
47° N
39° N
38° N

EUROPECity

Country

LatitudeAmsterdam
AthensBern
Copenhagen
DublinFrankfurt
Glasgow
Helsinki
LisbonLondonMadrid
Oslo
Paris
Rome
Stockholm
ViennaWarsaw

Netherlands
GreeceSwitzerland
Denmark
IrelandGermany
ScotlandFinland
Portugal
EnglandSpain
NorwayFrance
Italy
SwedenAustria
Poland

52° N
38° N
47° N
56° N
53° N
50° N
56° N
60° N
39° N
51° N
40° N
60° N
49° N
42° N
59° N
48° N
52° N

34 Appendix C

SOUTH AMERICA
City
Country

Latitude

Asuncion
Brasilia
Buenos Aires
Montevideo
Santiago

25° S
24° S
35° S
35° S
34° S

Paraguay
BrazilArgentina
Uruguay
Chile

ASIA
City

Country

LatitudeBeijing
Seoul
TaipeiTokyo
Victoria

China
South Korea
TaiwanJapan
Hong Kong

40° N
37° N
25° N
36° N
23° N

AFRICA
City

Country

Latitude

Cairo
Cape Town
Rabat
Tunis
Windhoek

Egypt
South Africa
MoroccoTunisia
Namibia

30° N
34° S
34° N
37° N
23° S

AUSTRALIA
City

State

Latitude

Adelaide
Brisbane
Canberra
Alice Springs
HobartPerthSydneyMelbourneSouth Australia
Queensland
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Tasmania
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria

35° S
27° S
35° S
24° S
43° S
32° S
34° S
38° S

APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE
Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure after RESET or if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Figure 30 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure.
NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete thisexercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy.
1

2

Verify that AUTOSTARINITIALIZATION iscomplete.
Press MODE until
Select Item is displayed.

Select Item
ObjectSelect Item
Setup

Scope slews left.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Right Arrow key.

4

Press < until it
13
is centered
Scope slews right.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Left Arrow key.

Also included below is a small sampling of books,
magazines, and organizations that you might findhelpful.
TopicsAccess the Setup

ENTER menu.

Setup
Align

Train Drive
Az. Train
5

14

1.

Menu returns to
Az. training.

How is a star born? How does a solar system
form?

2.

How is the distance to a star measured? Whatis a light year?

3.

What is red shift and blue shift?

4.

How are the craters on our Moon formed? How
old is the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun?

5.

What is a black hole? A quasar? A neutron star?

6.

What are stars made of? Why are stars different colors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant?

7.

What is a nova? A supernova?

8.

What are comets? Asteroids? Meteors? Meteor
showers? Where do they come from?

9.

What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster?

Multiple presses.

Train Drive
Alt. Train
Setup
Telescope

Further Study....
This manual gives only the briefest introduction toastronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further
studies in astronomy, a few topics are suggested
below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up
some of these topics in Autostar’s glossary.

3

Press the scroll
up key once.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Press > until it
12
is centered

15

Altitude

6

ENTER (vertical)
training.

Access the
ENTER Telescope menu.

Telescope
7
1
Telescope Model

Drive Setup
For this op. . . 16
Reminder to

ENTER use terrestrial
target.

Multiple presses.

Center reference
17
objectTelescope
Train Drive

8

Center target

ENTER using Arrowkeys.

Choose the Train

Train Drive
Az. Train

9

AzimuthENTER (horizontal)
training.

Press until it
is centered>

ENTER Drive option.

Reminder to
ENTER use terrestrial
target.

Center reference
11
object.
ENTER

Center target
using Arrow
keys.

Books
18

Scope slews down.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Up Arrow key.

Press until it
is centered>

Drive Setup
10
For this op. . .

10. What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expanding or contracting, or does it always remain the
same?

19

Scope slews up.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Down Arrow key.

1.
2.

The Sky: A User’s Guide by David Levy

3.

Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan
Davis

4.

Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael
Covington

Magazines
1.
2.

Train Drive
Az. Train
MODE

20

21

1.

2.
3.

Figure 30: Training the Drive Procedure.

Sky & TelescopeBox 9111, Belmont, MA 02178
Astronomy
Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187

Organizations:

Multiple presses.

Select Item
Object

The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack
Newton and Philip Teece

Astronomical League
Executive Secretary
5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific
390 Ashton Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
The Planetary Society
65 North Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Appendix D 35

APPENDIX E: INITIALIZATION EXAMPLE
Initialization is a procedure that ensures that Autostar operates correctly. When you first use
Autostar, it doesn't yet know where the observation location site is or the time or date of theobservation session.
During the procedure, information, such as the current time and date, observation location, andtelescope model, is entered into Autostar. Autostar uses this information to precisely calculate
the location of celestial objects (such as stars and planets) and how to move your telescopecorrectly for various operations.
The diagram below depicts an example of the Autostar initialization procedure. The following
are the parameters that are used in the example:
Date:
March 26, 2001
Time:
12:47 AM
Location: Irvine, California(00) Meade (1.0)
AUTOSTAR
ENTER

ENTER

Initializing. . .
Enter Time:
00:00:00PM
WARNINGLOOKING AT . . .

Country/State
AFGHANISTAN
1 (1X)

Multiple
Presses

(1X)

SPEED
?

2 (2X)

Getting Started
For a Detailed...

4 (4X)

Enter Date:
01-Jan-2000

Nearest City
ALAMEDA NAS
Multiple
Presses

7 (7X)

2 (2X)AM (default)

(1X)

(1X)

ENTER

(1X)

ENTER

6 (5X)Country/StateCALIFORNIA

Nearest City
IRVINEENTEREnter Time:
12:47:00AM
ENTER

Telescope Model> ETX-60 or ETX-70

Mar (2X)
2000 (4X)
2001 (1X)
Enter Date:
26-Mar-2001

Fig. 31: Example of the Initialization Procedure.

36 Appendix E

ENTER

Daylight Savings
>NO
Setup
Align

BASIC ASTRONOMY
In the early 17th century, Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably smaller than the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT, turned it to look towards the sky instead of distant trees
and mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, forever changed theway mankind thought of the universe. Imagine what it must have been like being the first humanto 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 aroundthe 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 proposed a glimpse into the origin of the universe;
Albert Einstein unraveled the relationship of time and light. Almost daily, using sophisticatedsuccessors to Galileo's crude telescope, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, more and moremysteries of the universe are being solved and understood. We are living in a golden age ofastronomy.
Unlike other sciences, astronomy welcomes contributions from amateurs. Much of the knowledge we have on subjects such as comets, meteor showers, variable stars, the Moon, and oursolar system comes from observations made by amateur astronomers. So as you look throughyour Meade ETX telescope, keep in mind Galileo. To him, a telescope was not a mere machineof glass and metal, but something far more - a window through which the beating heart of theuniverse might be glimpsed, a fuse to set fire to mind and imagination.
Autostar Glossary
Be sure to make use of Autostar’s 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 18, for more information.
Objects in Space
Listed below are some of the many astronomical objects that can be seen with the ETX-60AT
or ETX-70AT:
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 Moon’s surface at anangle. It casts shadows and adds a sense of depth to the view (Fig. 31). 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.
Fig. 32: The Moon.
Note the deep shadows in the craters.

Using the ETX-60AT or ETX-70AT, 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 Moon’s 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) are smooth, dark areas scattered across the lunar surface. These darkareas are large ancient impact basins that were filled with lava from the interior of the Moon by
the depth and force of a meteor or comet impact.
Twelve Apollo astronauts left their bootprints on the Moon in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
However, no telescope on Earth is able to see these footprints or any other artifacts. In fact, thesmallest lunar features that may be seen with the largest telescope on Earth are about one-halfmile across.

Basic Astronomy 37

Planets
Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on agiven day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and Telescope orAstronomy. Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the ETX-60AT and ETX70AT.
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.

Fig. 33: Jupiter andits four largest
moons. The moons
can be observed ina different position
every night.

Fig. 34: Saturn has
the most extensive
ring structure in our
Solar System.

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 planet’s Polar ice caps.
Approximately every two years, when Mars is closest to Earth in its orbit, additional detail andcoloring on the planet's surface may be visible.
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 Jupiter’s 16 moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) can beseen as “star-like” points of light when using even the lowest magnification (Fig. 33). Thesemoons 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. 34). In 1610, Galileo, the first person to observe Saturnthrough a telescope, did not understand that what he was seeing were rings. Instead, hebelieved that Saturn had “ears.” Saturn’s 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-60AT or ETX-70AT. Titan,
the largest of Saturn’s 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. 35: The
Pleiades is one of
the most beautiful
open clusters.

Nebulae are vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust where stars are formed. Most impressiveof these is the Great Nebula in Orion (M42), a diffuse nebula that appears as a faint wispy graycloud. 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. 35). Through the ETX-60AT
or ETX-70AT, numerous stars are visible.
Constellations are large, imaginary patterns of stars believed by ancient civilizations to be thecelestial 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, suchas 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 theconstellation Andromeda, located between the large “W” of Cassiopeia and the great square ofPegasus.

38 Basic Astronomy

A Roadmap to the Stars

Rigel

The night sky is filled with wonder andintrigue. You too, can enjoy exploring theuniverse simply by following a few pointers
on a roadmap to the stars.

Orion
Betelgeuse

Andromeda
GeminiFirst, find the Big Dipper which is part of theconstellation Ursa Major. The Big Dipper isusually easy to locate year round in North
America.

PolluxCastorPegasus“Summer
Triangle”

Extending directly out from the far side of
the Big Dipper’s cup is the constellation
Orion. One of the most exquisite areas of
the winter sky, Orion is distinguished byOrion’s belt, which is marked by three stars
in a row. The Orion Nebula is located Southof the belt and is one of the most observed
deep-sky objects by amateur astronomers.
Extending from the “pointer stars” of the Big
Dipper’s cup is Polaris, the North Star.
Extending from Polaris is the Great Square
shared by the constellations Pegasus andAndromeda. .

Polaris“Sickle”
Regulus

Deneb

CygnusVega

Lyra

AltairLeo“Big Dipper”

BoötesArcturus

AquilaVirgo
Spica
Antares

Scorpius

Fig. 36: Road Map to the Stars.

The Summer Triangle is a notable region in the sky to the left of the handle of the Big Dipper.
The triangle is made up of three very bright stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair.
By drawing an imaginary line outward from the handle of the Big Dipper, you reach the southern constellation “Scorpius.” Scorpius curves to the left like the tail of a scorpion in the sky, or
like letter “J.”
Amateur astronomers commonly use the phrase “Arc to Arcturus and spike to Spica” to refer tothe area directly off the arc in the handle of the Big Dipper. Follow the arc to Arcturus, the second brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere, then spike down to Spica, the 16th brightest starin the sky.
Star Locator
The chart below lists bright stars with their R.A. and Dec coordinates, along with the Northern
Hemisphere season when these stars are prominent in the night sky. This list aids the observer to find alignment stars at various times of the year. For example, if it is a midsummer evening
in the Northern Hemisphere, Deneb in the constellation Cygnus, would be an excellent alignment star, while Betelgeuse could not be used because it is in the winter constellation Orionand thus, below the horizon.
SeasonStar Name

Constellation

R.A.

Dec

SpringSpringSpringArcturus
Regulus
Spica

BootesLeo
Virgo

14h16m10h09m13h25m19° 11"
11° 58"-11° 10"

SummerSummerSummerSummerVega
Deneb
AltairAntares

Lyra
CygnusAquilaScorpius

18h37m20h41m
19h51m16h30m38° 47"45° 17"08° 52"-26° 26"

Fall
Fall
Fall

Markab
Fomalhaut
Mira

Pegasus
Pisces Austrinus
Cetus

23h05ms22h58m
02h19m15° 12"-29° 38"-02° 58"

Winter
Winter
Winter
WinterRigel
Betelgeuse
SiriusAldebaran

Orion
Orion
Canis Major
Taurus05h15m05h55m06h45m04h35m-08° 12"07° 25"-16° 43"16° 31"

Basic Astronomy 39

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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.
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RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number must be
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which cannot be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase.
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This warranty supercedes all previous Meade product warranties.

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