Instruction Manual ETX-80AT-BB Backpack Observatory MEADE.
CONTENTS WARNING! Never use a Meade® Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.
QUICK-START GUIDE Setting up the Tripod Step 1: Remove the telescope and tripod from the giftbox. Step 2: Hold the tripod by its handle and turn the locking ring to loosen the tripod mechanism. Push down on the locking ring as far as it will go to spread out the tripod legs. Turn the locking ring to tighten the tripod in place. Step 2a: Loosen the locking ring.... Step 3: You can adjust the height of the tripod, by lifting a leg lock lever and sliding the inner leg in or out to the desired length.
Step 11 :Secure the eyepieces in place with their respective thumbsrews. Always start observing using a low power eyepiece to get a nice widefield of view. Later on you can change to high power, if so desired. But high powered eyepieces have a much narrower field of view and it’s more difficult to locate objects using high powered eyepieces. Step 13: Focus insert batteries. Step 12 :You can focus the eyepieces by turning the focus knob.
TELESCOPE FEATURES 3) 1! 1) 1@ j i 2) g h f e 1# 1% b c d 1( 1$ 1^ 1* 1& Fig. 1: The ETX-80AT-BB Telescope. 6 1. Eyepiece 2. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew 3. 45° Erecting Prism 4. Rear Cell Port 5. 90° Eyepiece holder 6. Eyepiece 7. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew 8. Fork arms 9. Optical tube 10. Objective lens cell 11. Dew shield 12. Dust cap 13. Vertical lock 14. Horizontal lock 15. Focus knob 16. Computer control panel A. HBX port B. LED C. On/Off D. AUX port 17. Base housing 18.
ABCD 1^ 2! Fig. 1b : The computer control panel: A - HBX port; B - LED; C - On/Off; D - AUX port. 1( Fig. 2: The AutoStar Handbox (see page 10). 2( Fig. 1c: The battery compartment. 2@ 2# 2$ 2% 2^ 21. AutoStar 22. Tripod bubble level 23. Base 24. Handle 25. Adjustable legs 26. Locking ring 27. Leg braces/accessory holders 28. Leg locks 29. Bubble level/compass 30. Flip Barlow 2& 2* Fig. 3: The tripod.
ETX: Your Personal Window to the Universe The Meade ETX-80AT-BB is an extremely versatile, high-resolution telescope with 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.
1% Focus Knob: Moves the telescope’s objective lens (10, Fig. 1) in a finely-controlled motion to focus an image. The ETX-80AT-BB telescope can be focused on objects from a distance of about 17 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects.
AUTOSTAR FEATURES b c e d f g i h Fig. 5: #494 AutoStar Handbox. Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of the ETX-80AT-BB is through the operation of the standard-equipment #494 AutoStar. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of AutoStar’s buttons.
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 the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make AutoStar extremely user friendly. Note: AutoStar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power to AutoStar.
H Speed/? Key: Pressing the Speed/? key cycles through the nine slew speeds that move the telescope. Each time the Speed/? key is pressed briefly, the current slew speed is shown for about two seconds on the display. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 16. 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.
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: • • • • • Fig. 6a: Loosen the tripod’s locking ring... The ETX Astro Telescope with fork mount system, photographic type tripod. Water-resistant backpack. #494 AutoStar handbox with attached coil cord. Meade premium eyepieces; 45° erecting prism. Hex-wrench, packed with the instruction manual. See GENERAL MAINTENANCE page 34.
10. Secure the eyepieces in place with their respective thumbsrews. Tip: Always start observing using a low power eyepiece to get a nice wide field of view. Later on you can change to high power, if so desired. But high powered eyepieces have a much narrower field of view and it’s more difficult to locate objects using high powered eyepieces. 11. You can focus the eyepieces by turning the focus knob.
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, the higher 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.
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 TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY, page 13. Next, flip the On/Off Switch (16C, Fig. 1b) on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on AutoStar’s display. Press the Speed/? key (7, Fig. 5) to accept the Sun warning. The "Getting Started" message displays.
Observe the Moon Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not visible every night) and practice using the Arrow keys and the slew speeds to view different features. The Moon contains many interesting features, including craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view the Moon is during its crescent or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during these periods and adds a depth to the view.
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, what your model number is (AutoStar operates with several different models of Meade telescopes) or if you are in a daylight savings time period. During the procedure, you are requested to enter this information.
Note: The "Telescope: Mount" option of the Setup menu is set to "Alt/Az" as the default alignment by the factory.The example presented in this section assumes that you are performing an alignment procedure for the first time with your telescope and therefore, the "Telescope: Mount" option does not need to be selected. Easy Alignment After you initialize the system, AutoStar displays “Easy Align.” The fastest and easiest way to start observing with AutoStar is with Easy Alignment.
NOTE: Keep in mind that when viewing through an eyepiece in the 90°eyepiece holder, images of terrestrial objects are right-side-up, but reversed left-forright. Normally, such an image orientation is not bothersome, unless trying to read a distant sign, for example. If you wish to use the telescope for terrestrial observation, use the eyepiece in the 45° prism. The image in this eyepiece will be correctly oriented. 4. Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then “Saturn” and a set of coordinates displays.
Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset Moon Phases Next Full Moon Next New Moon Next 1st Qtr Next 3rd Qtr Meteor Showers Quadrantids Lyrids Eta Aquarids Delta Aquarids Perseids Orionids Taurids Leonids Geminids Ursids Solar Eclipses Lunar Eclipses Autumn Equinox Vernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice Select Item: Event Fig. 21 The Complete AutoStar Menu Structure. Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Messier Etc.
AUTOSTAR OPERATION OBJECT Select from over 1400 database objects and press GO TO to move the telescope automatically to the object 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: Object Select Item: Setup UTILITIES Calculate eyepiece magnifications; set the timer for an observing session; or survey user landmarks in 30-second intervals.
To Calculate Sunset time: 1. Press the MODE key several times, until “Select Item: Object” is displayed. 2. 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.
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 19, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see TAKE A GUIDED TOUR, page 20. Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. An Autostar database is a list of viewable objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, and so forth.
Event Menu The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event database includes: Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun rises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See DATE, page 27. Moonrise and Moonset calculates the time that the Moon rises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See DATE, page 27.
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites. See OBSERVING SATELLITES, page 30. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or “Start/Stop." N Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. N 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.
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 25. Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate locations and events.
N Quiet Slew: Sets the maximum slew rate to 1.5° for quieter operation. N Max Elevation: Allows you to enter a value in degrees that sets a limit as to how far the optical tube can swing upward during a programmed slew. (Note that it does not prevent you from performing a manual slew past this limit.) This is useful when you have a camera or other peripheral attached to the telescope—you can prevent it from striking the telescope base. Min AOS (Acquisition of Signal): Allows you enter a value in degrees.
ADVANCED FEATURES Terrestrial Observing The ETX-80AT-BB makes an excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescope. 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 the MA 25mm eyepiece, magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. Therefore, low power eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image.
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. AutoStar provides a database of bright 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 ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE, page 19. 2 . Align to the first star. AutoStar then displays a database of stars for the observer to choose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star that you wish to align upon.
8. Use the Arrow keys to center the object in the eyepiece to view the object. Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade website (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information and instructions 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.
With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the eyepiece for the satellite to enter the field of view. 7. When the satellite enters the field of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts to track with the satellite. instrument. LPI (Fig. 26) and Deep Sky Imager (Fig. 27) combine the power of an electronic astronomical imager with the simplicity of a web cam. Check out the following imager features: 6.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories are available for the ETX-80AT-BB. Meade accessories greatly extend many important applications to the telescope, from lowpower, 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.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING General Maintenance The ETX-80AT-BB telescope is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime 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.
Troubleshooting The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the ETX-80AT-BB. The power indicator light on the telescope does not come on or there is no response when 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 (8, Fig. 5) is firmly connected to the HBX port (10a, Fig. 1). • Verify that the batteries are installed correctly and that they have sufficient charge.
Meade Customer Service If you have a question concerning your ETX-80AT-BB, contact the Meade Instruments Customer Service Department at: Telephone: (800) 626-3233 Customer Service hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
AutoStar Specifications Processor ................................................................................68HC11, 8MHz Flash Memory ................................................................512KB, reloadable Keypad ............................................................................10 key alphanumeric Display ............................................................................2 line, 16 character LCD Backlight ....................................................................
APPENDIX A: 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 coordinates in the "User: Objects" option of AutoStar's Object menu and then automatically slews the telescope to the user-entered coordinates.
APPENDIX B: HELPFUL CHARTS Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World 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 the procedure below: Northern Hemisphere observers (N): If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) North of the listed city, add one degree for every 70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city, subtract one degree per 70 miles.
APPENDIX C: 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 this exer- cise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy. 1 2 Verify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete.
APPENDIX D: BASIC ASTRONOMY In the early 17th century, Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably smaller than the ETX-80AT-BB, 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 the way mankind thought of the universe.
Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the ETX-80AT-BB. 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.
MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“Meade”) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A. and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase.
