It's easy to carry, so you can take the Meade ETX-60AT to a distant mountaintop or to your own back yard. It only needs a quick 60-second alignment for setup. This telescope includes an Autostar hand controller that permits the automatic location of over 1,400 celestial objects.
Telescope style | optical telescope |
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Website | www.meade.com/products/telescopes/etx.html |
The ETX ('Everybody's Telescope') is a line of smaller aperture telescopes (60mm to 125mm) made by Meade Instruments.
- 2Model variations
Origins[edit]
The ETX started out as a 90 mm (3-1/2') Maksutov Cassegrain telescope (first produced in 1996) and took advantage of high volume mass production and simplified optical and parts construction to open a new market for a cheap alternative to the very expensive Questar 3-1/2 Maksutov Cassegrain[1][2] The ETX 'line' has been expanded to 105 mm, and 125 mm Maksutov Cassegrains and achromaticrefracting telescopes in sizes of 60 mm and 70 mm, but these two models were later replaced by an 80 mm model. The line has come to take advantage of 'goto' telescope mount technology, making it very popular with amateur astronomers.[1]
Model variations[edit]
Maksutov-Cassegrain[edit]
The original 1996 model, now referred to as the 'RA' or 'classic' model, had a clockwork mechanism to track movement of the earth with an equatorial wedge, but it cannot be retrofitted for computer control. Also included were tabletop tripod legs similar to the Questar.
In January 1999, Meade introduced the ETX-EC which included electronic control of both axis through a small hand-controller. An optional #497 Autostar package was offered and would replace the simple electric controls, turning the ETX-EC into a fully computerized 'goto' telescope. A 'standard' #883 tripod was available as an optional accessory.
Not officially a new model but rather a package (which eventually became standard), the 'AT' package included an ETX-EC telescope bundled with the #497 Autostar controller and a stronger 'deluxe' #884 tripod.
Meade's UHTC (Ultra High Transmission Coating) treatment was first offered as an option on 'EC' model telescopes (part of the 'AT' bundle) in 2002. This coating improves light transmission by about 15%.
In October 2004, Meade announced the new ETX-PE or Premier Edition. The small right-angle finder scope was replaced on these models by a LNT (Level North Technology) module which included a level sensor, a magnetic north sensor, accelerometer, real-time clock and a frameless red-dot viewfinder. UHTC was still offered as an option. Also bundled was the PC interface cable. These Premier Edition telescopes had an image of the North American (ETX125) or Orion (ETX90) Nebulae printed on the optical tube. These scopes were assembled in Meade's new facility located in Mexico.
Final versions of the ETX-PE (after January 2007) used a revised (framed viewfinder) LNT module and Autostar controller (#497ep), made the UHTC coatings standard and went back to blue optical tubes. The mounting points for the tabletop tripod were deleted as well. Production of these final versions was in China.
Retail price of the ETX telescope has been constantly going down since its original 1996 introduction while capabilities and included accessories have increased dramatically.
Production of the ETX 105 ended in November 2009 and the ETX 125 followed suit in October 2011.
The ETX 90 and ETX 125 Observer telescopes returned with many upgrades in 2016 continuing the legacy of the ETX series for years to come.
Achromatic Refractors[edit]
Meade ETX-70AT, 70/350mm achromatic refractor.
In 2000, Meade added small 60mm and 70mm achromatic refractors to its ETX line. They were mounted on a dual fork mount similar to the larger models and included computer controls in the form of the #494 autostar.
At the time of introduction, they were some of the least expensive 'goto' telescopes on the market.
Both models were replaced later by a single 80mm F/5 model.
Schmidt-Cassegrain[edit]
In 2009, Meade introduced the ETX-LS, a 150mm (6 in) F/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain or ACF telescope on a very different single-fork arm. The LS include the Autostar III controller with over 100,000 objects in its database. It has a built-in CCD imager (E.C.L.P.S.) and a mini SD card reader for astrophotography. It includes audio and video descriptions of several hundred targets
An 8' version of the LS scope is also available, also F/10
References[edit]
- ^ abRod Mollise (2006). The Urban Astronomer's Guide: A Walking Tour of the Cosmos for City Sky Watchers. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 31. ISBN978-1-84628-217-1.
- ^'Using the Meade ETX' by Mike Weasner, page 1
External links[edit]
- Mighty ETX Comprehensive fan site.
- Meade UHTC optics Explanation by Meade Corporation.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meade_ETX_telescope&oldid=893748838'
Product Information
- For the avid stargazer or amateur astronomer, common planets, stars, and constellations such as Orion are like old friends in the night sky. Don't settle for viewing them with the naked eye or the minor magnification of binoculars. Take a close-up look at all of the celestial features you've been missing out on with the Meade ETX-60 AT refractor telescope. Designed with the novice astronomy buff in mind, Meade ETX-60 telescopes have stunning optics and serve up sharp images of objects in space. The compact size of this 60mm f/5.8 achromatic refraction-type telescope means that it is easy to pack and take with you to various viewing locations. With a powerful 39x magnifying capability, you'll feel as if you are tethered to the International Space Station rather than standing in your own back yard. This wide-field, deep-sky telescope returns crystal clear images with either 90-degree or straight-through observation positions. The eyepiece can be replaced with specialty eyepieces, such as a Barlow lens, for specific viewing purposes. The variable focal length allows the telescope to focus on terrestrial objects as well as those light years away. Satisfy your astronomical curiosities with the Meade ETX-60AT refractor telescope. Setup is a breeze for the ETX-60AT. Once out of the box, simply install one of two high-quality eyepieces and six AA batteries for a whopping 20 hours of use. The Meade ETX can be used either on a tabletop or with accessories such as a tripod mount. Designed with budding astronomers in mind, the Meade telescope is easy to use as well. Set your site location by selecting a city from the given list. Once outdoors, the scope can be aligned by one of three methods. Beginners may prefer the Easy Align feature, which uses the telescope's computer to choose two stars to align itself with and make automatic adjustments. More experienced stargazers may prefer the One Star Align or Two Star Align features, in which the user manually chooses which stars and other objects to view. Consult the user manual for easy-to-follow instructions. Once aligned, the Meade ETX will automatically bring any of the 1,400 pre-programmed stellar objects into view with the push of a few cursor buttons on the attached electronic hand controller. Whether you are searching the sky for Jupiter, Orion, or Aldebaran, the Meade ETX will auto rotate and find the object for you. The ETX-60AT is compatible with most Autostar computer software accessories via a serial interface adapter. These accessories include Starry Night, Deepsky 2000, and Skymap. Updates on the positions of moving objects such as satellites and comets, as well as the locations of newly discovered objects, can be downloaded when the telescope is connected to your personal PC. The Autostar program will also provide important astronomy information about the objects being viewed, including their age, distance from Earth, and spectral types.Smaller than many similar telescopes, the Meade ETX-60 has dimensions of 21.2 inches by 13.2 inches by 7.6 inches and weighs 10.2 pounds. These telescopes can be used with computers and a variety of available accessories, including eyepieces and tripods.
Product Identifiers
- Meade
- 0605-04-21
- 0709942350005, 0709942990249, 0709942350029
- ETX-60 AT
- 54822771
Product Key Features
- Altazimuth
- Refractor
Additional Product Features
- X 36.1
- 13.8in. (350mm)