Using the Meade ETX

In 1996 Meade, the world's largest astronomical telescope manufacturer, introduced the ETX, a low-cost and genuinely portable instrument capable of results close to the theoretical limits of optical performance. Since then several different models have been introduced, most of them controlled by on-board computers that automatically point the telescope at objects selected from a database of 12,000. Unfortunately not all these objects are visible when looking through the ETX! (They are included because they can be imaged with special equipment.) Mike Weasner is a world expert on the ETX range, and describes the "best" 100 objects to start with, and offers hints and tips about using and looking after the telescope to get the best possible results.

The Meade ETX range of telescopes is the most stunningly successful ever for amateur astronomers. It is low-cost, has sold in its tens of thousands, and is available in almost every country of the world. Even the smallest computer-controlled ETX models (90mm) have a database of more than 12,000 objects to which the telescope can point automatically. Unfortunately not all these objects are actually visible to the eye when looking through the ETX! Mike Weasner is a world expert on the ETX range, and describes the "best" 100 objects to start with, along with lots of hints and tips about using and looking after the telescope, to get the best possible results. Every ETX owner - and anyone thinking of buying an ETX - will want this book.

1 ETX Basics.- Specifications.- ETX-90RA.- ETX-90EC.- ETX-125EC.- DS Models.- ETX-60AT, ETX-70AT.- LX90 8-inch.- Autostar.- Accessories.- Other Add-ons.- 2 ETX Hints and Tips.- Optical.- Mechanical.- Software.- Other.- 3 Observing Techniques.- Preparation.- Polar vs Alt/Az.- Locating Objects.- Things To Be Aware Of.- Recording What You See.- 4 Objects.- The Moon.- The Sun.- The Planets.- Asteroids.- Comets.- Meteors.- Stars.- Variable Stars.- Double Stars.- Star Clusters.- The Faint Fuzzy Blobs.- Galaxies.- Man-made Satellites.- Terrestrial (Spotting Scope).- 5 Photography.- 35mm Film.- Digital Camera.- Video.- CCD.- Improving the Photos.- 6 ETX Questions and Answers.- Purchasing a Used Telescope.- Telescope Maintenance.- High-Temperature.- Importance of Balance.- Seeing Conditions and Transparency.- Limiting Magnitude Charts.- House Party Observations.- Autostar Objects Database.- Autostar Alignment and High-Precision Use.- Tracking Satellites.- Autostar External Power Source.- Autostar and Drive Motor Failure.- Improving the Performance of your ETX.- Performance Enhancement - Creating the Perfect "GOTO" ETX.- Summary.- Appendix: Resources.- Books.- Magazines.- Web Sites.- Newsgroups.- User Groups and Clubs.- Dealers.- Computer Software.- Biographies.