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Meade AutoStar Computer

The AutoStar computer plugs into the 'HBX' port at the base of the Meade ETX-70AT Telescope and offers automatic tracking, automatic aiming of night sky objects and advance computer controlled tours of the night sky. Tour the Cosmos with just the push of a button.  Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of the #949 AutoStar's Buttons.

• 1,400 Objects Stored In A Built-In Database

• Automatically Moves Telescope to any of the database objects

• Guided Tours of best celestial objects to view on any night

• Download the latest satellite data and software revisions directly from Meade, online

• Share software with other Autostar enthusiasts Using the optional #506 Software & Cable Kit

• Access A Glossary of Astronomical Terms

• Caculate Which Eyepiece To Use For Optimum Viewing of a Celestial Object

• Mount Telescope in the "Alt/Az" mode for fully automatic tracking from Field Tripod

StarNavigator Astro Software - Limited Edition Astronomy Software

Starry Night Bundled Edition

Perfect for learning your way around the night sky.  With Starry Night Bundled Edition, one can view the sky on a PC display as it will appear from locations on Earth.  View the sky as it will be right now, or view the night sky of tomorrow, next month, next year, 500 years ago or the night you were born!  This program is a sky simulator. See in real-time the sky or have the complete freedom to enter a location on Earth and a time to view the sky as it would appear then.

Flip-Mirror System

For observing in the standard 90? position, flip the internal, optical flat mirror "up".

• For observing things on Earth (order the optional #933 '45? Erecting Prism) flip the mirror "down".

• For Telescopic Photography (order the optional #64ST T-Adapter) flip the mirror "down."

Ultra Portable and Simple to Use

Easy to carry to any observing location, whether a distant mountaintop or your own back yard, the Meade ETX-70AT telescope brings the excitement of astronomy to users of any age.   Just place the telescope on any flat surface (or use the standard-equipment field tripod), do a quick, easy alignment of the telescope's computer to the sky, and start observing.   Six internal AA-batteries power the ETX-70AT for about 20 hours.

Notice - This is a delicate Optical Instrument And You Must Use The Hard Carry Case When transporting the Telescope!

Autostar Hand Controller - "the greatest happening in amateur astronomy yet".   For all of their advanced imaging capabilities, portability, ease of use, and contemporary cosmetic design, Meade ETX telescopes are above all uniquely defined by the revolutionary Autostar hand controller.

Included as standard equipment with the ETX-70AT, the #494 Autostar controller permits the automatic location of over 1400 celestial objects, including all of the following objects located in the telescope's onboard database:

• Solar System:

  • Planets 8

  • Moon 1

  • Asteroids 26

  • Comets 15

  • Constellation 88

  • Deep-Sky

  • Named Objects 66

  • Galaxies 74

  • Diffuse Nebulae 31

  • Planetary Nebulae 19

  • Quasars 11

  • Caldwell Objects 109

  • Messier Objects 110

• Stars:

  • Named Stars 79

  • Double Stars 395

  • Variable Stars 189

  • SAO Stars 200

  • Earth Satellites 50

  • Total Objects 1471

Just enter the object you wish to observe on to the Autostar display, press GO TO, and watch as the telescope moves rapidly in seconds to place the object in the telescope's field of view. One observing session validates the prediction made by Sky & Telescope that "The ETX/Autostar concept will go down as the greatest happening in amateur astronomy yet."

Objects stored in the #494 Autostar's database include the entire range of celestial phenomena and are designed to keep the active observer busy for many a starlit evening.

The above database listing has been specifically chosen as suitable for observing with the ETX-70AT and provides an excellent introduction to the diversity of astronomical objects visible through the telescope.

In addition to its object-locating capabilities Autostar permits pushbutton centering of objects within the telescopic field at any of nine selectable speeds. Once Autostar locates an object, it directs the telescope automatically to track the object across the sky, compensating fully and precisely for the effects of the Earth's axial rotation.

Focus Knob

Moves the telescope?s objective lens in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus.

The ETX-70AT telescopes can be focused on objects from a distance of about 17 ft. to infinity.

Rotate the focus knob

• clockwise to focus on distant objects

• counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects