Your First Telescope

All of the major planets except Pluto are observable through the Meade ETX-70AT Telescope. Study Saturn and its ring system; the primary cloud belts of Jupiter as well as its four major satellites; the Moonlike phases of Mercury and Venus; prominent features on Mars; the starlike images of the distant planets Uranus and Neptune. The Moon stands out in stark, almost three-dimensional detail?craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines. In our galaxy, the telescope displays hundreds of nebulae, star clusters, double and multiple stars, and variable stars?plus dozens of external galaxies in all their variations of form and structure.

Features

• Terrestrial Observing - Sophisticated  Spotting Scope For On Earth Viewing

The Meade ETX-70AT makes an excellent land-view instrument for the bird watcher, the naturalist, or for the home with a view.

Image quality and resolution typically far exceed levels normally expected of terrestrial telescopes. Terrestrial observers quickly appreciate the advantages afforded by the Autostar computer controller. Many land objects can be easily followed, or tracked, from a distance, using one of nine selectable speeds from slow to fast.

• Advanced Optical Design

Achromatic Refractor - The ETX-70AT includes a multi-coated, achromatic objective lens of exclusive Meade design and manufactured of Grade-A crown and flint optical glass components. The lens yields razor-sharp images of astronomical and terrestrial subjects.

In the optical design of ETX-70AT, light enters from the right through a 2-element, air-spaced objective lens and travels to a focus at the focal plane. Field stops, internal to the optical tube, prevent off-axis light from reaching the focal plane, thereby enhancing image contrast.

• Fork Mount with Dual-Axis Drive System

In conjunction with the telescope's Autostar hand controller, precision worm gear systems on each axis permit smooth pushbutton motions of the telescope.

The telescope's control panel provides a central connection point for the hand controller, as well as for the RS-232 serial interface adapter. New or revised software may be downloaded through your PC to the telescope; the positions of Earth satellites may be updated for their observation through the telescope; and the positions of newly-discovered objects, such as comets, may be accessed by using the Autostar Computer.

• Flip-Mirror System

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

For terrestrial observing with the optional #933 45? Erecting Prism, Flip Mirror down.

For photography with 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, do a quick, easy 60-second alignment of the telescope's computer to the sky, and start observing. Six internal (user-supplied) AA-batteries power the ETX-70AT for over 20 hours in the field.

• #494 Autostar Computer Controller - "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 #494 Autostar computer controller permits the automatic location of over 1,400 celestial objects, including all of the following: Solar System Planets 8 Moon 1 Asteroids 26 Comets 15 Constellation 88 Deep Sky Named Objects 66 Galaxies 74 Diffuse Nebulae 31 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 1,471

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.

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 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.

• Includes Achromatic Refractor Optical Tube Assembly (D = 70mm, F = 350mm, f/5) with Multi-Layer Optical Coatings

• Internal flip-mirror system for either straight-through or 90? observing position

• Steel-reinforced ABS fork mount with electric slow-motion controls, setting circles, and locks on both axes; electronic control panel; 9-speed (2x sidereal through 4.5?/sec.) dual-axis motor drive system with #494 Autostar computer controller

• Sidereal-rate tracking

• Internal battery compartment accepting six (user-supplied) AA-size batteries

• MA9mm (39X) and MA25mm (14X) multi-coated eyepieces

• Operating instructions.

Specifications:

• Achromatic Refractor Optical Tube Assembly (D = 70mm, F = 350mm, f/5) with Multi-Layer Optical Coatings

• Includes achromatic refractor optical tube assembly (D = 70mm, F = 350mm, f/5) with multi-layer optical coatings

• internal flip-mirror system for either straight-through or 90? observing position

• steel-reinforced ABS fork mount with electric slow-motion controls, setting circles, and locks on both axes

• electronic control panel

• 9-speed (2x sidereal through 4.5?/sec.) dual-axis motor drive system with #494 Autostar computer controller

• Sidereal-rate tracking; internal battery compartment accepting six (user-supplied) AA-size batteries

• MA9mm (39X) and MA25mm (14X) multi-coated eyepieces; #882 Field Tripod; operating instructions.

ETX-70AT Order Menu

PRODUCT SEARCH | DIRECTORY | ORDER | WHAT'S NEW | CONTACT | SHIPPING | DEPT INDEX | $ CONVERT