Home > Meade ETX90AT Telescope w/884 Tripod and Software Item

Meade ETX90AT Telescope w/884 Tripod and Software

RatingCustomer rating is 3 of 5
BrandMeade
SKU513952721
List Price$850.00
Special Price
Lowest New Price$499.00
Lowest Used Price$800.00
Features
  • Includes Autostar controller and deluxe field tripod
  • Cordless motor drive for fully automatic tracking
  • Equatorial fork mount, flip-mirror system
  • Maksutov meniscus corrector lens of Grade-A BK7 optical glass
  • Includes a Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl 26 millimeter eyepiece for 48 times magnification
Categories Catadioptric   80 to 90mm Aperture   Discover Holiday - Camera & Photo   Binoculars   Telescopes   90mm   Other Telescopes   Starter Telescopes   Meade ETX Series   All Telescopes   Street  

Description

Meade has created a revolution in amateur astronomy together with this stunningly stunning, ultraportable, and highly flexible telescope system together with pushbutton electronic control and exceptional optical resolution.
Amazon.com Review The Meade ETX90EC is a compact telescope together with outstanding optics, packaged together with a sturdy tripod and the remarkable Autostar computer control. Even though I own several telescopes and belong to an Astronomy club, the first night I took out the ETX, it showed me objects I'd never seen before. The ETX90EC is the computerized version of an reasonable Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope first introduced by Meade in 1996. Each reviewer since then has commented on the outstanding optics. How outstanding? When I presented a session on optical testing at my local Astronomy club, I delivered my ETX90 so this everyone could see what a "textbook" star test actually looks like.

What can you see together with an ETX90? You won't see the flag on the Moon, but you will see sharp, color free views of mountains and valleys, craters, and lava flows. The planets are in addition a delight. I'll never not recall seeing Saturn's rings together with my own eyes for the first time. Although you can see the rings of Saturn and the cloud bands of Jupiter together with the integrated 26mm Plossl eyepiece (concerning 48X magnification), you'll would like to enhance the magnification to get out extra detail. I locate this a magnification of concerning 100X is perfect on much nights. You can reach 100X by utilizing a Barlow Lens, I like the Celestron Ultima Barlow, or a smaller eyepiece such as the Celestron Omni Series 12.5mm . It's tempting to crank up the power to 200X or extra, but on much nights I didn't see any extra detail.

The Autostar controller makes it simple to locate 30,000 celestial objects.
As good as the optics are, however, the much amazing aspect of the ETX90EC is the Autostar computer. The ETX90EC together with Autostar was the first computerized "go-to" telescope for under a thousand dollars. While bright objects like the moon are simple to locate, the Autostar excels at finding the galaxies and star clusters this do space so fascinating. Maybe it's for the reason that I have fun together with computers anyway, but I found the Autostar simple to use. The owners manual instructs you to initiate the alignment by pointing the telescope North and tilting the telescope to altitude. I don't use a compass or a spirit altitude to do this, I just point the telescope at the North Star, Polaris, and lower the telescope 44 degrees utilizing the environment circles. This works for the reason that my home is near 44 degrees latitude. Don't recognize which star is Polaris? You'll would like some kind of star chart this identifies the stars by name, NightWatch by Terence Dickinson is one of my favorites.

Many of the excellent galaxies and star clusters were discovered by a French comet hunter named Charles Messier. These so-called "M" objects looked to Messier like comets in the small telescopes of his day. My first night together with the ETX, I switched on the "tour" mode. Afterwards looking at a few favorites, the cluster M52 came up on the Autostar. I pressed GO TO, and the telescope aimed itself at a cluster I hadn't looked at before. And darned if it didn't look just like a distant comet passing in front of a few small stars! I was so impressed, I purchased an ETX for my step-son who works for the Air Force.

It's only fair to warn you, however, this if you locate yourself enjoying astronomy, you may begin wanting a bigger telescope! --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

  • Outstanding optics
  • The Autostar computer locates objects and describes them for you
  • Small and effortlessly portable

Cons:

  • It's small--the only way to see extra detail is together with a bigger telescope
  • When utilizing small eyepieces, you might bump the finder scope together with your nose

Amazon.com Product Description This telescope consists of a free Autostar computer controller and deluxe field tripod together with this ETX-90EC--a value of $349. And together with the ETX-90EC, Meade delivers a serious telescope into the cost range of the casual consumer. The ETX-90EC Astro proposes extraordinary optics at an reasonable cost. It combines a high-resolution optical design and diffraction-limited imaging together with microprocessor-controlled, precise celestial-object tracking, all in a nicely styled, highly portable package. The Autostar controller turns the ETX-90EC into an automatic celestial-object locating system.

Catadioptrics
    This is a catadioptric telescope. Catadioptrics use an ingenious combination of mirrors and lenses to "fold" the light path into a amazingly compact tube. This type of design--which consists of Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes--proposes good value even while it scores high on the techno-geek meter.
   
  • Read extra concerning different telescope designs in our buying guide
  • Just plug the Autostar into the telescope's HBX port in situate of the standard-equipment electronic controller, do a fast telescope alignment, and you're ready to observe any object in the Autostar's 30,000-object database.

    The ETX-90EC in addition consists of high-torque DC motors on together telescope axes, permitting electronic operation from the handheld controller. This pushbutton electronic controller has four dual-axis drive speeds: slow, 8x for picture centering at high power; medium, 32x for picture centering at lower power or for pushbutton tracking in altazimuth mode; moderate, 0.75 degrees per second for picture centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking; and quick, 5 degrees per second for quick scanning across the sky.

    The Meade ETX-90EC is specially intended to be portable and used in the field. It proposes cordless operation, allowing you to use the telescope's dual-axis drive system for extra than 40 hours on eight AA batteries. At approximately 8 pounds, and 15 inches in length, it packs a lot of power into a compact unit.

    The ETX-90EC uses a 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design. Meade in addition uses EMC super-multicoatings on all optical surfaces to maximize light transmission throughout the corrector lens and reflectance from the primary and secondary mirrors. The flip-mirror system lets for 90-degree observation of land and sky objects, straight-throughout observation utilizing the optional 45-degree erecting prism, or photo-ready imaging utilizing the optional T-adapter and your own 35mm camera.

    The Nuts and Bolts

    1. Eyepiece
    2. Viewfinder
    3. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew - Tightens the eyepiece in situate.
    4. 90° Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece upright for simple viewing.
    5. Optical Tube - The main optical component this gathers the light from distant objects and delivers this light to a focus for examination together with the eyepiece.
    6. Vertical Lock - Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope.
    7. Fork Arms - Hold the optical tube in situate.
    8. Focus Knob - Moves the telescope’s optical tube in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise picture focus.
    9. Horizontal Lock - Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope.

    10. Computer Control Panel

    • A. ON/OFF Switch.
    • B. Auxiliary Ports - Offer connection for existing and future Meade accessories.
    • C. Handbox (HBX) Port - for the Electronic Controller or the optional Autostar handbox.
    • D. The 12v connector, intended to believe an external power source such as the optional AC Adapter or Power Wire.
    • E. LED power indicator light.

    11. Base Housing - Maintains the telescope for positioning on a flat, altitude surface, such as a tabletop or optional tripod.
    12. Holes for Optional Tripod - See your tripod’s instruction sheet for mounting information.
    13. Right Ascension (R.A.) Environment Circle.
    14. Flip-Mirror and Flip-Mirror Control Knobs - ETX telescopes contain an internal mirror. Together with the flipmirror control in the "up" position, light is diverted to the eyepiece. Together with the flipmirror control in the "down" position, as shown in Fig. 2b, light proceeds straight out the photo port for photography.
    15. Photo Port - Attach any 35mm camera together with a removable lens to this port utilizing an optional adapter.
    16. Declination Environment Circle (on left fork arm).
    17. Viewfinder Alignment Screws - change these screws to align the viewfinder.
    18. Viewfinder Alignment Bracket.
    19. Dust Cap
    20. Battery Compartment (not shown, beneath base).

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    Customer Reviews

    Customer rating is 1 of 5  Big Disapointment   2010-05-02
    By J. Bradley (Sedona, AZ)
    I ordered the EXT 90 AT on New Years day 2010 directly from Meade. I also ordered the tripod, AC and DC power adapters, the aluminum case and a set of extra lenses and filters. When it arrived about a week later, out of the box, the hand-held controller did not work at all. Because Meade can only be contacted by phone during weekday business hours, it took over a week to actually speak to a live body during the time I was not working. Eventually they did send me a controller and cord that worked. I had to return the bad one to them at my expense. As I work full time and also travel, I was not able to get outside to try it out until early March. I had watched the video several times as well as read the manual cover to cover to be sure I knew how to set it up so it could find the various objects. No matter how careful I was to follow the directions to set up and align it, it has never been able to find anything. When it starts skewing to find the first star in the menu, it just keeps going until it reaches the stops and the motor just keeps trying to skew but without moving the tube. I have called Meade for help and all they could/would say is to calibrate the drive motors. They gave me a specific page number in the manual that was supposed to describe this function. However, since I had to call them while I was at work, I did not have the manual with me. Sure enough, it was not in the manual where they said it was. I eventually found a reference to calibrating the motors, but there is no such option in the menu of the controller. While trying once again to align it, the gears in the the motor apparently stripped because it now makes a grinding noise while the motor runs but does not move the tube. My next step will be to try out Meade's one year warranty. To be continued.
    Customer rating is 1 of 5  After a year of owning it, pretty much nothing on this works   2008-02-16
    By Mary Jo Sminkey (Raleigh, NC USA)
    I was excited to get this telescope with the tripod and controller at a really good price brand new....but it's been a rocky experience and I would never recommend it to anyone else. I personally would not buy another Meade telescope no matter how good a deal I got. I've treated this thing very careful, it's never been moved from my home or mishandled, I've used it maybe a total of a dozen times or so, and yet hardly anything on it works properly at this point. The autostar doesn't work (seems to be some kind of hardware failure), the scope itself won't focus sharply (I assume it needs calibration but my attempts to do this haven't had much success), when I did have a working Autostar I found it near impossible to get it properly aligned and tracking correctly. There's virtually nothing about this scope that I have found easy or reliable, and I wish I'd saved up until I could afford something better. Trying to get support from Meade is next to impossible and repair costs are most likely going to be too large a percentage of the cost of the scope as to be worth paying. I'm hoping to maybe find an astronomy buff near me that might have more knowledge to get the thing working enough that I can actually use it.
    Customer rating is 5 of 5  a real husband-pleaser   2007-08-14
    By D. Tomaski (Jacksonville, FL)
    I'm totally unfamiliar with telescope technology, but I bought this for my husband, who isn't. He has been completely delighted. He watched the introductory DVD immediately (it is thorough and easily understood). This is one of the best gifts I've ever given him.
    Customer rating is 5 of 5  5 stars!   2004-12-04
    By Mary (USA)
    Okay, I know nothing about telescopes. But my husband and I bought this last summer because he thought it'd be fun to star gaze. When we did, it was truly one of the most wonderful experience ever! It allows you to observe celestial objects in brilliant resolution. It wasn't complicated and simple to use. But you do have to read the manual.

    I will recommend it for beginners.
    Customer rating is 4 of 5  Meade Does It Right   2004-02-29
    By Mark J. Sherbine (Hamilton, MT)
    The Meade ETX90EC lives up to its billing. It's a high-quality piece of gear that exudes craft and workmanship. The bundled package w/Autostar and Tripod gives you most of what you need. If you have any intent of doing terrestrial viewing, you should consider the 45 degree erecting prism. Also, the package does not come with any power adapters. If you plan to be out for a long evening of star gazing, you will probably want the adapter that lets you plug into a cigarette lighter. I wish Amazon had the UHTC version available, but no luck. Finally, I haven't been able to find the correct T-mount adapter for this scope on Amazon. I do want to use it for photography eventually. The main thing I would say is that this is not a toy, but it is ideal for beginners to intermediate enthusiasts. I've had more fun in just a couple sessions than I've ever had before.



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