Meade EXT90 User manual

Instruction Manual
ETX90 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes
with AutoStar #497 Hand Controller

WARNING!
Never use a Meade®ETX90
telescope to look at the Sun!
Looking at or near the Sun will cause
instant and irreversible damage to your
eye. Eye damage is often painless,
so there is no warning to the observer
that damage has occurred until it is
too late. Do not point the telescope at
or near the Sun. Do not look through
the telescope or Red Dot Finder as
it is moving. Children should always
have adult supervision while observing.
BATTERY SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:
• Always purchase the correct size and grade of battery:
6 x “AA-type” Alkaline batteries (ANSI 15A, 15AC/
IEC LR6).
• Always replace the whole set of batteries at one time,
taking care not to mix old and new ones, or batteries of
different types.
• Clean the battery contacts and also those of the device
prior to battery installation.
• Ensure the batteries are installed correctly with regard to
polarity (+ and -).
• Remove batteries from equipment which is not to be
used for an extended period of time.
• Remove used batteries promptly.
• Never attempt to recharge primary batteries as this may
cause leakage, re, or explosion.
• Never short-circuit batteries as this may lead to high
temperatures, leakage, or explosion.
• Never heat batteries in order to revive them.
• Remember to switch off devices after use.
• Keep batteries out of the reach of children; small
batteries may be ingested.
• Seek medical advice immediately if a battery has
been swallowed.
Caution: If batteries or parts are swallowed, see a
doctor immediately.

EventMenu...............................27
GlossaryMenu............................28
UtilitiesMenu..............................28
SetupMenu...............................29
Advanced AutoStar Features
Adding Observing Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Finding Objects Not In the Database . . . . . . . . . . .33
GoTo a User-entered Object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Observing Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
How to Create Your Own Guided Tour . . . . . . . . . .34
WritingaTour .............................35
Landmarks ...............................37
Identify . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Browse ..................................41
Maintenance
BasicMaintenance.........................42
Storage and Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
InspectingtheOptics........................42
TroubleShooting...........................43
Meade Customer Service
Howtogetincontact........................44
Appendix A:
TrainingtheDrive..........................45
Appendix B:
BasicAstronomy...........................46
Appendix C:
Specications .............................48
Appendix D:
Equatorial (Polar) Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Appendix E:
Latitude Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Appendix F:
Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System . . . . . . . . . .55
Appendix G:
Magnetic Declination - North America. . . . . . . . . . .56
Appendix H:
Magnetic Declination - the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Recycling:
Howtorecycle.............................58
Meade Warranty
One Year Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
® The name “Meade,” “AutoStar” and the Meade logo are
trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Ofce and in principal countries throughout the world. “Deep
Sky Imager”, “ETX90”, and “Tonight’s Best” are trademarks of
Meade Instruments Corp.
Patents:
US 7,277,223, US 7,079,317, US 7,092,156
US 6,304,376, US 6,369,942, US 6,392,799
© 2011 Meade Instruments Corp.
CONTENTS
Introduction
A solid telescope built for a lifetime of service. . . . . .4
Getting Started
Assembling and Using the ETX Telescope
AssemblingtheTripod........................5
Mounting the Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Installing the Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Attaching Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Your Telescope is now Fully Assembled . . . . . . . . . .7
Using the Red Dot Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Adjusting the Red Dot Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
AligningtheETX90..........................9
The ETX90 Home Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
FindingTrueNorth ..........................9
Moving Through AutoStar’s Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Initializing AutoStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Easy (Two-Star) Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
How to Perform the Easy Align Procedure . . . . . . . 11
GoToSaturn..............................12
Using the Guided Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
ETX90 Key Features
Telescope
Key Features Identied on the Telescope ........13
Key Features Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Optional MEADE® Accessories
ChoosingEyepieces........................17
Meade Series 4000 Super Plössl Eyepieces . . . . .17
Meade Series 5000 Premium Eyepieces . . . . . . . .18
PowerSupplies............................19
Related Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
AutoStar #497 Handbox – Basic Usage
Buttons, Display and their functions . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Observing Using AutoStar’s’ Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
ObservetheMoon..........................23
Terrestrial Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
ETX90 Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
AutoStar Operation
AutoStar Navigation Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Entering Data into AutoStar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
GuidedTourMenu..........................25
ObjectMenu..............................25
#497 AutoStar Menu Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

INTRODUCTION
The ETX90 Telescope
An advanced, computer-controlled telescope system
Congratulations on receiving your new ETX90 telescope. You’ll nd that this telescope system has all you need
to explore the Universe we live in. Meade’s concept was to create a telescope that would be simple enough for
anyone to use, yet capable enough for the experienced amateur to stretch their knowledge and skills. With the
ETX’s’ advanced set of features, you will have plenty of room to learn and expand your interest in astronomy and
not out grow your telescope. Here are a few of the features that set the Meade ETX90 telescope system apart
from all others.
Optics: ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes produce superlative, diffraction-limited optical performance
and resolution. Optics so high in contrast, image brightness, and resolution that the ETX90 optical
system often outperforms many telescopes of larger apertures.
Mechanics: Fork Mounts with standard-equipment dual-axis drive system and #497 AutoStar Controller. The
rigid fork mountings of the ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope include high-torque DC motors on
both telescope axes.
Computer: The AutoStar #497 handbox gives you complete control of your ETX90 system from the palm of
your hand. With a database of over 30,000 objects, you will never run out of things to explore. With
the telescope placed in the altazimuth mode, astronomical object-tracking may be accomplished
automatically, after a quick and easy 2-minute alignment on the night sky.
If you are like us, you can’t wait to get outside under a dark sky to try out your new ETX90 telescope. We have
provided a Getting Started Guide that will get you up and running in the shortest amount of time possible. After
your rst experience, please sit down with this manual and read about all the advanced features that are available
to you with this telescope system. We are condent that the ETX90 will keep you fascinated with the Universe and
entertained for many years to come.
Clear Skies,
The people at Meade
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
4

INTRODUCTION
3 Loosen lock knobs on each leg (three total)
near the foot of each tripod leg. Use the lock knobs
to vary the height of the inner, extendible tripod leg
sections. Tighten the locks to a rm feel only; do
not overtighten.
4 Remove the end nut from the spreader shaft
and slide the spreader in between the telescope
legs. Attach the end nut and hand tighten until the
telescope legs are held snuggly in the most spread
position. Position the tripod where you want the
telescope to be and check that the top of the tripod is
approximately level. Use the included bubble level/
compass to level the tripod head.
GETTING STARTED
You may want to perform the ETX telescope assembly indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the
parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing. Just follow the simple steps
below and you will be up and running before you know it.
1 It is best to set up the telescope in twilight or before
sunset the rst time you use it. Take the telescope and
tripod outside. Set the telescope in a large open area
where you can see lots of sky. Don’t setup right next
to a building or a wall. Make sure the ground is stable
and is approximately level. It is best to set up the scope
away from bright nighttime lighting. Bright lights will
spoil your night vision and impede your ability to see
the sky.
Assembling the Tripod
2 Remove the eld tripod from the shipping carton.
Stand the tripod vertically with the tripod feet down
and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Grasp two of
the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod
on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully
open position.
Spreader Shaft
Spreader Bar
End Nut
Lock Knob
GETTING STARTED
5

Mounting the Telescope
5 On the tripod, loosen the latitude control knob
and lift up the tilt-plate so that you can easily access
the underside of the plate. Relock the latitude control
knob, so the assembly doesn’t slip while you are
attaching the telescope.
Take the ETX90 from its packaging and line up the
mounting holes on the base of the telescope with the
tripod attachment knobs. Thread both attachment
knobs into the base of the telescope. Tighten to a rm
feel only.
Unlock the latitude
control knob and
lower the tilt-plate
until it is level (push
the tilt-plate down
until it stops; this is
the level position).
Lock the latitude
control knob.
Installing the Batteries
6 Lift the battery cover. Gently remove the battery
holder from the compartment so you don’t accidentally
pull out the wires attached to the holder. Insert 6 user-
supplied “AA” batteries in the holder. Refer to the
diagram on the holder to orient the batteries properly.
Replace the holder back into the battery compartment
and replace the lid.
CAUTION: Use care to install batteries as indicated by
the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturer’s
precautions. Do not install batteries backwards or mix
new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If
these precautions are not followed, batteries may
explode, catch re, or leak. Improperly installed
batteries void your Meade warranty. Always remove
the batteries if they will not be used for a long period
of time.
Secure Vertical and Horizontal Locks
7 Tighten (to a “rm feel” only, do not overtighten)
the vertical lock (6) and the horizontal lock (9). See
pages 13-16 for more information.
GETTING STARTED
Thumb-Screws
Align
Align
Follow the battery
polarity (orientation)
as indicated by the
molded icons
Vertical Lock
Horizontal Lock
GETTING STARTED
6
Latitude control knob

GETTING STARTED
Your Telescope is now Fully Assembled
 Now remove the dust cover from the front
of the telescope tube. Be careful not to touch the
glass lens.
 Flip the Power Switch on the computer control
panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights
on AutoStar’s LCD display.
 “Press 0 to align or Mode for Menu” displays. You
can use the Arrow keys to slew (move) the telescope
up, down, right, or left. To change the telescope’s slew
speed, press a Number key. “9” is the fastest speed
and “1” is the slowest speed. See page 20 for more
details. Or you can Press “0” to begin Easy Alignment.
See page 11 for more information.
Attaching Accessories
8 Be sure the telescope master power switch is
in the off position. Remove the ETX90 handbox and
the coiled interface cable from the packing materials.
Plug one end into the HBX port of the control panel
and plug the other end into the Handbox port on the
ETX90 handbox.
9 Place the 26mm eyepiece into the eyepiece
holder on the telescope and tighten the attachment
thumbscrew to a “rm feel” only.
Slide the Red Dot Viewnder into the slotted holder on
the top surface telescope and tighten the attachment
thumbscrew to a “rm feel” only.
Arrow
Keys
Number
Keys
Slew Speeds:
Speed 9: Fast
.
.
.
Speed 5: Medium
.
.
.
Speed 1: Slow
GETTING STARTED
7

Adjusting the Red Dot Finder
Now, without moving the telescope, adjust the indicated
thumb screws until you have put the red dot on the
object at which you were looking. It’s that simple.
Now use the hand controller to put the laser dot on a
new target. Check to see that the desired target is in
the eyepiece and adjust the focus knob until the object
is in focus.
NOTE: Be sure to turn off red dot when not in use.
Using the Red Dot Finder
Because your telescope has so much magnication,
its eld of view is very small. This can make it
hard to know exactly where your telescope is
pointing by simply looking at it. To help you point
the telescope quickly and accurately, for terrestrial
targets or GO TO pointing, the ETX90 has a 1X
Red Dot Viewnder.
TheRed Dot Finderwillaid you in pointingyour telescope
easily. It works much like a ghter pilot’s heads-up
display. To turn on the Red Dot Finder, carefully rotate
the power switch until you feel it click on. Turning further
clockwise will increase the dot brightness. Adjust the
dot to the minimum brightness where it can be easily
seen. This will extend its battery life and make it easier
to see faint stars in the background.
Look through the nder’s glass window. You will see a
red dot superimposed on your view. Using the direction
keys on the handbox, move the telescope until the red
dot is on the target you want to view in the eyepiece.
As you get close to your target, select a moderately
low speed, like speed 5, and move the scope to center
your target as you look through the telescope eyepiece.
This a great way to get used to nding the movement
keys without removing your eye from the eyepiece.
On/Off &
Brightness
Adjustment
Adjustment
Screws
Focus Knob
GETTING STARTED
GETTING STARTED
8

GETTING STARTED
still level, rotate it so that it points in the direction of the
North Star. Lock the horizontal lock. The tube is pointing
True North and now in the Alt/Az home position.
Method #2: Finding True North using a compass
adjusted for local declination: True North and
Magnetic North differ and will vary from location to
location. In order to correctly compensate for these
differences you will need to know the declination based
on you location. Find your location on the declination
map of North America on page 56, Appendix G, or the
world map on page 57, Appendix H. Notice the curved
contour lines that are referenced with plus (+) and
minus (-) values.
Notice the thicker line in the middle of the map that has
a value of zero. Along this line, Magnetic North will point
to True North; no compensation will be necessary.
Most of us are not so lucky and will have to compensate
using the declination value for our location. For those
of you that live on the left side of the thicker zero (0)
value line your declination values will have positive (+)
values and said to be East Declination. Those of you
located to the right will have negative (-) values and
said to be West Declination.
For example if you were located in San Francisco, your
East Declination value would be about 14 1/2 (San
Francisco is located between the 14 and 15 lines). Using
this value, Magnetic North would be 14 1/2 degrees
East of True North and you would align your telescope
tube along this line. Use the AutoStar left arrow slew
button to rotate the telescope counterclockwise until
the compass needle is on the 14 1/2 line.
If you were located in New York City, your West
Declination value would be about -13. Using this value,
Magnetic North would be minus (-) 13 degrees West of
True North or 347° (360° - 17° = 347°) and you would
align your telescope tube along this line. Using the
AutoStar right arrow slew button to rotate the telescope
clockwise until the compass is ont eh 13° line. Lock the
Aligning the ETX90
To automatically track and locate objects in the night
sky, the ETX90 must rst be aligned on the sky. It is
best to set up the telescope in twilight or before sunset
the rst time you use the ETX90. Setup the telescope
in a large open area where you can see lots of the night
sky. Make sure the ground is stable and approximately
level. It is best to setup the scope away from bright
nighttime lighting. Bright lights will spoil your night
vision and impede you ability to see the sky.
The ETX “Alt/Az” Home Position
Once the ETX90 is fully assembled, you will rst need
to initialize AutoStar, set the telescope into the home
position, and perform the Easy Alignment in order for
the ETX90 to successfully locate celestial objects.
The home position for the ETX90 is with the telescope
optical tube level and pointed in the direction of True
North. See Figure 1. Correct telescope placement
in the home position will ensure the successful
location of the alignment stars.
Finding True North
Method #1: Finding True North using the North
Star (Polaris): To nd True North, insert the bubble
level/compass into they eyepiece holder and point
the telescope tube towards Magnetic North. See the
"Locating Polaris" diagram below, which directs you
to the North Star (Polaris). Looking towards Magnetic
North locate the Big Dipper; follow the two stars in the
bowl of the Big Dipper to the North Star. With the tube Compass
needle is
pointing to
Magnetic
North
Bubble is
centered
Figure 2: Bubble Level/Compass
ALIGNING THE ETX90
9
Polaris
Little Dipper
Big Dipper Cassiopeia
Locating Polaris
Telescope
Tube is level
True
North
Figure 1: Alt/Az Home Position

horizontal lock. The tube is pointing True North and
now in the Alt/Az home position.
Moving Through AutoStar’s Menus
The AutoStar database is organized in levels for quick
and easy navigation.
• Press ENTER to go deeper into AutoStar’s
menu levels.
• Press MODE to move back toward the top
menu level.
• Press the Scroll keys to move up and down
through the options available for each level.
• Press the Arrow keys to enter characters and
digits.
The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope.
Initializing AutoStar
This section describes how to initialize AutoStar.
Perform this procedure the rst time you use AutoStar
or after performing a RESET (see “RESET” page 31).
1. Verify that AutoStar is properly connected to
your telescope. See “Getting Started” page 7.
2. Turn the telescope power switch to the ON
position.
The AutoStar beeps and the display screen is
activated. Then AutoStar takes a few moments
to start up the system.
3. “Press 0 to Align or Mode for Menu” displays.
Press 0 to align your telescope using the “Easy
Align” method, see “Easy (Two-Star) Align” on
page 11. To skip the alignment process and
access the AutoStar menus, press the Mode
key.
4. The telescope then tests the motor function of
the telescope by moving in the horizontal and
vertical directions.
5. Set Your Location or Zip Code: The Location
screen displays. This screen asks you if you
wish to choose either the zip code of your
observing location or the location (i.e., entering
the city and state or country of your observing
location). Press “1” to select the zip code option
or “2” to enter the city and state.
Note: The location settings (country/state/province
and city, or zip code) are only asked for the rst
time you turn on the control panel. If you wish to
change this setting later on, use the Site menu.
See SITE, page 32 for more information.
a. If you chose the zip code option, the left most
“0” is highlighted. Use the Number keys to enter
the digits. As you enter a digit, the next digit to
the right will be highlighted. Enter the next digit.
Repeat this process until all 5 digits of your zip
code are entered. Press ENTER.
b. If you chose the location option, the next screen
asks for the country or state/province (listed
alphabetically) of the observing site.
i. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
of countries, states, and provinces. Press
ENTER when the correct location displays.
ii. The next screen asks for the city (listed
alphabetically) closest to the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list
of cities. Press ENTER when the correct
city appears on screen.
6. The next screen requests the status of Daylight
Savings Time. If Daylight Savings Time is
active, press the “1” key. If Daylight Savings
Time is not active, press the “2” key.
Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred
to by a different name in various areas of the
world.
7. AutoStar then asks for the Telescope Model.
Using the scroll keys (Pg. 20, Fig. 10, 7) on the
AutoStar locate the model of your telescope
and press enter.
8. System initialization is now complete and
AutoStar enters into the Easy Alignment
routine. See “Easy (Two-Star) Alignment” for
performing an alignment on the night sky. If you
do not wish to begin an alignment on the night
sky, press the MODE key to exit to the main
AutoStar menu.
Easy (Two-Star) Align
The fastest and easiest way to locate objects with
Autostar’s GO TO capabilities is to use Easy Align.
ALIGNING THE ETX90
10