Meade ETX-70AT Junior, Instruction Manual, Page: 41 / 313

ETX: Your personal Window to the Universe
The Meade ETX-70AT is extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes with features similar
to those once available only with larger and more specialized imaging systems. With pushbut-
ton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects, and software downloading capability, an
ETX telescope may be all the telescope ever required by many terrestrial and astronomical
observers.
Your ETX telescope reveals nature in an ever-expanding level of detail. Observe the feather
structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of
800 million miles. Focus beyond the Solar System and observe majestic nebulae, ancient star
clusters, remote galaxies, and even stars recently discovered to have planets orbiting about
them. Meade ETX telescopes are instruments fully capable of growing with your interest and
are ideal for both the casual observer and serious astronomer alike.
Eyepiece -
Place the MA 25mm eyepiece into the 90° Eyepiece Holder (
3, Fig. 1
) and tighten
in place with thumbscrew (
2, Fig.1
).
Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew
- Tightens the eyepiece in place. Tighten to a „firm feel“
only.
90° Eyepiece Holder
- Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing.
optical Tube
- The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and
brings this light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece.
Movable objective lens Cell
- This component contains the telescope’s lenses. The
focus knob (
8, Fig. 1
) moves the cell for precise image focus.
Vertical lock
- Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the
vertical lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated by
hand about the vertical axis. Turning the vertical lock clockwise (to a „firm feel“ only) pre -
vents the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the vertical motor drive for
Autostar operation.
Note: The vertical lock knob (6, Fig. 1) is a knurled knob located on the fork arm to
the right of the focus knob (
8, Fig. 1). Mounted beneath the knob is a circular scale
with no numbers. Do not confuse this scale with the Dec setting circle (
17, Fig. 1)
on the opposite fork arm which has a numbered scale used to locate astronomical
objects.
CAUtIoN: When loosening the vertical lock, be sure to support the objective lens
cell (
5, Fig. 1). The weight of the objective lens could cause the tube to swing
downward suddenly and damage the telescope.
Fork Arms
- Hold the optical tube in place.
Focus knob
- Moves the telescope’s objective lens (
5, Fig. 1
) 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, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects.
Horizontal lock
- Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Turning the
horizontal lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by
hand about the horizontal axis. Turning the horizontal lock clockwise prevents the tele-
scope from being rotated manually, but engages the horizontal motor drive for Autostar
operation.
CAUtIoN:
Using products other
than standard Meade
accessories may
cause damage to the
telescope’s internal
electronics and may
void the Meade war-
ranty.
Telescope Features 5