Meade ETX User Manual

Meade Instruments Corporation

6001 OAK CANYON, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92620-4205 n (949) 451-l 450 FAX: (949) 451-1460 n www.meade.com

Operating Instructions

Meade@

ETX Field Tripod

For Use With the ETX Astro Telescope

Fig. 1: ETX Field Tripod. (1) Mounting Slots; (2) Mounting Plate; (3)

Latijude

Scale; (4) Fine Latitude Adjustment Knob; (5) Height Adjustment Knob; (6) Accessory Tray; (7) Extension Strut System;

(6)

North-Pointing Tripod Leg (marked

19)

Fine Azimuth Adjustment Knobs; (10) Latitude Lock Knob:

(11)

Latitude Lock Lever

(opposite side).

“N”

at position of arrow);

Attaching the Accessory Tray:

(6),

Remove the round accessory tray shipping box. Remove the black, star-shaped lock knob from the threaded rod on the bottom of the accessory tray.

Attach the tray to the tripod by inserting the threaded rod through the central hub of the extension strut

Rethread the lock knob onto the accessory tray.

Varying the Tripod Height:

Loosen the black, star-shaped height adjustment knob

Fig. 1,

at the base of each tripod leg.

Slide

the three top tripod leg sections to the desired height.

Tighten the three height adjustment knobs,

“firm

feel”. Do not overtighten.

Collapsing the Tripod for Storage:

Remove the accessory tray Grasp the top of the tripod other hand, pull up on the central hub of the extension strut

(7)

This action will cause the tripod legs to move inward to a collapsed position.

Important Notes on using ETX Field Tripod:

Remove the accessory tray before attempting to collapse

Fig. 1, where the accessory tray was attached.

the tripod. If the tripod does not extend or collapse easily, do not

force the tripod legs in or out. By following the above instructions the tripod tripod into an incorrect position may damage the extension strut system.

Do not overtighten the three star-shaped height adjustment knobs on the tripod legs.

(6),

wrth

will

function properly. Forcing the

“Firm feel” tightening is sufficient.

Fig. 1, from the

(5)

Fig. 1, from the tripod.

one hand, and with the

(7) Fig.

(5)

Fig. 1, to a

PARTS LISTING AND ASSEMBLY

When opening the packing box for the first time, note carefully the following parts included with the ETX Field Tripod:

Tripod

2 Attachment Knobs

- Accessory

1. Preparing the Tripod For Use

The ETX Field Tripod (Fig. 1) is simple to set up and easy to use. Users need only attach the accessory tray and adjust the

tripod to the

Extending the Tripod:

Remove the tripod from the upright. Grasp two of the tripod legs, leaving the full weight of the tripod on the third leg. Gently pull the legs apart to a full open

Tray

desrred

observtng

posltion.

hetght.

shtpptng

box and stand it

Attaching the ETX Astro Telescope to the Tripod

Confirm that the latitude lock lever

locked posltlon by rotating the lever clockwlse

Also

confrrm

that the N/S

Astro Telescope IS set for the correct hemsphere

In the side of the ETX drive base, locate the two attachment holes,

Fig. 2. (These holes are normally used with the fixed legs of the table tripod.) Position the ETX on the Field

Tripod

so that the

attachment holes.

Then, align the two holes in the base of the ETX with the

mounting slots

(1)

swatch

“N”

Fig. 2: ETX

Fig. 1, on the mount plate

(11) Fig. 1, is in the

on the base of the ETX

Drove

Base,

(2)

untrl trght.

showmg

Fig. 1.

Note:

d. Thread the two provided

knobs through the mounting slots into the ETX base. Tighten to a firm feel only. Do

l/4-20

threaded attachment

not

overtighten or damage

to the threads may occur.

The ETX Astro Telescope can be used for land or celestial

observing.

required, along with the motor drive system of the ETX. (See the Motor Drive section of the ETX instruction manual.)

To track celestial objects, polar alignment is

POLAR ALIGNMENT

Polar alignment is the process of lining up the telescope’s polar axis with the North Celestial Pole (or South Celestial Pole if observing from the southern hemisphere).

With a polar aligned ETX, tracking celestial objects is possible

simply by turning on the drive motor in the base of the telescope. The motor counteracts Earth’s rotation, keeping objects in the field of view. Also, with a polar aligned telescope, the and R.A. setting circles may be used to locate faint objects directly from their catalogued coordinates.

ETX’s Dee

By following the procedures listed above, the ETX telescope is polar aligned for most celestial observing applications. See Figure 3. Approximate polar alignment is sufficient in the great majority of these applications. Do not

allow a time-consuming effort at precise polar alignment to interfere wifh your basic enjoyment of the telescope, as such

precise alignment is, in general, not reqtiired.

Using the North Star, Polaris, to find North aids in the polar alignment procedure. Polaris can be found in relation to the Big Dipper by projecting a line from the so-called “pointer stars” of the Big Dipper. For southern hemisphere alignment, locate south by using the faint star Sigma

Octans

(the South Star)

*...__b

*...“’

Cassiopeia

Fig. 4: Locating Polaris.

Using a Polar Aligned Telescope

Once the telescope is polar aligned, the ETX motor drive will keep a celestial object in the field of view of the telescope.

To center a celestial object within a polar aligned telescope, unlock the telescope (see the Locating Astronomical Objects section

Fig. 3. (left) The ETX Astro Telescope on

land

wewIng. (right)

wewng.

Polar Alignment Procedures

Make sure the ETX is firmly attached to the tripod, as described above In this

the

latitude

Step (a) below IS equrvalent to pointing the telescope’s polar

axls due north (or due south for observers in the southern

hemisphere). Step (b) IS equrvalent to

latitude angle equal to the latitude angle of your

location.

On top of one of the tripod legs, locate the letter

Fig. 1.

the entire telescope-and-tripod and onent the tripod

tf@

lea marked southern hemisphere (e.g., should

Determine the latitude of your observing

checking a road map, atlas, or refer to pages 12-13 of the

ETX manual. To set the latitude of the tripod to your

obseN!ng location, loosen the latitude lock knob

Fig. 1. Turn the fine latitude adjustment knob

clockwise or counterclockwise until the latitude pointer

Indicates the correct latitude on the latitude scale It may be necessary to loosen the lock nut on the fine

latitude adjustment knob movement of the mount to achieve the latitude of your location. Once the the lock nut until it is flush agamst the mount.

latitude lock knob

Note: The fine azimuth adjustment knobs

move the telescope horizontally without moving the tripod itself, may be used to aId m the alignment procedure.

The

polar-allgned

tnstruction

lock lever (11) Fig

This represents the north leg of the tnpod.

pornt

sheet, with

“N”

points due north. For observers In the

due south.

desrred

(lo),

Fig. 1, as well.

Field Tripod. ownted

ETX, ready for

latitude

lock knob (10) and

firmly locked

makrng

the telescope’s

Australra),

(4)

latitude has been set, tighten

the lea marked

Fig. 1, to allow enough

(9),

for

astronomlcal

obset-vmg

“N” (8)

Prck

locatron

(4)

Fig. 1,

(3)

Fig. 1.

Trghten

Fig. 7, which

“N”

(lo),

the

of the ETX instruction manual). Do not move the tripod or adjust the latitude angle when centering an object in the telescope, as this will destroy the polar alignment.

Once a celestial object has been centered in the

telescope, lock the

Locate the On/Off switch on the bottom of the ETX drive base and turn on the motor drive. The motor drive will

keep the celestial object within the telescope’s field of

view.

Note:

procedure, it may be necessary to use the R.A. and Slow Motion Controls to make minor adjustments to keep the celestial object in the field of view.

The motor drive disengages when the R.A. and

levers are unlocked and re-engages when the lock levers

are locked, making it possible for the motor drive to remain

on during the entire observing session.

At the end of an observing session, remember to turn off the motor drive.

Terrestrial Use of the Field Tripod

In land viewing applications, the three legs of the Field Tripod may be mounting, however, should be placed in a horizontal positron: (Fig. 3) by turning the fine latitude adjustment knob

to read

Fig.

1, to accomplish this adjustment. The should be turned off In terrestnal applications. telescope’s R.A. and horizontal and vertical.

If you have any questions regarding the use of the ETX Field

Tripod,

(949)

Depending on the accuracy of the alignment

posrtioned In

90”,

unlocking and

please call Meade Customer Service at

451-1450.

Dee

and R.A. lock levers of the

Dee

and R.A. lock levers.

Dee

lock

an arbitrary orientation. The telescope

re-lockrng

Dee

slow-motion controls for fine motion in

the latitude lock knob‘(lO),

ETX’s

(4) Frg. 1,

motor drive

Use the