Meade ETX 90AT UHTC Tripod , Autostar & Autostar Suite AE Discontinued - No Longer available

When the original ETX ® telescope was introduced in 1996, it quickly created a revolution in amateur astronomy. Here for the first time was a stunningly beautiful, ultraportable, and highly versatile telescope system of unprecedented optical resolution and performance. Within one year of its introduction the ETX became the largest-selling modern telescope in the world. The Meade ETX-90 AT model build on the original ETX concept to create the most advanced electronically-controlled telescopes — including optional automatic GO TO object-location with the Autostar ™ Computer Controller — ever produced in their price range. And yet without sacrificing any of the user-friendly features that started the ETX revolution.

Optical Systems: Manufactured entirely at the Meade Irvine, California, facility, ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes produce optical performance and resolution that equal or exceed any Maksutov optics of similar apertures ever manufactured at any price, past or present. Optics so high in contrast, image brightness, and resolution that ETX-90 AT models often out-perform many telescopes of larger apertures.

Fork Mounts with Standard-Equipment Dual-Axis Drive System and Autostar Electronic Controller: The fork mountings of ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain models include high-torque DC motors on both telescope axes, permitting electronic operation from the standard-equipment plug-in Auto Star hand controller. Use the pushbutton electronic controller at any of four dual-axis speeds: 8x sidereal for image centering in the main telescope at high power; 32x for image centering at lower powers or for pushbutton object-tracking in the altazimuth mode; 0.75°/second for image centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking; 5°/second for fast slewing across the sky. The observer can instantly select any of these speeds simply by depressing the SPEED button on the controller.

Altazimuth or Equatorial Operation: With the telescope placed in the altazimuth mode on a table, astronomical object-tracking may be accomplished from the directional pushbuttons of the hand controller. Fully automatic astronomical tracking in the altazimuth mode may be accomplished with the optional Autostar Computer Controller. Alternately, any ETX telescope may be mounted in the equatorial orientation, using either an optional Table Tripod or the Deluxe Field Tripod. In this latter case the telescope tracks celestial objects automatically at the sidereal rate.

Cordless Field Operation: The drive base of each telescope accepts eight (user-supplied) AA-batteries that power the telescope for more than 40 hours of normal usage, negating any requirement for an external power source in the field. Alternately, the telescope may be powered from an automobile cigarette lighter plug, using the optional #607 Power Cord.

Flip-Mirror System: Flip the internal, optical-flat mirror "up" for observing in the standard 90° position; flip the mirror "down" for terrestrial observing with the optional #932 45° Erecting Prism or for photography with the optional #64 T-Adapter.

Materials and Coatings: ETX optical systems include a Maksutov meniscus corrector lens of Grade-A BK7 optical glass. This lens is individually hand-figured by a Meade master optician to achieve an optical null in combination with the Pyrex primary mirror. High transmission magnesium fluoride (MgF2) coatings on both sides of the correcting lens, as well as aluminum/silicon monoxide coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors, are provided as standard equipment.

Easy Align™
Meade's ETX-AT with Easy Align. You just enter your time & location and use the included bubble level compass to level the telescope and point it North. The ETX-AT will then point to the first of two alignment stars. Use the red dot finder to center the alignment star in the eyepiece. It's that easy!

Standard Equipment: Meade ETX Astro Telescopes are supplied as complete instruments. Standard equipment includes a premium-grade Meade Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece for 48X with the ETX-90 AT.

#497 Autostar Computer Controller: One of the most important advances in telescope design in the past 25 years, the Autostar Computer Controller brings to the amateur astronomer features heretofore available only on much more expensive telescopes. With the #497 Autostar plugged into your ETX, finding any of more than 30,000 celestial objects stored in the Autostar database is as easy as pushing a button. Call up any database object, press GO TO, and watch as the telescope automatically moves to the object and places it in the telescopic field of view.

Optional Accessories: Optionally available eyepieces permit magnification ranges of from 31X to over 175X with the ETX-90 AT. Meade Super Plössls are excellent eyepieces with any ETX model, or use a Meade Super Wide 13.8mm, 18mm, or 24.5mm ocular for spectacular moderate-power, wide-angle observing. The #126 2x Barlow Lens, a special short-focus Barlow ideally suited to ETX systems, doubles the power of any eyepiece. For terrestrial photography or astrophotography of the Moon and planets, the #64 T-Adapter threads to the telescope's rear cell and, with the appropriate T-mount, accepts any 35mm camera with removable lens.