Meade Instruments ETX-80AT-TC - Manual (Page 4)

4
QUICK-START GUIDE
Setting up the Tripod
1.
Open the tripod: Remove the tripod from the giftbox and
stand vertically. Gently pull the legs apart to a fully open
position. Turn the center tripod lock knob to secure and
stabilize the tripod. Tighten to a firm feel.
Caution: Make sure you loosen the tripod lock knob
before collapsing the tripod at the end of your
viewing session.
2. Loosen the vertical lock and move the optical tube down-
ward. Then, re-tighten the vertical lock.
3. Attach the telescope to the tripod: Line up the
mounting holes on the telescope with the mounting holes
on the base.
Reach underneath and thread the mount-
ing bolt through the tripod base and into the telescope
base. Tighten to a firm feel only, do not overtighten.
Note: If you wish to attach the accessory tray to the
tripod, see page 13 for more information. It is not
necessary to attach the tray for the quick start procedure.
4. Insert the eyepiece: Remove the supplied 25mm eye-
piece from its container and slide it into the eyepiece
holder. Tighten the thumbscrews to a firm feel only.
5. Remove the dust cover from the end of optical tube
assembly.
6. Use the focus knob to bring objects into focus. Your tel-
escope has a very precise focus control. You may need to
turn the focus knob 20 to 40 turns to focus your telescope
for the first time.
Always start observing using a low power eyepiece (such
as a 25mm or 26mm eyepiece) to get a nice wide field of
view. Later on you can change to high power, if so
desired. But high powered eyepieces have a much nar-
rower field of view and it’s more difficult to locate objects
using high powered eyepieces.
Connect the AutoStar Handbox
7.
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.
8. Make sure that the computer control panel power switch
is in the OFF position. Remove AutoStar from the packing
materials and plug it into the HBX port.
Flip the Power Switch on the computer control panel to
the ON position. The copyright message lights on
AutoStar’s LCD display.
9. Press the key prompted by AutoStar to accept the Sun
warning.
Step 1: Open tripod....and tighten lock ring.
Step 3: Attach telescope to tripod base using
mounting bolts.
Steps 4 and 6: Insert eyepiece and focus
telescope.
Step 2: Loosen vertical lock to move optical
tube.