Instructions / Assembly

16
1. Focus knob: Moves the telescope’s front lens in a
nely-controlled motion to achieve precise image
focus. The ETX 80 telescope can be focused on
objects from a distance of about 15 ft to innity.
Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on
distant object. Meade makes a complete line of
accessories to enable you to get the most fun
and performance from your ETX telescope. No
matter what you want to accomplish, we have the
equipment to help you get there.
2. Rear photo port: Attach any 35mm camera with
a removable lens to this port using an optional
#64 ST T-Adapter or attach the #933 45° Erecting
Prism for correctly oriented images through the
eyepiece. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page
44.
3. Eyepiece holder: Holds the eyepiece upright for
easy viewing.
4. Eyepiece: Place the supplied 26mm eyepiece into
the 90° Eyepiece Holder (Pg 14, Fig. 5, 3) and
tighten in place with thumbscrew (Pg 14, Fig. 5,
6). Change the eyepiece to a lower focal length
eyepiece and zoom in on your target.
5. Red dot viewnder: Provides an easier way to
locate objects than in the main telescope eyepiece
which has a narrower eld of view.
5a. Red dot viewnder On/off switch: Turn the
knob located underneath the viewnder lens to
turn on/off the red dot and change the intensity
of the dot. (Note: Be sure to turn off the red dot
when not in use.)
5b. Red dot viewnder adjustment knobs: Use
these adjustment knobs to align the red dot
viewnder to the ETX optical tube. Locate an
object in the telescope eyepiece and use these
adjustment knobs to move the red dot until its
over the same object.
6. Eyepiece holder thumbscrew: Locks the
eyepiece in place. Insert the eyepiece in the
eyepiece holder and tighten this screw until rm.
7. Red dot viewnder thumbscrew: Locks the
viewnder in place. Insert the red dot viewnder
in its mounting bracket and tighten this screw until
rm.
8. 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.
9. Dust Cover: Unthread the dust cover counter-
clockwise from the front lens of the telescope
before observing.
10. Vertical lock knob: 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 rm feel only) prevents the telescope from being
moved manually, but engages the vertical motor
drive clutch for AudioStar operation. When polar
aligned, the vertical lock serves as the Declination
or Dec. lock.
Note: The vertical lock knob is a knurled knob
located on the fork arm to the right of the focus
knob (Pg 15, Fig. 6, 13). Mounted beneath the
knob is a circular scale without numbers. Do not
confuse this scale with the Dec. setting circle
located on the opposite fork arm which has a
numbered scale used to locate astronomical
objects manually.
11. Fork arm: Holds the optical tube in place.
12. Computer control panel: (see Pg 15, Fig. 11).
12a. Handbox (HBX) port: Plug the AudioStar
handbox into this port.
12b. Power LED: The red power indicator light
illuminates when power is supplied to the
telescope’s motor drive.
12c. On/off switch: Turns the Computer Control
Panel and AudioStar handbox ON or OFF.
12d. Auxiliary (AUX) port: Provides connection
for current and future Meade accessories. See
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44.
12e. 9 volt power port: Designed to accept 9
to 12 volt external power including the Meade
#07584 12V AC adapter and LXPS power
supply. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES on
page 44.
ETX 80 KEY FEATURES