Meade ETX User's Manual
Contents
1. Attach the tray to the tripod by inserting the threaded rod through the central hub of the extension strut 7 Fig 1 Rethread the lock knob onto the accessory tray c Varying the Tripod Height Loosen the black star shaped height adjustment knob 5 Fig 1 at the base of each tripod leg Slidel the three top tripod leg sections to the desired height Tighten the three height adjustment knobs 5 Fig 1 toa firm feel Do not overtighten d Collapsing the Tripod for Storage Remove the accessory tray 6 Fig 1 from the tripod Grasp the top of the tripod with one hand and with the other hand pull up on the central hub of the extension strut 7 Fig 1 where the accessory tray was attached This action will cause the tripod legs to move inward to a collapsed position Important Notes on using ETX Field Tripod a Remove the accessory tray before attempting to collapse the tripod a 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 will function properly Forcing the tripod into an incorrect position may damage the extension strut system a Do not overtighten the three star shaped height adjustment knobs on the tripod legs Firm feel tightening is sufficient 2 Attaching the ETX Astro Telescope to the Tripod a Confirm that the latitude lock lever 11 Fig 1 is in the locked positior by rotating the lever cl2. Meade Instuments Corporation 6001 OAK CANYON IRVINE CALIFORNIA 92620 4205 m 949 451 1 450 FAX 949 451 1460 www meade com Operating Instructions Meade ETX Field Tripod For Use With the ETX Astro Telescope ar NEO 7 H 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 8 North Pointing Tripod Leg marked N lat position of arrow 9 Fine Azimuth Adjustment Knobs 10 Latitude Lock Knob 11 Latitude Lock Lever opposite side 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 Tray 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 desired observing height a Extending the Tripod Remove the tripod from the shipping box and stand it 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 position b Attaching the Accessory Tray Remove the round accessory tray 6 Fig 1 from the shipping box Remove the black star shaped lock knob from the threaded rod on the bottom of the accessory tray
3. the ETX s Ded and R A setting circles may be used to locate faint objects directly from their catalogued coordinates f Fig 3 left The ETX Astro Telescope on Field Tripod oriented for land viewing right The polar aligned ETX ready for astronomical viewing 1 Polar Alignment Procedures Make sure the ETX is firmly attached to the tripod as described above In this instruction sheet with latitudea lock knob 10 and the latituda lock lever 11 Fiq 1 firmly locked Step a below s equivalent to pointing the telescope s polar axis due north or due south for observers in the southern hemisphere Step b s equivalent to making the telescope s latitudel angle equal to the latitude angle of your observing location a On top of one of the tripod legs locate the letter N 8 Fig 11 This represents the north leg of the tripod Pick up the entire telescope and tripod and orient the tripod so that thel lea marked N points due north For observers in the southern hemisphere e g Australia the lea marked N should point due south b Determine the latitude of your observing location by checking a road map atlas or refer to pages 12 13 of the ETX manual To set the latitude of the tripod to your observing location loosen the latitude lock knob 10 Fig 1 Turn the fine latitude adjustment knob 4 Fig 1 clockwise or counterclockwise until the latitude pointer Indicates the corr
4. ect latitude on the latitude scale 3 Fig 1 It may be necessary to loosen the lock nut on the fine latitude adjustment knob 4 Fig 1 to allow enough movement of the mount to achieve the latitude of your location Once the desired latitude has been set tighten the lock nut until it is flush against the mount Tighten the latitude lock knob 10 Fig 1 as well Note The fine azimuth adjustment knobs 9 Fig 1 which move the telescope horizontally without moving the tripod itself may be used to aidlin the alignment procedure Note 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 required 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 a eo ay bee Little Dipper Polaris A were ma De r A of Big Dipper Cassiopeia Fig 4 Locating Polaris 2 Using a Polar Aligned Telesc
5. itron Fig 3 by turning the fine latitude adjustment knob 4 Fig 1 to read 90 unlocking and re locking the latitude lock knob 10 Fig 1 to accomplish this adjustment The ETX s motor drive should be turned off initerrestrial applications Use the telescope s R A and Dec slow motion controls for fine motion in horizontal and vertical If you have any questions regarding the use of the ETX Field Tripod please call Meade Customer Service at 949 451 1450
6. ockwise until tight Also confirm that the N S switch on the base of the ETX Astro Telescope s set for the correct hemsphere b 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 N tripod leg 8 Fig 1 is between these two attachment holes Fig 2 ETX Drivel Base showing attachment holes c Then align the two holes in the base of the ETX with the mounting slots 1 Fig 1 on the mount plate 2 Fig 1 d Thread the two provided 1 4 20 threaded attachment knobs through the mounting slots into the ETX base Tighten to a firm feel only Do not overtighten or damage to the threads may occur The ETX Astro Telescope can be used for land or celestial observing To track celestial objects polar alignment is required along with the motor drive system of the ETX See the Motor Drive section of the ETX instruction manual 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
7. ope Once the telescope is polar aligned the ETX motor drive will keep a celestial object in the field of view of the telescope a To center a celestial object within a polar aligned telescope unlock the Dec and R A lock levers of the telescope see the Locating Astronomical Objects section 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 b Once a celestial object has been centered in the telescope lock the Ded and R A lock levers c 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 Depending on the accuracy of the alignment procedure it may be necessary to use the R A and Ded Slow Motion Controls to make minor adjustments to keep the celestial object in the field of view d The motor drive disengages when the R A and Dec lock 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 e At the end of an observing session remember to turn off the motor drive 3 Terrestrial Use of the Field Tripod In land viewing applications the three legs of the Field Tripod may be positionedin an arbitrary orientation The telescope mounting however should be placed in a horizontal pos
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