Meade 3.5" ETX-90AT Telescope

MEADE ETX-90AT

3.5" Maksutov-Cassegrain

MEADE ETX-90AT features

One of the most important advances in telescope control in the past 25 years, the Meade #497 Autostar Computer Controller turns the ETX into an automatic celestial object locating system. Just plug the Autostar into the telescope's HBX port, do a quick (less than one minute!) telescope alignment, and you're ready to observe any object in the Autostar's 30,000-object database. Best of all, the Meade Autostar is easy to use. Most Autostar users see more celestial objects in one night's viewing than typical first-time telescope owners previously have in a lifetime.

Any of Autostar's database objects can be called up and entered on the hand controller display in seconds. The observer then simply presses the GO TO pushbutton and watches as the telescope automatically slews (moves) to the object and places it in the field of view. The effect of Autostar is to bring objects easily within reach which were previously unreachable for all but the most dedicated of amateur astronomers.

The ETX's standard-equipment Autostar controller connects to the telescope's control panel and permits an incredible array of telescope options.

Automatic GO TO capability at 6.5°/sec on both axes to over 30,000 database objects including:
The 8 major planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto
5,386 objects from the Index Catalog (IC) Galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters of all types
7,840 objects from the New General Catalog (NGC) Additional galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters
109 objects from the Caldwell Catalog of the best objects for small telescopes
110 Messier (M) objects (the complete Messier catalog of objects)
16,800 stars from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) catalog
26 asteroids including all of the brightest asteroids, 15 periodic comets and 50 Earth-orbiting satellites
Automatic GO TO capability to any object of known RA and Declination.

Additional Capabilities: Beyond the location of database objects, Autostar allows for a wide range of important telescope capabilities:

Automatic GO TO capability to any astronomical object of known coordinates (RA and Dec.). Enter an object's coordinates to the Autostar display, press GO TO, and Autostar moves the telescope to locate the object and place it in the telescopic field.
Digital Readouts of telescope position, continuously in RA and Dec.
Precise sidereal-rate tracking Once Autostar locates an object, it directs the telescope to track the object automatically on both telescope axes, simultaneously, keeping the object centered in the field.
9-Speed Dual-Axis Operation Use Autostar's pushbuttons to move the telescope on either or both axes, simultaneously, at any of nine drive speeds, from very slow 2x sidereal to fast 4.5°/second.
GO TO capability to any of 200 user-defined objects

Manufactured at the Meade Irvine, California, facility, ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes produce superlative, diffraction-limited optical performance and resolution. Optics so high in contrast, image brightness, and resolution that ETX-90AT, ETX-105AT, and ETX-125AT models often outperform many telescopes of larger apertures.

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. Optional coatings, (UHTC) described below, increase light transmission and reflectance still further.

Standard-Equipment Dual-Axis Drive System and #497 Autostar Controller: The rigid fork mountings of ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain models include high-torque DC motors on both telescope axes, permitting electronic operation from the standard-equipment Autostar controller. With the telescope placed in the altazimuth mode on a table, astronomical object-tracking may be accomplished automatically, after a quick and easy 2-minute alignment of Autostar to the sky. Alternately, the telescope may be mounted in either the altazimuth or equatorial modes on the standard-equipment #884 Deluxe Field Tripod.

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.

The drive base of the ETX telescope accepts eight AA-batteries that power the telescope for about 20 hours of normal usage. Alternately, the telescope may also be powered from a 12 volt automobile cigarette lighter plug, using the optional #607 Power Cord.

Available optionally with the ETX-90AT, ETX-105AT, or ETX-125AT, the Meade UHTC (Ultra-High Transmission Coatings) Group provides a series of highly specialized, exotic optical coatings which dramatically increase image brightness. Averaged over the entire visible spectrum (450 nm. to 700 nm.), total light transmission to the telescope focus is increased by about 15%. Meade telescopes equipped with UHTC present a quantum leap in image brightness on the full range of celestial objects. The UHTC group, if desired, must be specified at the time of telescope order.

	3.5" Model ETX-90AT SPECIFICATIONS
	Aperture	90mm (3.5")
	Focal Length	1250mm (f/13.8)
	Optical Design	Maksutov-Cassegrain
	Primary Mirror	Pyrex® glass
	Correcting Lens	BK7 optical glass, Grade-A
	Standard Optical Coatings	MgF2; standard aluminum/SiO
	Ultra-High Transmission Coatings	optional at time of purchase
	AutoStar Controller	Included [#497]
	Field Tripod	Included [#884]
	Viewfinder	Optical 8 x 21mm erect-image finder
	Eyepiece	Series 4000 26mm Super Plossl (48x)

Check our current stock of Telescopes

ETX Astro Series	Item #	Price	Add to Cart
ETX-90AT 3.5" Telescope Includes M884 Tripod and M497 AUTOSTAR	METX90AT	$599.00
ETX-90AT 3.5" Telescope with UHTC Includes M884 Tripod and M497 AUTOSTAR	METX90ATU	$649.00
ETX SERIES Accessories
Accessories for the ETX-90, 105 and 125AT can be found on our ETX-90/105/125 Accessories page.
Accessories for all ETX Series can be found on our ETX Accessories for all models page.