Advanced Features; Sidereal Rate; Alignment (Mount); Alt/Az Alignment - Meade ETX-70AT Junior Instruction Manual

North
Declination
Pointer
at 0˚
Fig. 13: Alt/Az Home Position.

AdVANCEd FEATUREs

Terrestrial observing
The ETX-70AT make excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing terrestrial
objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat waves
often cause degradation of image quality. Low power eyepieces, like the MA 25mm eyepiece,
magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. Therefore, low power eyepieces
provide a steadier, higher quality image. If the image is fuzzy or ill-defined, reduce to a lower
power eyepiece, where the heat waves do not have such an effect on image quality. Observing
in early morning hours, before the ground has built up internal heat, produces better viewing
conditions than during late afternoon hours.
Astronomical observing
Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electromechanical
capabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of optical performance is
readily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is, with minor qualification, limited
only by the observer's motivation.

sidereal Rate

As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The
speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate.
If the telescope is aligned, the motor drive is designed to rotate the telescope at the sidereal
rate so that it automatically tracks the stars. This tracking makes it easy to locate objects and
keep them centered in the telescope's eyepiece.

Alignment (Mount)

The telescope's mount permits the movement of the telescope in both Altitude (vertically) and
Azimuth (horizontally). In order to automatically track a celestial object, the mount must be
properly aligned. Easy Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment is described on page 14.

Alt/Az Alignment

One-Star Alt/AZ Alignment or Two-Star Alt/AZ Alignment allows you to choose the alignment
stars during the alignment procedure. The stars are chosen from Autostar's database of
alignment stars. The database displays after One-Star Alt/Az or Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment is
selected. .
The term „Alt/Az." is frequently used to refer to the Altitude or horizontal and Azimuth or verti-
cal movements of the ETX-70AT telescopes. Other terms to describe a telescope's movement
may be used with telescopes that have mounts different from the ETX-70AT.

Alt/Az Home position

To set your telescope in the „Alt/Az" home position:
• Set the telescope on a flat level surface, such as a tabletop, or by mount it on the
tripod
• Loosen the telescope's vertical lock (6, Fig. 1).
• Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec setting circle (17, Fig. 1) with the
pointer (Fig. 13).
• Tighten the vertical lock (6, Fig. 1) to a „firm feel" only.
• Unlock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it
points North. Learn the position of Polaris, the North Star, which lies due North (Fig.
20). A small pocket compass may be useful
• Re-lock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1).
• Press ENTER.
Advanced Features 21