Meade 495 Autostar for DS Telescope

by Meade

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004SYBD
• Item model number: #495
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Meade Autostar No. 495 electronic controller is an advanced accessory controller for any Meade DS series telescope. With the optional Meade Autostar computer controller plugged into the control panel of your DS telescope, locating any astronomical object in the sky is as easy as pushing a button. Identical in operating characteristics to the Autostar controller available for Meade ETX telescopes, Autostar for DS telescopes is easy to use, even for the beginner who has never operated a telescope.

If your DS telescope includes the No. 492 dual-motor electronic control system, then the telescope can be Autostar equipped with the simple addition of the No. 495 Autostar handbox only; no additional motors or other parts of the system need be purchased. Just plug the No. 495 Autostar hand controller into the telescope's control panel in place of the electronic controller and, after a quick one-minute alignment, Autostar is ready to use.

The Meade Autostar No. 495 controller provides digital readouts of telescope position, continuously in right ascension and declension, and 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. It also offers nine-speed dual-axis operation. Use Autostar's push buttons to move the telescope on either or both axes simultaneously at any of nine drive speeds, from very slow 2x sidereal to fast 6 degrees per second. You can also find the locations of the constellations by pushing Autostar's arrow key for a description of the mythology of the constellation, as well as information on important objects located within its boundaries. The Meade Autostar No. 495 controller features go-to capability to any of 200 user-defined objects.

Use Meade StarNavigator sky software, included with every DS telescope, on your PC to go to any object on the PC display at a click of the mouse (requires No. 505 connector cable set). This software features more than 20 other menu options, including guided tours of the best objects observable on any specified date; major event menus; utility functions (such as timer, alarm, and eyepiece power calculations); and much more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for BEGINIERS!, July 17, 2000

By 

N. Anderson "nicollaney" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meade 495 Autostar for DS Telescope (Electronics)

I saw it in use and it is great. I am visually impaired and it helps me find things I want to look at; and the price makes it affordable for any budget!