Meade DS-60EC Telescope

by Meade

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 15 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004SPCF
• Item model number: DS-60EC
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,604 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Meade's DS-60EC refracting telescope offers high-quality optics and easy push-button electronic operation, making it a perfect instrument for the serious beginner. It features a multicoated, achromatic two-element objective lens and precise, smooth altitude and azimuth movements. It includes the Meade handheld electronic controller, which allows for four-speed push-button operation and easy object location and tracking. It also includes Meade's StarNavigator software, which displays more than 10,000 celestial objects for help in locating galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets. Additionally, the telescope comes with a full-length adjustable aluminum tripod.

The DS-60EC exhibits Meade's fine attention to detail and quality, from the precision-polished crown and flint optical glass components and contrast-increasing multicoatings, to oversize bearings on both telescope axes that facilitate great precision in tracking. It offers a resolving power of 1.9 arcseconds, a limiting visual magnitude of 11, a 200x maximum practical visual power, and a 5mm by 24mm viewfinder.

The DS-60EC is also built to be fully compatible with Meade's Autostar computer controller, for automatic location and tracking of celestial objects.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent telescope for the new astronomer, November 8, 2000

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Meade DS-60EC Telescope (Electronics)

While many starting telescopes are cheap and flimsy, this one has high quality viewing and easy setup and operation, with a very sturdy telescope to boot. I have an 11 year old and have NO problem with him working with this, because it will easily hold up to his handling.

For those new to astronomy, you can simply point this telescope at any object in the sky and see it very clearly. For those who start to get more advanced, you can use the included software to track down exactly what those things in the sky *are*, and easily get the telescope to track them as they move across the sky at night.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a high quality telescope in this price range. It's a great way to learn more about the night sky.

63 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shoot for the stars, June 24, 2000

By 

kktang (Concord, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meade DS-60EC Telescope (Electronics)

I am new at astronomy and was hesitant picking out a new instrument for this new hobby of mine. I did my research on this particular telescope and many other users felt its versatility made it a good starting point. In addition, Meade is known for their quality products (all my microscopes in my lab are by Meade). I unwrapped the telescope and set it up on its sturdy legs on my porch. In one evening, I was looking at the moon and whatever else I could find. Unfortunately, I do not know what stars and planets I was looking at, but the images I did see were sharp and clear. Too bad I have no way of showing you what I saw through the eyepiece on this site. I hope you consider this item when looking at telescopes.

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT TELESCOPE, October 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Meade DS-60EC Telescope (Electronics)

I LOVE THIS TELESCOPE! IT REALLY GETS A CLOSE UP LOOK ON ALL THE STARS AND PLANETS! DEFINITLY A PERFECT TELESCOPE FOR A FIRST TIME BUYER!