Meade ETX105EC AstroTelescope w/Electronic Controller (Obsolete)

by Meade

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005QWZ1
• Batteries: 8 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,187 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 19, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Product Description

When the original ETX telescope was introduced in 1996, it quickly created a revolution in amateur astronomy. Here for the first time was a stunningly beautiful, ultraportable, and highly versatile telescope system of unprecedented optical resolution and performance. Within one year of its introduction the ETX became the largest-selling modern telescope in the world. Meade ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models build on the original ETX concept to create the most advanced electronically-controlled telescopes including optional automatic GO TO object-location with the Autostar Computer Controller ever produced in their price range. And yet without sacrificing any of the user-friendly features that started the ETX revolution.

Optical Systems: Manufactured entirely at the Meade Irvine, California, facility, ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes produce optical performance and resolution that equal or exceed any Maksutov optics of similar apertures ever manufactured at any price, past or present. Optics so high in contrast, image brightness, and resolution that ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models often out-perform many telescopes of larger apertures.

Fork Mounts with Standard-Equipment Dual-Axis Drive System and Electronic Controller: The fork mountings of ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain models include high-torque DC motors on both telescope axes, permitting electronic operation from the standard-equipment plug-in hand controller. Use the pushbutton electronic controller at any of four dual-axis speeds: 8x sidereal for image centering in the main telescope at high power; 32x for image centering at lower powers or for pushbutton object-tracking in the altazimuth mode; 0.75°/second for image centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking; 5°/second for fast slewing across the sky. The observer can instantly select any of these speeds simply by depressing the SPEED button on the controller.

Altazimuth or Equatorial Operation: With the telescope placed in the altazimuth mode on a table, astronomical object-tracking may be accomplished from the directional pushbuttons of the hand controller. Fully automatic astronomical tracking in the altazimuth mode may be accomplished with the optional Autostar Computer Controller. Alternately, any ETX telescope may be mounted in the equatorial orientation, using either an optional Table Tripod or the Deluxe Field Tripod. In this latter case the telescope tracks celestial objects automatically at the sidereal rate.

Cordless Field Operation: The drive base of each telescope accepts eight (user-supplied) AA-batteries that power the telescope for more than 40 hours of normal usage, negating any requirement for an external power source in the field. Alternately, the telescope may be powered from an automobile cigarette lighter plug, using the optional #607 Power Cord.

Flip-Mirror System: 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.

Materials and Coatings: 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.

Standard Equipment: Meade ETX Astro Telescopes are supplied as complete instruments. Standard equipment includes a premium-grade Meade Series 4000 Super Pl?sl 26mm eyepiece for 48X with the ETX-90EC, 57X with the ETX-105EC, or 73X with the ETX-125EC. The 8 x 21mm viewfinder of the ETX-90EC incorporates an internal roof prism that results in an erect-image orientation, facilitating the quick location and field-centering of both terrestrial and astronomical objects. ETX-105EC and ETX-125EC models are supplied with an 8 x 25mm right-angle viewfinder for comfortable object-sighting with the larger instruments.

Optional Accessories: Over 20 optionally available eyepieces permit magnification ranges of from 31X to over 300X with the ETX-90EC, from 37X to over 400X with the ETX-105EC, or from 48X to over 450X with the ETX-125EC. Meade Super Pl?sls are excellent eyepieces with any ETX model, or use a Meade Super Wide 13.8mm, 18mm, or 24.5mm ocular for spectacular moderate-power, wide-angle observing. The #126 2x Barlow Lens, a special short-focus Barlow ideally suited to ETX systems, doubles the power of any eyepiece. For terrestrial photography or astrophotography of the Moon and planets, the #64 T-Adapter threads to the telescope's rear cell and, with the appropriate T-mount, accepts any 35mm camera with removable lens.

ETX-105EC Astro Telescope: Manufactured with an aluminum fork mount dedicated specifically to its size and aperture, the ETX-105EC Astro Telescope moves effortlessly across the skies on ball bearing axes, in either manual or electronic modes. And, at a relatively modest increase in purchase price, the ETX-105EC yields 36% more light-collecting power than the ETX-90EC. The entire range of celestial objects the eight major planets, the Moon, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters as well as terrestrial objects, may be observed with a significant, and immediately apparent, increase in resolution and image brightness. At the same time, the ETX-105EC maintains most of the compactness and ultraportability of the smaller-aperture ETX-90EC. As a compromise between the larger light-gathering capability of the ETX-125EC and the ultraportability of the ETX-90EC, the ETX-105EC is an excellent, and very popular, choice.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another quality scope from Meade, March 23, 2002

By 

DH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meade ETX105EC AstroTelescope w/Electronic Controller (Obsolete) (Electronics)

The Meade ETX range of scopes are beautiful scopes to look at and the latest offering, the ETX-105EC is no exception, it is pure eye-candy. If you are forking out some major dollars for one of these telescopes then I'm sure you will want something more than just good looks. There isn't enough space here to fully review the ETX-105EC, suffice to say there are two schools of thought on the value of these telescopes. I belong to the group who think these telescopes are great, both for the serious amatuer and the part-timers who just want an occasional browse at the stars. The 105 fills a gap between the hugely succesful ETX-90EC and the ETX-125EC. Essentially, you are getting a telescope that has a greater light gathering capacity than the 90 and less than the 125, at an intermediate price. In other words, you get to see better detail than a 90EC...Would I buy this telescope again? Yes, definitely. For ease of use, portability (a major consideration for all amatuer astronomers), the go-to ability and lastly, it is a cool piece of equipment. It does have it's negative points but in my opinion they are far outweighed by the positives...