I have had a Meade 4500 telescope and a variety of lenses for several years now. Well, I was doinking around in Costco today and guess what I found?! The new Meade Astro Telescope model ETX-70AT! I couldn't pass this baby up! I have been interested in them as soon as I heard about them.

So I got it home just now, aligned it and got the computer all ready. It's got a built in computer which all you do is tell it what constellation, star, nebula, galaxy or other deep space object you want to see and it automatically slews to that location. It's SWEET! I can't wait to use it tonight...I just hope some of these clouds go away.

The previous 'scope I have is a reflecting one. The new one is refracting. I'm surprised at the size of the aperture, as it is FAR more powerful than my old one. I could see Jupiter and the rings of Saturn, all the little gulleys and objects on the Moon and stuff, but I couldn't get out of solar system. With this thing, you can spy on other galaxies, etc...it's just AWESOME!

Any other junior astronomers out there? Have you used this new 'scope? And if so, what do you think of it?! I can't wait until tonight!!

 

psst.. your geek is showing.

 

At the risk of letting my geek show...
Is that at 70mm refractor? I've got a Meade right now too, it's a 90mm, but no computer interface. While I really like refractors, and it's all I've had, I envy the reflector's FOV. I also envy the compter interface that makes finding all the invisible stuff so easy

The sad thing about amateur astronomy though, is you see these great pictures of the Horsehead Nebula, or the Andromeda Galaxy, and then find them through your scope, and they're a little smudge

 

Fluxen, you're correct, it's a 70 mm achromatic refractor. I've been reading up on my new little toy and I'm getting anxious for the night sky. My favorite planet, which happens to be one I am from, Saturn... is not, unfortunately visible now. And Jupiter is pretty low on the horizon and falling away before dark.



I will probably be looking at the moon, as it's one night past full tonight, or thereabouts.

Yea, I WISH I could take pictures of the nebulae you mentioned, M1 is the most absolutely breathtaking series of photos ever taken of ANYTHING, IMO...but I can't really afford to launch my own Hubble Telescope to get them...for now, my little Meade will have to do. I'm looking into getting the camera adapter for it now, too.

I am anxious to see the quality of the optics of it. I'm sure it's far superior to the 4500, which wouldn't even get past Saturn, really. And while the rings, while visible, they were not as clearly defined as I had hoped. The literature for my new one says that you can pick the rings out quite well, of course, depending on conditions. And it's also possible to study the various objects on Mars. This is quite an amazing little instrument and the price knocked my socks off...128 bucks! It came with two lenses, one of which I already had. I have a Barlow lense, as well, and 5 other lenses of varying power.

I'm sure that the combination of all of this stuff will yield some exciting results!

And, ummm, krazik? Bite me...

 

I've had mine for about a year now. Got the computer and everything. Neat. Go here: http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html for some great stuff

Mark

 

Mark, do you have any tips for using the scope?

Any tips would be appreciated...!

 

I have a Meade ETX-90. I've had it for a few years now. It's the version WITHOUT the "go to" computer function. It's an amazing little scope.
I was just thinking I should sell it and get the computerized version.
A friend recently picked up an 10" LX-200. That beast is awesome!!!

Waesner's web page is quite helpfull too!

 

oooooh kaaaaaay.... I'll let my geek show a little too...

I've got an 11-inch Schmidt-Cat. (the Celestron CG-11), but I mostly photograph through a Nikon 400mm f/2.8 lens.

I used to sell my images through the Pictor agency, until they went bankrupt.

The website's here, if you're interested:

http://www.imaginationbox.com/steve/astro

The stook is the first car I've purchased that I can't use to carry my equipment. Fortunately, my brother still has his F-150 that he lets me borrow when I head out for astrophoto trips.

 

I have a Meade ETX90 too. Love this little scope, couldn't believe I saw Saturn's rings! Haven't gone out in a while though, but will soon.

 

Did you really take those pictures through an 11 inch Celestron? That's amazing. How does the view through the eyepiece compare with the pictures? I guess the long exposure allows the camera to see more?