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Meade ETX-90 MAK Portable ObservatoryETX-90 MAK Portable Observatory


Meade's world famous ETX-90, with case and accessories #3514-04-20. The ETX-90 Maksutov-Cassegrain offers terrific optical quality that is the envy of the telescope industry, the easy to use Meade AutoStar computer handbox with over 30,000 object library, and a solid mount and tripod. Special package includes bonus accessories and case. If you are in looking for a high quality portable scope absolutely loaded with features and performance you need look no further.


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3514-04-20Meade ETX-90 MAK Portable Observatory
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Meade ETX-90 MAK Portable Observatory

The Meade ETX-90 telescope features an advanced Maksutov-Cassegrain design for pinpoint star images and extraordinary contrast, making it a great deep sky performer and ideal for detailed lunar and planetary observation as it easily soars to high magnifications. This 90mm (3.5") model has a focal length of 1250mm (f/13.8) with Meade's best Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC).

Electronics include the Meade AutoStar keypad with over 30,000 object library and which can be linked to a PC using an optionally available software and cable connector set, allowing the telescope to be controlled via a laptop or other PC. The telescope is conveniently powered by 6 (user-supplied) AA batteries, and an AC adapter is also available for separate purchase.

Standard equipment includes two high performance Meade Series 4000 1.25" diameter eyepieces in focal lengths of 26mm and 9mm (magnifications of 48X and 128X), carry case, easy to use red dot viewfinder, and portable but extremely stable Meade Model 884 field tripod with chrome plated tubular steel legs and built-in wedge. Also includes Meade AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition Software and Instructional DVD to locate objects in the night sky, print star maps, and learn more about the use of your new telescope.

A telescope is only as good as its mount and this mechanically sophisticated model includes an extremely rigid dual fork design. The similarly advanced optical tube design incorporates a unique flip mirror mechanism, allowing light to either go to the comfortable 90 degree observing position of the eyepiece or the built in camera attachment port at the rear of the tube. Camera adapters sold separately.

Carries full one year Meade limited factory warranty.

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Optical Specifications: Meade ETX-90 MAK Portable Observatory
Type Maksutov Cassegrain
Aperture (mm) 90 mm
Aperture (in.) 3.5 inches
Focal Length 1250 mm
Focal Ratio f/13.8
Accessories and Features
Included Eyepiece(s) 26mm, 9.7mm
Finder Red dot
Go-To System Autostar
Accepts 2" Eyepieces <p><b>Telescope Eyepiece Formats</b><br /> Virtually all telescope eyepieces available today conform to one of two barrel diameter standards: 1.25 or 2 inches. Most amateur astronomers will be perfectly content with 1.25" eyepieces. Two-inch eyepieces have only one inherent advantage. That advantage is a potentially larger field of view, but not every telescope can take advantage of that potential. </p> <p>A Telescope and eyepiece work together to collect parallel light rays over a large area, compress those light rays down into a smaller area, and the re-orient them so that they are nearly parallel once again. Essentially light arriving at a telescope with any given aperture is compressed into a smaller aperture or exit pupil. The ratio of the telescope aperture to eyepiece exit pupil determines the magnification.</p> <p>There are cases at very low magnifications where the eyepiece barrel diameter becomes the constraint on maximum field of view. The eyepiece barrel itself actually blocks some of the available light that the telescope is collecting, thus limiting the field of view. Two-inch eyepieces overcome this constrain by allowing a larger light cone to enter the eyepiece. We must conclude this discussion by restating that 2" eyepieces have no inherent advantage over 1.25" eyepieces other than the potential for a larger field of view when used with a telescope capable of benefiting from that advantage. </p> No
Adaptable for 2" Eyepieces <p><b>Two-inch Eyepiece Upgrade</b><br /> Some telescopes that are factory configured for 1.25" eyepieces can be upgraded to accommodate 2" eyepieces. Other telescopes are designed to handle only 1.25" eyepieces and cannot be upgraded due to their focuser size or other constraints. </p> <p>Sometimes this upgrade is possible but not recommended. This could be due to clearance issues caused by the addition of a larger 2" star diagonal,which in some cases will bottom out on the base of a fork mounted go-to telescope. This is potentially damaging the drive mechanism. In other cases the light cone exiting the telescope may not be large enough to derive any benefit from a 2" eyepiece.</p> No
Physical Parameters
Telescope Weight 9.05 Pounds
Tripod Weight 13.3 Pounds
Weight, Fully Assembled 22.35 Pounds
Eyepiece Calculator
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Exit Pupil: <p>Exit pupil represents the diameter of the column of light exiting the eyepiece. Magnification is simply the ratio of telescope aperture to exit pupil. Fox example, using a telescope with 100mm aperture and an exit pupil of 2mm yields a magnification of 50X.</p> <p>There are both upper and lower limits to the useful range of exit pupils. The typical human eye pupil dilates to a maximum of 7mm when fully dark adapted. This figure decreases with age. Using an exit pupil that is larger than this upper limit simply spills the light onto an area of the eye not capable of receiving data. At the opposite end of the range, a smaller exit pupil means less area on the eye is collecting data. Images brightness decreases with decreasing exit pupil. Deep space objects grow dimmer rapidly as the exit pupil falls below 1 mm. The planets also start to become noticeably dimmer when the exit pupil falls much below 0.5 mm.</p> <p>Our eyepiece calculator provides warnings and error messages based upon the value of the exit pupil. These are intended to be guidelines as opposed to hard rules. There is no harm in violating these gidelines, but your enjoyment of the telescope may be diminished if you do. </p>