Given Which 'Best Buy' status for value in this range, the Meade ETX-80AT offers everything a budding amateur astronomer could wish for and is also a great wide-field second scope for the more advanced enthusiast.
With an 80mm (3.1 inch) aperture the ETX-80AT fits the bill as an ideal telescope for general astronomy. Common advice for beginners in the 20th century was that a 3” refractor was a good choice of telescope to start out with in astronomy. Meade have taken this advice and expanded it further by offering a 3” telescope with Autostar micro-processor control that can give the modern amateur the ability to cruise the universe. Other great features of the ETX80AT include a right-angled focuser, a built-in Barlow lens and built-in time chip.
the ETX-80AT fits the bill as an ideal telescope for general astronomy. Common advice for beginners in the 20th century was that a 3” refractor was a good choice of telescope to start out with in astronomy. Meade have taken this advice and expanded it further by offering a 3” telescope with Autostar micro-processor control that can give the modern amateur the ability to cruise the universe. Other great features of the ETX80AT include a right-angled focuser, a built-in Barlow lens and built-in time chip.
The ETX-80AT is a fully automated GO TO telescope with over 1400 of the sky's best celestial objects in its computer database. The large 80mm objective lens delivers bright, high definition images of celestial and terrestrial objects. The revolutionary Meade Autostar system facilitates fully automatic astronomical object-location. Just select the object shown on the Autostar display, press GO TO, and the telescope automatically moves to the object and places it in the telescopic field of view! Autostar also tracks the object automatically, compensating for the earth’s rotation.
Smartfinder (red dot finder) #497 Autostar controller AutoStar Suite AE Software; PC Interface Cable
Instruction manual Database of over 30,000 celestial objects
Now with FREE MEADE EYEPIECE KITWorth over £400 if purchased seperately!This set will complement any type of telescope
Specifications: ETX-125PE Astro Telescope — Includes Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube assembly (D = 127mm (5.0"), F = 1900mm, f/15) with Ultra-High Transmission Coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors; internal flip-mirror system for either straight-through or 90° observing position; aluminum fork mount with electric slow-motion controls, setting circles and locks on both axes; Auto Star electronic control panel; 9-speed dual-axis motor drive system ; sidereal-rate tracking in equatorial mode with deluxe field tripod; internal battery compartment accepting eight (user-supplied) AA-size batteries; Red Dot Viewfinder (SmartFinder™); Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece (1.25"); AutoStar Suite AE Software; PC Interface Cable; operating instructions
MOTOFOCUS is especially important for the ETX when viewing near Zenith (in Alt/Az mode) because it is very hard to reach the focus knob at this position. We use miniature motors (motor and gear box size is 1in x 0.5in x 0.375in!) for a very small package.Includes Hand box.