Thursday, April 23, 2009

Meade ETX-60 AT Digital Telescope With Autostar Reviewed

By Jeremy Hier

While an older model, the Meade etx-60 at digital telescope with autostar is a great educational starter telescope and can be found on e-commerce and auction sites online, new and used.

The Meade ext-60 at digital telescope with autostar retails at under $200 if new, although when initially introduced, the price was $299. We even found one slightly used online for $24.99, though of course this is an auction site and the price, after bidding, for this Meade ext-60 at digital telescope with autostar may end up being considerably more at the close of bidding.

The Meade ext-60 at digital telescope includes an eyepiece that is 9mm, an instruction manual and AutoStar, which controls the telescope's computer.

The Meade ext-60 features an achromatic assembly for the refracting optical tube, many layers of optical coating, an internal system of flip mirrors so that you can observe straight on or from a 90 degree observation point.

Other features of the Meade ext-60 at digital telescope are electric controls for slow motion that are fork mounted, setting circles, and dual axis locking mechanisms. The two axis motor drive has tracking with a sidereal rating.

The eyepiece, with multiple coats, is powerful - magnification of 39x. The optics are achromatic refractor design, with a diameter of 60 mm and a focal length of 350mm. Its focus is approximately 15 feet.

The Meade ext-60 at digital telescope requires six AA batteries, which are not included. Shipping is not included in the price either.

Read more Meade telescope reviews plus Celestron, Bushnell, and tips and info.

Meade Telescopes For the Serious Astronomer

By Bo Collins
Learning About the Three Telescope Types

Since the Renaissance, scientists have been using telescopes built originally by people who made glasses and made more efficient by the likes of Galileo. Telescopes use light and lenses to focus the light on objects in great detail. What happens to the light is it converges and you see an image that is much bigger than what you are actually looking at. The light is so focused and concentrated that you can see a small item clearly and in a large image. All telescopes work the same way, buy using focused light to enlarge images. There are actually three telescope types:

Refracting Telescopes

One of the telescope types is the refracting telescope. This type of telescope has curved mirrors that focus the light and enlarge the image instead of using lenses, which focus the light. The curved glass works the same way a prism does and bends the light which allows it to focus. Other common items that use light refraction are binoculars and the telephoto lenses for your camera.

Not all refracting telescopes are perfect, though, because a bad design can cause blurry images from the variations of colors that will be seen. This phenomenon is referred to as chromatic aberration. Spherical aberrations are also possible and they occur when the curved lenses are not perfect and light is reflected improperly. It is not possible to utilize the refracting telescope on a larger scale because the weight of the lenses causes distortion from sagging. This limits their usefulness for large scale scientific research projects.

Reflecting Telescopes

The second of the telescope types is the reflecting telescope. This type of telescope is similar to a refracting telescope except that the light does not go through a lens. Instead, light is reflected off mirrors made of curved glass. The first reflecting telescope was perfected by Isaac Newton after many attempts in earlier times to change the refracting telescope to a reflecting telescope. There is a reflecting telescope named after Isaac Newton to honor his contributions.

Between the two telescope types, reflecting telescopes are preferred by larger research labs instead of refracting telescopes. This is because the curved mirrors used in reflecting telescopes are properly supported from all sides instead of only on the edges so no sagging occurs. It is still possible to have spherical aberrations with reflecting telescopes, though, as well as a phenomenon called a coma where stars are distorted and appear pointed.

Catadioptric Telescopes

The third of the telescope types is the catadioptric telescope. This type of telescope uses the technology of both reflecting and refractive telescopes, which helps reduce or eliminate many of the problems the two have individually. The catadioptric telescope has a problem of its own, though. Since there is often an extra mirror in the tube where light would normally go through, it can reduce the light on the image.

The catadioptric telescope is a popular product because it is easy to manufacture and it can enlarge images to a great degree. These telescopes are meant more for the average person, though, than for scientists since most experts prefer reflective telescopes.

The catadioptric telescope combines the best of the other two telescope types into one model. It shows how far telescopes have come and the scientific improvements that have been made that allow this to happen. Telescopes are a great learning tool no matter which one you use and we can all learn from what they have to tell us about every day items.

If you are looking to take your astronomy to the next level and learn more about the many kinds of Meade Telescopes, drop by the http://www.TelescopesCafe.com

Meade Telescopes Stand for High Quality at a Reasonable Price

By Jeremy Hier
The Meade Telescopes Company is a world leader
in the design and manufacture of telescopes and
accessories for amateur astronomers. The Meade
Company was founded in 1972 and went public in
1997. Meade Instruments began with only $2,500,
they used this capital as a mail-order supplier of
small refracting telescopes.

By 1977 the Meade Telescope Company was offering
a wide range of telescope parts and accessories.
Meade's range of accessories allowed them to
manufacture their own telescopes. Meade's first
models were the 628 and 826 6" and 8" reflecting
telescopes. American amateur astronomers found
that they had, really for the first time, a telescope
manufacturer that provided a quality product at a
reasonable price.

The 6" and 8" Meade reflecting telescopes were an
incredible success so much that the Meade Company
faced a 6-month backlog. Normally there is a 6 to 8
week delivery time, but the Meade Company still
wrote every customer explaining the backlog situation
of their telescopes, and offered a full and immediate
refund if the extra waiting time was unacceptable.

Few accepted the offer, and they were able to ship
all of the back-ordered telescopes.

In September 1980, Meade announced its new telescope,
Model 2080. Since that time Meade has come out with
exciting new telescopes and accessories. By 1986 Meade
Instruments was generally acknowledged as the largest,
and the leader in manufacturing serious telescopes.

Copyright © JJ PERSISTENT PUBLISHING, INC.

PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and author’s resource box with live website links.

Meade Telescope-Beginners and Beyond

By Eriani Doyel
The Meade Telescope was first created in 1972 with the idea of designing telescopes and accessories that everyone, from beginners on up could use to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the skies. In 1977, the company designed and manufactured its first two “in-house” models-reflecting telescopes and offered them to the public. When the orders poured in, they quickly became aware that they had not made enough and all orders were put on back-order. The company offered the eager Meade telescope customers a refund in a hand-written note explaining the situation. Since that time, they have remained one of the top telescope manufacturing companies in the world.

If you are a beginner, you may be wary of purchasing your first telescope. The prices range from under fifty dollars to the thousands. A good beginning telescope like the Meade telescope will have all of the basic functions and be easy to operate even for the most inexperience astronomer. The most basic telescope in the Meade family is the Meade DS-2130ATS, which is a reflective telescope (uses mirrors to gather light and reflect images) and it offers very good clarity and detail.

The NG/NGS Series offers a reflective Meade telescope with computer capabilities and a manual mount that makes it easy to move and adjust. Another beginning level telescope is the AZ series. These are refractor telescopes (use curved glass lenses to collect light and images for viewing) that are great not only for deep space viewing, but also for terrain on the earth. The final series in the Meade Telescope family is the EQ series. These telescopes have large apertures for the best quality viewing. Aperture is the most important factor in how well a telescope can collect and display images.

You can find 12 different series in the Meade Telescope line of beginner and specialty scopes. They also have kits for those who want to personalize their scope for their needs. For instance if you would like to view earth terrain, or if you are interested in space photography there are kits that you can order with all of the Meade telescope equipment you will need in the kit. They have special lenses and other accessories like mounts, stands, and so on and so on. They make it very easy to get into the astronomy hobby at any price level. Check out the reviews and their site to make the most informed choice.

Eriani Doye writes ideas for the home and family. For more information about Meade Telescopes, visit telescopecom.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel

Meade Telescopes For the Home

By Koz Huseyin
Are you looking to buy your first telescope? You likely have looked around, and have been wondering if Meade telescopes are any good, this article will not help you in deciding, but also help you in choosing a model that will ultimately allow you to have the best time in astronomy!

In this article, you will soon discover:
* About Meade And Their Telescopes
* About Buying Your First Telescope
* 2 Buy Computerized Or Manual

* About Meade And Their Telescopes
Meade telescopes come from a corporation called - Meade Instruments Corporation. In 1972, John Diebel started Meade as a small mail order telescope company. They used to sell small reflecting telescopes and accessories.

In 1978 Meade started manufacturing Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Meade Instruments Corporation has also produced larger telescopes, which can even be found in some observatories! Meade is now the leading telescope manufacturer, with its telescopes being found all around the world!

Over the years, Meade has improved there telescopes, and every new model that comes out has new features or advancements that are useful to amateur astronomers and professionals alike.

* About Buying Your First Telescope
Buying your first telescope can be one of the most exciting things you do! Imagine suddenly you have gone from having a planet with over 6 billion people, to having also the universe with its infinite range of objects!

To get the most out of astronomy, you will need to invest. Not everyone has the budget that NASA has, such as they did with building the Hubble Space Telescope! However, even with a small budget of only a few hundred dollars, you can get some great views that the universe has to offer.

You can find telescopes for sale in many places. The problem is that there are not that many stores that specialize in telescopes. The alternative is mail order or even better, to buy online. I have lost count of the amount of telescope stores that are available online. This makes buying your first telescope much easier.

* 2 Buy Computerized Or Manual
There are 2 types of telescope - reflecting telescopes and refracting telescopes. Both do a good job, however, refracting telescopes become expensive as they get bigger. A cost effective alternative is the reflecting telescopes, which offer great views of deep space objects. I find refractors are great for planetary viewing.

Today we are blessed with technology. Telescopes have taken advantage also, and there are offerings from Meade, Celestron and Orion that have computerized versions which enable you to simply click a few buttons and the telescope zooms to the destination! Talk about making astronomy both fun and simple!

The choice you make whether to go for a GoTo computerized telescope or to buy a manual telescope, will come down to your needs. For example do you want to be adventurous and learn how to navigate the heavens or would you prefer to navigate with the aid of a computer, which makes it simple as click and zoom!

To discover more about telescopes and astronomy, visit - the orion telescopes website for more info. Another link is Celestron telescopes and Meade telescopes.

Meade Telescopes – Where Quality Counts

By George Royal
When aspiring astronomers look for quality optics that will let them peer into the unknown reaches of void, Meade telescopes are an excellent choice. With a wide variety of telescopes, mounts, and filters available, Meade provides options for the backyard stargazer and the serious student alike. Which is why Meade telescopes are trusted the world over.

Meade grew from very humble beginnings, with nothing but one man, a kitchen table and a 2”x4” ad in Sky & Telescope magazine in 1972. At first offering nothing but a small refracting telescope, Meade discovered that the demand for quality optics and accessories was not being met by the companies who made telescopes. So, with a new ad in the fledgling Astronomy magazine, Meade expanded their offerings and improved their designs, allowing them to stand out from the other telescopes on offer. In fact, by paying attention to details such as spring-loaded gearboxes on the focusers and including eyepieces with wide fields of view, Meade turned itself into a name to be reckoned with.

Meade telescopes continued to become more and more popular every year, thanks to their expanding offerings and commitment to quality. In fact, by 1977, they had become so popular that they had a 6-month backlog of orders for their new line of reflecting telescopes. But, after first offering each of their customers a refund if they desired one, they grew the business to meet the demand and delivered the orders in only three months.

Finally, as Meade continued to gather more and more market share, they opened the 1980’s with their line of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Because Meade saw that the Schmidt-Cassgrain design could do more than other telescope designs, the engineers and designers stood up to the challenge and delivered a top-notch telescope that took this telescope design to new levels of quality.

Today, there are Meade telescopes for every interest and every budget. Whether it is an inexpensive starter telescope for someone who is just starting their nighttime explorations, a large scope for a dedicated, backyard researcher, a scope for the person who wants to travel light, or even a specialist who wants a telescope to examine sunspots, Meade has the gear that will open up a window to the stars and planets.

Through the years, Meade has expanded its business and extended their product line into new areas. In addition to Meade telescopes, there are Meade mounts, eyepieces, imagers, photographic lenses, and even binoculars and microscopes. And, as their business moves into fresh areas, Meade puts the same stamp of quality on their new products as they have put on their stargazing equipment.

From a small operation run from one man’s kitchen table, Meade telescopes have set new standards of quality by paying attention to details that matter. And by taking care of the details and taking care of their customers, Meade is the name people look for when they are looking for when they look for a telescope. Which means that Meade telescopes are what people look through when they look toward the heavens.

Telescopes HQ http://telescopeshq.com/ Your guide to telescopes from buying telescopes, how telescopes work and who invented telescopes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Royal

Meade Telescopes Compared With Other Telescopes

By Koz Huseyin
Are you looking to buy a telescope? There are several big brands to choose from. Meade telescopes being the worlds largest, next with Orion, Celestron, and many others. In this article, we will compare Meade telescopes to other brands, to find which the best.

As you read this article, you will discover more about:
* About Meade
* Why Buy Meade Astronomical Telescopes
* Meade Telescopes Compared With Other Brands

* About Meade Astronomical Telescopes
Meade astronomy telescopes come from a company called - Meade Instruments Corporation. In 1972, John Diebel started Meade as a small mail order company. They used to sell small reflectors and telescope accessories.

In 1978 the company started producing Schmidt-Cassegrain versions. They have also produced larger instruments, which can even be found in some observatories! Today Meade is the leading manufacturer, with its products being found all around the world.

* Why Buy This Brand?
There are many reasons to invest in this companies products. The biggest reason is the amount of telescopes that are from them. This makes finding answers to questions and accessories which fit your telescope, much easier.

They also have a wide selection of telescopes. And they all are designed to offer good viewing of the heavens.

The price point is also good. Meade do have a part premium, because of the brand, but compared with other brands, the price point is similar.

* Meade Telescopes Compared With Other Brands
Meade is not the only brand for telescopes; there are some other great ones. Celestron telescopes produce great products, and at one time, were bigger and better than Meade.

Meade produces telescopes that come in many varieties, such as GPS computer controlled versions, as well as standard reflectors and refractors. Also Meade has a line of new generation equipment that lets you point to the heavens on an object, and learn in vast detail, information about it. Celestron has also followed suit.

Meade and Celestron telescopes offer similar products, at similar prices. Orion is good with price. Which brand you choose will come down to your own likes and dislikes. When buying a telescope, look at which offers the better deal. Sometimes you can get extras such as a carry case or telescope lenses.

For a telescope which will last for years, Meade and Celestron offer good quality, and their telescopes have many good customer testimonials. The ultimate key being to be able to find these great telescopes.

Luckily there are many places that sell both Meade and Celestron Online it can be easier to find a wider range. Make sure you check both models between brands, and see the differences they each offer, and the extra features or accessories you get.

Here are some telescope resources that can help you find and buy a telescope