Meade ETX80 tabletop 80mm refractor Observatory kit.

Fantastic complete astronomy starter kit featuring the fully computerised Meade ETX80 high-technology 80mm robotic table-top refractor including all the accessories you need to discover the night sky.

Complete Observatory kit! This amazing instrument comes with everything you need to discover the fascinating hobby of astronomy!

Click the link below to see our informative video presentation on the brilliant Meade Autostar handse, but please note that telescope shown in the video is silver in colour and only 60mm apeture - the version we are offering here is blue in colour and 80mm aperture - the details about the Autostar handset are the same however:

Video demonstration of the ETX 80 Autostar handset

Included in the special edition kit:

Meade 80mm ETX robotic telescope

Autostar computer handset

Alignment compass and level aid

2 quality DS 4000 series Plossl eyepieces with rubber eye-cups

Table top stand with eyepiece storage and tripod mounting point (any good photo tripod can be used).

Easy to use PC planetarium software on CDROM

This stunning telescope package will give you amazing views of the Moon, planets, stars and nebulae, and what's more - it'll show you nearly 1471 such objects from your own back-garden at the merest touch of a button!

Finds objects automatically!

The Meade ETX80 Observatory Special Edition has a fully computer controlled mounting with two ultra high-precision motors (like the ones used in the most sophisticated colour ink-jet printers, only more powerful) that work in synchronization with the Autostar electronic brain and steer the telescope to any object in the sky that you select from the illuminated handset. It automatically compensates for the constant rotation of the Earth so that the object (planet, galaxy etc) appears stationary in the eyepiece and allows you to study it in detail.

We know this might sound too good to be true, but it really is like having the brain and knowledge of Patrick Moore or Carl Sagan built in to the telescope, ready to dispense tireless expertise every time you want it! And if you think it sounds almost too simple and will take away the fun of finding out and learning about the universe for yourself: think again. The best way to learn about almost anything is with the aid of an expert and patient teacher. The Meade ETX80 is just that, a PhD-caliber teacher that will let you and your family learn at your leisure and have great fun doing it.

If you've always wanted a top quality telescope for terrestrial and astronomy observation but were worried about the challenge of finding the things you want to see in the night sky, then the ultra portable fully robotic Meade ETX80 with it's advanced computer brain is the ideal scope.

With its pre-assembled and adjustable tripod, the ETX 80 GOTO can be up and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Best of all, for ultra quick setup it can be used on a patio table or window sill as it does not require the tripod to be used.

The unique Autostar alignment technology and the included compass-level makes aligning and setting up a breeze as, unlike other competing GOTO systems, there is no requiirement to know the names and locations of any alignment stars.

A wonderful first-time astronomical scope, the Meade ETX 80 can also be used as a great, land-based spotting telescope (but requires optional erect-image diagonal if a rectified image is required (the image in the telescope eyepiece is reversed left to right without this accessory - most people have no problem with this situation but it can make ships names difficult to read as they all look like they are in Cyrillic! It is normal for astronomical telescopes to do this.

Meade ETX80 features

Autostar Handset Reliable patented Autostar computer-control technology is the brains of the scope and knows the location of 1471 of the sky's best targets - and after easy aligning the scope (takes just a minute!) the ETX80 will show you the best of them any minute of any hour of the night! The handset has state-of-the-art flash upgradeable firmware that can be updated via the Internet.

Tabletop observatory mount The telescope fits to this useful base unit that has holes for convenient eyepiece storage and allows the instrument to be used on any sturdy garden table or standard photographic tripod.

Also included with the "Observatory" ETX80 kit

Two super Plossl eyepieces: 9.5mm (high power), and 26mm (medium power).

Special built-in 2x Barlow lens. Just slide any of the two eyepieces into the telescope eyepiece holder and you can switch in a special built-in Barlow lens to get double the usual magnification. It's like having four eyepieces istead of two!

The ETX80 has a built-in top quality 90 degree mirror star diagonal to allow convenient viewing with no neck strain -the telescope can be switched to straight through viewing for photography at the twist of a knob.

CD-ROM telescope control software, for advanced control of your telescope via computer (additional cable required)

Support pack The instruction manual (in well-written English!) is fully illustrated with clear diagrams.

This outfit is one of our best-ever ultra portable GOTO telescope astronomy starter kit - in fact, all you will need to supply is a clear night!

SPECIFICATIONS

OPTICAL DESIGN: Refractor

APERTURE: 80mm

FOCAL LENGTH: 400mm

MOUNT: Dual Motorized Alt-azimuth

TWO EYEPICES (26mm,9.5mm)

EYEPIECE 1: 26mm

MAGNIFICATION 1 16 x - with Barlow 32x

EYEPIECE 2: 9.5mm

MAGFIFICATION 2 41x - with Barlow 82x

OPTICAL RESOLVING POWER: 1.45 arc seconds

LIGHT GATHERING POWER 131 x

OPTICAL COATINGS Fully-Coated

COMPUTER HAND CONTROL Fully Computerized / Flash Upgradeable

SLEW SPEEDS Nine slew speeds: 4 deg/sec, 2 deg/sec, 1 deg/sec, .5 deg/sec, 32x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 2x

TRACKING RATES Sidereal, Solar and Lunar

DATABASE 1471 Object Database

What can you see with the Meade ETX 80 telescope?

At low to medium power, the ancient landscape of the Moon becomes a fabulously intricate panorama of craters, rays and rills. At higher powers, individual crater systems can be explored. The planet Mars will show many details on its surface, and the polar cap can be seen during ideal observing conditions. At good observing times, when observed at just 40x or higher magnification, the planet Jupiter will appear as a banded disc larger in size than you normally see the full Moon with the unaided eye! The cloud belts of Jupiter will show ever changing detail that will show drift across the planet's face in just a few minutes. The four main moons of Jupiter can be seen orbiting the giant planet, sometimes casting shadows onto Jupiter's dense cloudy atmosphere. The planet Saturn will show its magnificent ring system and its bright famous moon Titan. And the telescope can be used to make terrestrial observations too! It can be used to observe ships on the horizon and birds and wildlife in your garden but remember that without an additional accessory the views will be the right way up but reversed left to right. These are just a few of the things that can be seen in our own solar system with the Meade ETX80 Special Edition computerised telescope.