Product: Meade ETX-80AT-TC GO TO COMPUTER TELESCOPE (MODEL 0805-04-21)

Price: Under $300.00

Consumer: Beginner Astronomers

This is Meade’s newest ETX telescope – the ETX-80AT-TC Go To Computer Telescope Model 0805-04-21. Meade’s new, larger 80mm diameter ETX telescope is a real prize package. It delivers more light-gathering which results in increased image brightness and much greater detail.

The manufacturer’s hi-tech AutoStar computer can solve the amateur astronomer’s 2 biggest challenges with the navigation of the nights sky with a computer telescope:

1. Alignment of the telescope with the night sky
2. Locating celestial phenomenon in the star filled heavens.

Once initialized, which is a simple step-by-step process, AutoStar will make locating the heaven’s elusive jewels virtually as easy as pushing a few buttons. You can observe land or over 1400 celestial objects in high resolution, as well as, learn about the sky with Meade’s comprehensive astro-library.

Pros:

• An internal Time Chip (TC) keeps precise factory calibrated time and date.
• A built-in Barlow Lens flips into position when needed. This highly desirable feature provides more power when studying lunar and planetary surface features.
• A Bubble-level/Compass is provided to make initialization faster and easier.
• Includes a sturdy, adjustable, aluminum tripod
• Now includes two premium 4-element 1.25″ Super Plössl eyepieces (SP9.7mm, SP26mm) for more comfortable long viewing eye relief and an expansive wide visual field.
• AutoStar Suite Astronomer Software on DVD for PC, now with instructional DVD.

Cons:

• The Meade ETX-80AT-TC telescope is a beginner telescope and geared toward the beginner or low intermediate skill level astronomer. So, if you are more of an advanced stargazer, you may wish to upgrade to a more advanced model.

Price Guarantee: Telescopes.com is an authorized Meade telescope dealer and will meet or beat any advertised price on the same item (see website for details).

The Bottom Line: This is a great beginner telescope for novice astronomers who want more than just a basic model. Packed with many attractive features, the value is here with this telescope. Any experienced astronomer will tell you that it is light gathering, and not power, that makes all the difference in stargazing. Meade’s 1.25″ diameter Super Plössl eyepieces provide wider fields of view, allowing you to see more of the sky at greater magnifications. This telescope is a winner!

Where to buy: Telescopes.com

Sample User Reviews:

ETX-80AT-TC Astro Telescope with AutoStar - B. Dermont
“A good beginner’s telescope for the price. Do not expect to see the large and detailed images of planets such as the images of Saturn or Jupiter prominently displayed on the shipping box. But they are easily observed using the ETX-80AT. The soft case provided for the tripod probably won’t be used much if at all. Better Meade should throw in some other useful item in place. Perhaps a beginner’s guide to astronomy or LED Flashlight with red lens. The instruction manual and CD go a long way towards helping a novice set up their scope for “first light”. BUT they leave out one crucial part of aligning the telescope. A combination bubble level/compass is provided to set the scope level and to magnetic north. The instructions fail to tell the user the scope must then be adjusted for magnetic deviation to true north. This will result in the telescope pointing frustratingly far from the target stars needed to align the scope. Once the scope is aligned it tracks very well. Some people complain the autostar tracking system uses up batteries very quickly. I have not found this to be a major issue. But be sure to have spares on hand as they will die in the middle of a viewing session. All in all you get what you pay for. This is an inexpensive refractor that appears to have pretty decent optics.”

ETX-80AT-TC Astro Telescope with AutoStar - Jamie Mazurowski
“I like the telescope very much. It’s my first telescope. I had a little difficulty getting it lined up because I didn’t know the names of the stars it was trying to line up to. Even though I had it pointed north and had it level, I always have to slew the 2 motors to get the alignment star in the field of view. I also found it is easier to get it lined up in the early evening when there aren’t so many stars out. The alignment stars are usually bright and easier to pick out in the early evening. You still need to know the alignment stars’ names and where they are or you won’t know where the telescope should be pointing. I had to get a star atlas to get familiar. It was pretty easy to get it lined up when I learned a little bit. Also, this telescope doesn’t have a dew shield out yet. I just wrapped a sale flier (plenty of them in the mailbox everyday) around the scope and taped it. Seems to work fine and blocks out some of the street light as well. I hope they come out with a dew shield for this model soon. I also trained the scope on my bird feeder and got some pretty awesome views. The moon looks pretty good as well.”

This Meade reflector telescope is ideal for the novice astronomer because of the features packed in this very affordable telescope. The large 114mm-diameter mirror in this model can gather 361% more light than a typical 60mm telescope, giving you the ability to see fainter, more distant stars and planets in far greater detail.

If you are looking for a great child telescope for your youngster, you should take a hard look at this Meade model. It is designed for easy operation, yet has a number of features generally found on far more expensive models.

One feature that stands out is the equatorial mount on the Meade 114EQ-ASTR. Because the earth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours, celestial objects move rapidly through the telescopic field, particularly at higher powers. This feature, the equatorial mount of the Meade 114EQ-ASTR, greatly facilitates object tracking: simply turn one or both of the control cables.

Other features include:

• 114mm Aperture (4.5″)
• Focal Length - 1000mm
• Focal Ratio - f/8.8
• Rack-and-Pinion Focuser
• Equatorial Mount w/Slow Motion Controls
• Setting Circles
• Latitude Control w/Scale
• Two 1.25″ Eyepieces - 9mm and 25mm
• Red Dot Viewfinder
• Aluminum Tripod w/Accessory Shelf
• Astronomical Software and Instructional DVD

At present, Meade is offering a free electronic eyepiece with the purchase of the Meade 114EQ-ASTR, adding even more value to this extraordinary telescope package.

The beginning amateur who intends to use a telescope regularly will find the Meade 114EQ-ASTR a valuable investment in astronomical enjoyment. You may want to read more about this fine reflector telescope at our recommended merchant, Telescopes.com, and read reviews by actual Meade 114EQ-ASTR users. These same users have rated the Meade reflector telescope an excellent 4.5 Stars (out of 5.0).

Anyone associated with amateur astronomy and stargazing will also be very familiar with the name of one of the best telescopes on the market – the Meade telescope. This is often the first name that pops into a prospective telescope buyer’s mind when they want a top-selling quality telescope at reasonable prices.

Selecting Your Meade Telescope

Before selecting a Meade telescope, you need to consider the intended application and your experience level. For the beginner, or amateur telescope user, you may opt for either a Meade refractor telescope or a Meade reflector telescope.

The reflector Meade telescopes are more suited for those who are interested in astronomy. They have larger apertures and provide good value for your invested dollar.

One of the great features of a Meade telescope is that they are easy to set up and are a sturdy instrument that one can use and enjoy for years. They are an ideal telescope as you improve your stargazing skills, while learning more about the night skies in one’s area.

Meade is a World Leader in Telescope Design for Amateurs

Meade, which was founded in 1972, is a world leader when it comes to the design as well as manufacture of telescopes and accessories for amateur astronomers. The products that this company sells are innovative and incorporate the best in technology to give the user an advanced product that is arguably one of the best that can be found anywhere in the world.

With a Mead telescope, one can expect to experience quality viewing at a budget price. They have a number of product lines, like the DS Meade telescope line, that provide a wide variety of options and price ranges to meet every stargazer’s budget.

Meade Telescopes for all Experience Levels

Meade produces a high-performance 70mm Meade refractor telescope that would make any beginning astronomer proud to own one. It is great for use in terrestrial observations or for astronomy. With one of these telescopes, one can view the rings of Saturn and the satellites of Jupiter with sharpness, as well as clarity of images.

The Meade RCX400 Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien Telescopes are the best in optical design in telescopes that helps produce large, coma-free field of vision from edge-to-edge, and allows astrophotography to get the best in imaging technology and capture crisp as well as sharp images over a wider field. Through such a Meade telescope, viewers are able to pinpoint stars as well as extended objects, however far they may be. In fact, almost every professional reflector telescope, including the Hubble Space Telescope, is a Ritchey-Chrétien.

One of the most popular and widely used research telescopes on earth is the LX200 Meade telescope. It comes with the most advanced optical system in space. Meade’s all new LX200R brings Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien optics within reach of aspiring astronomers everywhere.

The LightBridge Meade telescope is not just a big telescope; it is a big telescope that goes anywhere. New LightBridge Truss-Dobs from Meade take down and set up quickly. So you can take one of these massive windows on the universe out to your favorite dark sky location with ease. The amazing part is that this LightBridge telescope gives you high quality Meade optics, premium components and ultra portability - all for about the same price as an ordinary tube Dobsonian.

Advanced Telescope Features for Easier Use

The AutoStar Meade telescope feature was introduced by Meade and incorporates a “brainy’ computer that solves the stargazer’s two biggest challenges in navigating the heavens with a computer telescope: aligning the telescope with the night sky and finding celestial phenomenon in the vast starry firmament. Right out of the box with a simple initialization, the AutoStar feature makes finding the sky’s elusive jewels virtually as easy as pushing a few buttons.

These are just a few of the most popular telescope lines and features offered by Meade. For a more complete selection, check out our site review section to find the largest variety of Meade telescopes at the best prices. Or, you can view the entire line of Meade telescopes now at Telescopes.com