Practicing setup of a Meade ETX 60AT.

[@mikeries8549]

My father was an astronomy professor. Always wanted to get into it and learned enough to find Polaris and the big dipper but until recently I was clueless. The goto telescope and sky map app opened up the sky for me. There are inexpensive tabletop telescopes where you use these apps to point at the right object too. Several have it where you attach the smartphone and use it to view as well. Eventually I'll start taking pics thru the meade using a dslr camera. Bought the camera for space pictures and so the grandkids can see without using the eyepiece. The bee videos are a side effect. It's cloudy and wet or I'd be filming the inside of a bee hive.

[@cheekygeek]

Just found an ETX-60AT with eyepieces in original box for $35 at a thrift store, so it followed me home! Thanks for the video!

[@TheeHustleHouse]

I just found one with the box at the thrift for $25

[@darrenaddy3287]

@@TheeHustleHouse Sweet! Have fun with it.

[@sail235aeh]

Thanks for your video ! Recently dug out my old ETX 60 from many years ago. Never thought of using the phone to help with the alignment process.

[@mikeries8549]

That app isn't perfect but it at least gets you looking in the right part of the sky. If you know anything about astronomy it gets way easier. Little stuff like the big dipper handle arcs to arcturus. Etc.

[@deniseevans4240]

Thanks so much, I've had this Meade ETX 60AT but it's just been packed away. I finally pulled it out and started to try, again (I tried to use it about 3 years ago but couldn't figure it out) I had no idea I could try it out indoors, figure out the inputs, and how it moves to the spot/direction. So I can at least get that far with it, then go outdoors, hopefully clear skies coming soon ;) Reading the instructions is all fine and good, but having someone actually show me works every time ;) Thank you again!!

[@mikeries8549]

Doing the very first time in the dark will test your emotions out. Another thing that the astronomy people want big money for is an led headlight with a red light. They're a pretty standard item for hunters.

[@mikeries8549]

Oh. The mistake you will make is time. Am Pm. Get that right or you're way off. Lol Daylight savings time? Uhhh. Yes in illinois.

[@deniseevans4240]

@@mikeries8549 well I had this given to me, and it came with a CD/program called Astrofinder but looks like I don't need that at all. Good thing since I just gave my sister my laptop. That was stressing me out right there but when you showed the app, I downloaded it right away ;) I think that's all that astrofinder does!

[@mikeries8549]

@@deniseevans4240 the app isn't exact and neither is the telescope. Expect to make corrections but practice and you get where adjustments are very small. Getting the first star centered is the hardest part. The newer etx 80 telescope with audiostar remembers what time it is so it's even easier to set up.

[@bass117]

Great video, thank you! Clear skies!

[@mingtam4760]

Thank you so much, it is really helpful 👍🏻

[@StaticBlaster]

Thanks for this video bro. Very helpful. I need to figure this thing out before the conjuction of jupiter and saturn on the winter solstice.

[@mikeries8549]

Jupiter is the big one with 4 moons. Saturn is harder to see with naked eye. At high magnification you may have trouble tracking.

[@mikeries8549]

Setting time is where I mess up. Am or pm...

[@DuncanGlendinning]

Clever use of your cell phone to align your telescope - thanks!

[@mikeries8549]

Wanted to add that the green things on sky map are messier objects with numbers like m99. Once I get the camera actually set up where it looks thru the telescope eyepiece to take pictures I'll try to get pictures of a couple. The setup has limitations but is really not bad. The meade etx 60at has f/5.8 which is not exactly slow. 350mm focal length with 60 mm objective lens.

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

💥 This really great info, Mike. I inherited my dads last year after he passed away and couldn’t figure out how to use it but this is quite helpful. If it’s close to locking in on an object but not quite centered is there a way to adjust it slightly either left/right or up/down slightly.? I’m not sure if mine is the 60 or the 70.

[@mikeries8549]

It's been a while but I think there are arrows on the controller. You can adjust "where" the scope is pointing and it will still track.

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

@@mikeries8549 ok, thank you.

[@astrodad-simonb277]

Hi Mike, I have the same set up, but even with new batteries the scope want to go through its alignment but stops with the controller saying an error. Do you know why this is and the any fix. Any help would be gratefully received! Thanks Simon

[@mikeries8549]

There's a setup feature where you teach the scope. Forget where in the menu but you go thru a process to get it to work right . There's a reset in the menu too

[@astrodad-simonb277]

@@mikeries8549 Thanks Mike will let you know how I get on, fingers crossed :-)

[@mikeries8549]

@@astrodad-simonb277 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWHOmIqfhseUfs0

[@mikeries8549]

I bought a new etx 80 backpack telescope and it's way way easier. It remembers what time it is. Very easy.

[@roseheichel-osborne8412]

How do you replace the batteries

[@mikeries8549]

The base has a door on top. Open it and inside is a battery pack. Takes 6 AA cells.

[@ziyadel-ghazi7755]

That's an awesome tutorial tajnk you sir. Please can you tell me about the Meade ETX-60 Does it tracks well ? Is the go-to system accurate ? How does DSOs look in it ? Planets ? What are it's limits And thank you so much

[@mikeries8549]

I looked at planets. It tracks well but you still have to confirm it's pointed at what it says. Use 'sky map' phone app. I bought an etx 80 that's way easier to use.

[@ziyadel-ghazi7755]

@@mikeries8549 thank you so much sir I really appreciate your help. Can you describe how planets are within the ETX-60 ? And Deep Sky Objects too ?

[@mikeries8549]

@@ziyadel-ghazi7755 oh...planets are easy you can easily see the rings of Saturn or the red eye on Jupiter. It's not a bad telescope 60mm is not bad. What is key is that.skymap app to confirm what you're viewing. It's a big sky

[@mikeries8549]

After looking over the video I found that I never showed how I set it "level". There are a scales on each arm. One has numbers and a pointer. Once your base is level set the scale to zero. True north...Lots of ways to do that.

[@mikeries8549]

There's a special compass level you put into the eyepiece.

[@pixbyeli]

I was able to calibrate (I think. It found the moon no problem) but then I chose a star in the sky and it said "below horizon". Wondering if anyone else knows why I might have this problem. Thanks.

[@mikeries8549]

You selected a star that's not visible. It either had not risen yet or had set. To help you need a star map. There are star map apps for your smart phone. Point at the sky and it tells you what your looking at.

[@pixbyeli]

@@mikeries8549 thank you for your response! I know I chose a star that was visible because I was using a star map on my phone and it was above the horizon. Unless I was doing something else wrong.

[@mikeries8549]

@@pixbyeli you had the day or time wrong ...daylight savings time would throw you off by an hour in the sky

[@flyprincess69]

Thanks this helped!👍

[@robertT1930]

Thanks for this tutorial! I’m looking to purchase one. Outside of using the app is there a manual option that you can input? Or do you have to use the app to operate this telescope? Thanks

[@mikeries8549]

The Meade "autostar" controller has thousands of objects in it. The messier objects and others I haven't looked at yet. The phone app is just to give me confidence that it's finding the right star when I use the telescope. Up until recently I couldn't find Sirius or any of the stars the telescope pics. The phone app made magic happen and suddenly it looks like I know what I'm doing. I've been practicing. By the way that's a 20-year-old telescope. They're on ebay for around 80 bucks often. Now the ETX 60AT is nifty and is set up perfectly to view the moon where it takes up the whole field of view. Entire moon in one shot but it's a bit weak on planets. With the highest power eyepiece it comes with it's around 33 power. To really see the planets you want around 200 power. It's a great starter so you can get a feel for the sky which is where I'm at. I'm looking at a starwatcher star adventurer equatorial mount for a camera now. Careful this hobby gets you wanting stuff.

[@mikeries8549]

I'm not sure but meade might be out of business. I ordered a bundle from high point scientific. They sent telescope and eyepieces but the external battery and cord are in limbo. They won't admit that the cord is never coming so I'm sending back a new meade ETX 80. Its nice but the bundle, in stock at the time, isn't. Today you can order the same exact bundle, in stock, and the cord will never come because they went out of business. Naturally I'm bummed. High Point treats me like a bad customer. If I had ten bucks for each time they've used the phrase "we're sorry but due to covid-19..." I could buy another telescope.

[@toddzehr203]

@@mikeries8549 Meade is still in business. Unsure why these bigger companies like Celestron and Meade are always short on stock but it is highly irritating.

[@sunshinenanna69]

The red light comes on but controller doesnt ?

[@cathycav6641]

Hey my telescope won't spin

[@mikeries8549]

Does it go thunk thunk thunk? If so the gear has jumped off the tracks. And I'm the world expert? 😀 Sorry. I think Meade is no longer in business.

[@davidbrandenburg8029]

not all of us use smart phones

[@mikeries8549]

Buy a star map it's really hard. Try and find Arcturus tonight. How? Find the big dipper. The handle forms an arc that "arcs to arcturus". Finding any named star in the sky isn't exactly easy. You have a device obviously...find a star. Sounds easy on the internet.

[@mikeries8549]

Some of us aren't allowed on Facebook but the organization I belong to simply can't accept that they discriminate by using Facebook as their means of communication. Confront them and all hell breaks loose. In a perfect world everyone would have a cell phone and a Facebook account that's not closed.

[@normahostetler7859]

@@mikeries8549 what did you say that caused you to get banned from facebook? I'm banned from Nextdoor. Same management. Most social medias are fascist.

[@polkhigh3333]

Thought this was an episode of Hoarders. Learned how to use a telescope instead.

[@xyo1337]

A tutorial on setup in which you tell people to go elsewhere? Kinda defeats the purpose of the video?

[@mikeries8549]

In a perfect world I'd have a studio and a director and a written script. Im very sorry but when you grow up you will find that the world is not even close to being perfect. Good day. Sorry I tried helping a guy online. Fork u

[@xyo1337]

@@mikeries8549 ...and I need to grow up. Right..

[@richiebricker]

What is with all that noise? almost bought one o these a couple minutes ago. WHEWWW!!!! Ya know how much noise a camera gimbal makes? None. My Hexacopter with 6 motors and blades is alot quieter. My 3D printer has 3 stepper motors and 3 fans together with my Turbocharged Volvo and still quieter. My 120 watt Guitar amp puts out over 120 decibels and is the only thing i qwn thats louder than that. Come on Meade and all the others.... Find some drone enthusiasts and ask em for help with your motors. How ya gonna use that thing at night? Im sure my neighbors would rather hear my table saw or chainsaw even

[@mikeries8549]

It's ancient technology by your more modern ways. The brand new ones make noise too but less. Maybe someday when you grow up they'll invent a silent self pointing telescope. :)