Meade Autostar Computer Controller #497 and #495

Add the Meade Autostar to your ETX telescope for fully
automatic celestial object-location!
One of the most important advances in telescope control in the past
25 years, the Meade #497 Autostar Computer Controller turns the
ETX-90EC or ETX-125EC into an automatic celestial object locating
system. Just plug the Autostar into the telescope's HBX port in place
of the standard-equipment Electronic Controller, do a quick
(less than one minute!) telescope alignment, and you're ready to
observe any object in the Autostar's 14,00-object database.
Best of all, the Meade Autostar is easy to use. Even the most novice
observer will find himself or herself locating dozens of fascinating
celestial objects the very first night out -- from commonly-observed
objects such as the rings of Saturn, the satellites of Jupiter, and the
Orion Nebula(M42); to more difficult objects such as the Ring Nebula
(M57) in Lyra, the Spiral Galaxy (M33) in Triangulum, and the

Sombrero Galaxy(M104) in Virgo; to very obscure objects near the telescope's threshold of visibility such as the diffuse nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius, the galactic star cluster NGC 1778 in Augriga, and the spiral galaxy NGC 3310 in Ursa Major.

Any of the Autostar's database objects can be called up and entered on the hand controller display in seconds. The observer then simply presses the GO TO pushbutton and watches as the telescope slews (moves) to the object and places it in the field of view. The effect of Autostar is to bring objects easily within reach which were previously unreachable for all but the most dedicated of amateur astronomers. Without exaggeration the Meade Autostar Computer Controller opens up a new era in astronomical study for the casual or beginning astronomer, just as Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrains have for the advanced amateur. Most Autostar users see more celestial objects in one night's viewing than typical first-time telescope owners previously have in a lifetime.

Object Database: Included within the Autostar's database are all of the following astronomical objects -- a range of objects certain to keep even the most active amateur astronomer growing his or her studies of the skies for years:

5,386	objects from the Index Catalog (IC); galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters of all types; the complete Index Catalog.
7,840	objects from the New General Catalog (NGC); additional galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters of all types; the complete New General Catalog.
109	objects from the Caldwell Catalog of the best objects for small telescopes.
110	Messier (M) objects; the complete Messier catalog.
943	stars from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) catalog, including 395 double stars, 189 variable stars, and other stars of special note.
50	Earth-orbiting satellites
26	asteroids, including all of the brightest asteroids
15	periodic comets
8	major planets from Mercury to Pluto
14,487	objects, total

ETX-90EC_w_Autostar497.jpg (43918 bytes)

#495 Meade AutoStar Computer Controller for All DS Series EC
	Product Information: Light Years Ahead, Autostar is your palmtop guide to astronomy. Until now, this advanced digital computer technology was only available on the most sophisticated, high end telescopes. Now, its state-of-the-art system brings an intergalactic database to any Meade DS scope. Simply tell it where you want to go by touching the button on the hand-controller, and your telescope will automatically take you there. Go to distant galaxies, explore the eight major planets, visit hundreds of stars, asteroids, and more. A revelation for beginning, intermediate and experienced astronomers. Autostar for the DS/EC series telescopes has a database of over 1500 fascinating sky objects. Press a button and let it take you on a guided tour of Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy and beyond! Requires 10 AA batteries, not included.