Rating: 
Summary: A darn expensive finder/spotting scope
Review: After intensely looking through an acquaintance's Meade ETX-60AT several times, I walked away perplexed. What niche is Meade trying to fill with this scope? One would expect such a small scope to be optimized for planetary viewing- as viewing of the deep sky (star clusters, galaxies, nebulae) is definitely not its strength. However, presumably because of the difficulties inherent in the manufacture of low focal ratio telescopes, the optical quality is too low to give decent views of the moon and planets. What's its current average price, the scope is much less a value than the more useful ETX-90. While there is a market for good, high quality optics of this aperture, this scope doesn't serve it.Views of the moon were muddy and indistinct compared to even the ETX-90- which is not the best scope in the world. Views of stars and star clusters (the aperture is too small to pull in any galaxies, except M31, or nebulae except M42) reminded me of those though my own finder scope, which I had bought for next to nothing at a swap meet. The GOTO system is positively worthless. Almost anything that one would possibly want to look for in this scope would be easily visible to the naked eye, and thus easily pointed at, or too faint to be interesting to the beginner. If the only scope you've ever looked through is a Tasco refractor (a "department store" telescope) the ETX-60AT will be a revelation. However, once you've looked through even the most modest Dobsonian telescope, the views through this scope will seem weak and disappointing. Instead, if you're looking for a relaxing and fun way to sweep the Milky Way, buy a pair of 10x50 (or 7x50) binoculars for 1/4th the price. With them, you'll actually be getting 40 percent more light, you'll be able to use both eyes, and you won't have to fumble with a cumbersome GOTO system to find stuff (there is no finder becasue the lowest power of the scope is about 13, which allows the scope itself to be clumsily used as one.). One interesting feature this scope posseses is the ability to flip a mirror and go from a upside down "astronomical" scope, to a spotting scope with an upright image. If you're looking for a spoting scope for birding, archery, hunting or spying on that cute thing down the beach, you can make do with something simpler (and much less heavy on the wallet) such as the Bushnell 78-1545- which, while not an optical powerhouse itself, will serve those purposes nicely.
Rating: 
Summary: It struck me with awe at first, then with ugh...
Review: After several hundred dollars, I've discovered that this telescope is pretty much useless. An avid star gazer, I would have been better off purchasing the cheapest model at the local department store. I was sold on the idea of the "auto finder" but after reading the instructions and following them. The auto tracker still does not prove worthy. What a piece of junk. The nice thing about it is you can see the moon - oh...and it looks like a really cool telescope....ugh!
Rating: 
Summary: the best money I have spent and the many $$$$ i spent later.
Review: I got this telescope for no particular reason. I had no interest in Astronomy or any thing closely related to star gazing. My back-ground is banking and investments. However, I bought it to start a new hobby. Low and behold, My free time began to disappeared and i was a full-fledge convert of the star-gazing cult. to make it simple it is a great gadget to pull your leg but no a particularly good piece. The software that comes with it is exceptional and indispensable.
Rating: 
Summary: A great all-around telescope
Review: I have had the opportunity to use the Meade ETX-60AT on several nights and find it to be a great telescope for the beginner or casual observer. Its low power fields make it easy to locate objects both astronomical and terrestrial. When higher powers are needed (I have used up to 140X), the telescope provides crisp clear detailed images of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn with its beautiful rings. The advantages of the Autostar computer controller for the beginner cannot be over stated. With no knowledge of the sky, a child or curious adult can find hundreds of astronomical wonders with just the push of a button. The telescope actually moves on its own to find the selected objects and centers them in the eyepiece. It is possible to find less expensive old-technology telescopes, but they will likely be used a few times to look at the Moon and maybe Saturn and then put away in a closet after the novice user becomes frustrated at not being able to find any other objects such as the star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae that are within the reach of a telescope of this size. A person using the ETX-60AT telescope can see many more celestial objects in one evening than most people will ever see in a lifetime. I have been involved with amateur astronomy for over 30 years and I can tell you, this telescope is the best way to introduce the treasures of the night sky to anyone interested in what the cosmos has to offer. I have purchased 2 of the ETX-60ATs for non-astronomical friends and they love them.
Rating:
Summary: A great all-around telescope
Review: I have had the opportunity to use the Meade ETX-60AT on several nights and find it to be a great telescope for the beginner or casual observer. Its low power fields make it easy to locate objects both astronomical and terrestrial. When higher powers are needed (I have used up to 140X), the telescope provides crisp clear detailed images of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn with its beautiful rings. The advantages of the Autostar computer controller for the beginner cannot be over stated. With no knowledge of the sky, a child or curious adult can find hundreds of astronomical wonders with just the push of a button. The telescope actually moves on its own to find the selected objects and centers them in the eyepiece. It is possible to find less expensive old-technology telescopes, but they will likely be used a few times to look at the Moon and maybe Saturn and then put away in a closet after the novice user becomes frustrated at not being able to find any other objects such as the star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae that are within the reach of a telescope of this size. A person using the ETX-60AT telescope can see many more celestial objects in one evening than most people will ever see in a lifetime. I have been involved with amateur astronomy for over 30 years and I can tell you, this telescope is the best way to introduce the treasures of the night sky to anyone interested in what the cosmos has to offer. I have purchased 2 of the ETX-60ATs for non-astronomical friends and they love them.
Rating:
Summary: My five-year-old loves it.
Review: I purchased this "beginners" telescope for my five-year-old son for Christmas and he and I have truly enjoyed it. All features work as advertised. The telescope must first be "aligned" by pointing it due north, setting the date and time, and then centering two stars it rotates to in the eyepiece. Once this is done the telescope finds anything an amateur astronomer could hope for automatically. The images of planets are not large. Saturn and its rings are visible, but still quite small with the delivered eyepieces. I plan to purchase the 3x Barlow lens and the 6mm eye piece to increase magnification up to 175x. This telescope is rated at a maximum of 200x magnification. The only reason I did not rate this item 5 stars is due to my mild disappointment in the delivered magnification.
Rating:
Summary: My five-year-old loves it.
Review: I purchased this "beginners" telescope for my five-year-old son for Christmas and he and I have truly enjoyed it. All features work as advertised. The telescope must first be "aligned" by pointing it due north, setting the date and time, and then centering two stars it rotates to in the eyepiece. Once this is done the telescope finds anything an amateur astronomer could hope for automatically. The images of planets are not large. Saturn and its rings are visible, but still quite small with the delivered eyepieces. I plan to purchase the 3x Barlow lens and the 6mm eye piece to increase magnification up to 175x. This telescope is rated at a maximum of 200x magnification. The only reason I did not rate this item 5 stars is due to my mild disappointment in the delivered magnification.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Little Scope
Review: I've seen alot of negative reviews on this telescope and all I can say is: I absolutly love it. True, it isn't the best telescope as far as observing deep sky objects or even some of the planets. But it isn't usless as some claim. I have been an amatuer astronomer for well over 25 years and have uses a variety of telescopes. Yes, through some scopes the details of planets are better and can see galaxies and nebula more clearly, but this is my favorite telescope so far (until I can afford a bigger one). First of all, the telestar systems works well. Once you set it up, it guides the telescope to whatever you punch in. sometimes, it get's off, but it is almost always because of user error or low batteris. I have seen things in the night sky I had never seen before for the simple reason because i couldn't find it--I've always had trouble with using degrees, seconds, and minutes. So it was well worth the price for the scope. True, if you're used to using bigger scopes, then no, this scope isn't for you. But if you are new to astronmy or you are thinking of buying a telescope for the kids, then have no reservations on getting this telescope. I've seen quite a bit with mine. I've seen the snow caps on Mars and a little detail of the planets surface, the rings of Saturn, Jupiter looks great and you can see a few of the planet's band of clouds. I even saw Uranus, although basically all I saw was a bluish/green "star". And of course the Moon. The Moon is fantastic through the eyepiece of the 60mm ETX. Viewing nebula is where this scope has trouble, though. However, most people starting out want to see the moon and planets anyway. Besides, no amatuer scope shows the detail and size that we are accustomed to seeing in books and magazines. So, I can't see why everyone is downing the telescope. For a small, cheap scope, nothing beats it. Yes, for the money, you could by a better scope that will let you see more detail, but good luck in finding something to look at. The ETX 60mm gives you the capability to find objects with just a press of a button, if you're new to astronomy, or buying one for your kids, do you want to have to search tediously for the Andromeda Galaxy, or a comet. Or, would you rather press a button and have the scope do the work for you? The ETX 60mm is worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Little Scope
Review: I've seen alot of negative reviews on this telescope and all I can say is: I absolutly love it. True, it isn't the best telescope as far as observing deep sky objects or even some of the planets. But it isn't usless as some claim. I have been an amatuer astronomer for well over 25 years and have uses a variety of telescopes. Yes, through some scopes the details of planets are better and can see galaxies and nebula more clearly, but this is my favorite telescope so far (until I can afford a bigger one). First of all, the telestar systems works well. Once you set it up, it guides the telescope to whatever you punch in. sometimes, it get's off, but it is almost always because of user error or low batteris. I have seen things in the night sky I had never seen before for the simple reason because i couldn't find it--I've always had trouble with using degrees, seconds, and minutes. So it was well worth the price for the scope. True, if you're used to using bigger scopes, then no, this scope isn't for you. But if you are new to astronmy or you are thinking of buying a telescope for the kids, then have no reservations on getting this telescope. I've seen quite a bit with mine. I've seen the snow caps on Mars and a little detail of the planets surface, the rings of Saturn, Jupiter looks great and you can see a few of the planet's band of clouds. I even saw Uranus, although basically all I saw was a bluish/green "star". And of course the Moon. The Moon is fantastic through the eyepiece of the 60mm ETX. Viewing nebula is where this scope has trouble, though. However, most people starting out want to see the moon and planets anyway. Besides, no amatuer scope shows the detail and size that we are accustomed to seeing in books and magazines. So, I can't see why everyone is downing the telescope. For a small, cheap scope, nothing beats it. Yes, for the money, you could by a better scope that will let you see more detail, but good luck in finding something to look at. The ETX 60mm gives you the capability to find objects with just a press of a button, if you're new to astronomy, or buying one for your kids, do you want to have to search tediously for the Andromeda Galaxy, or a comet. Or, would you rather press a button and have the scope do the work for you? The ETX 60mm is worth the price.
Rating: 
Summary: A neat scope- but for low magnifications only
Review: This is a cute little scope, and certainly the smallest automated observatory available. But be forwarned: That short-focus 60mm scope is not in the same league as Meade's similar-looking ETX-90,or even most 60mm refractors. The short focal length means that trying to use magnifications much over 40x-50x will result in severe color fringing. It's a fine little package for viewing many deep sky objects, comets, and for low magnifications of the moon. You can count the moons of Jupiter and Saturn with it, but don't expect Hubble-like views of the planets, most of which will appear as small dots. If you understand the limitations of this scope, you'll enjoy it. If you're looking for more detailed planetary views, or in exploring a great number of deep sky objects, look to a larger scope.
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