Rating: 
Summary: Don't EXPECT it to be EASY
Review: I have been interested in astronomy for 50+ yrs. However, the Hubble and new (better for the price) equipment has moved my interest up again. Many years ago a friend and I had a good size scope in an actual observatory with the proper motion for both the telescope and the dome. Working with charts was HARD and we took courses to improve and took wonderful pictures. If you ARE A BEGINNER, DO--NOT--EXPECT TO MASTER THIS TELESCOPE LIKE A TOY. IT WILL TAKE WORK AND STUDY, BUT THE RESULTS CAN BE AWE INSPIRING. Buy some books, take a course, join a group. You can get an atomic clock for a few dollars--I got one just because I have a good watch and want it to be set EXACTLY to the correct time. Get a GPS (it has many other good uses), and a digital compass (you can also mount it in your car) that you can box to true north. Yes, you can get along with less--but the cost isn't high and the results are wonderful because with some practice you will get set up accurately and quickly no matter where you are--AND THEN THE FUN BEGINS!
Rating: 
Summary: A telescope with great potential
Review: I received this telescope as a Christmas gift last year. For over two months I've been trying to make it work with limited success. I've written a five-page letter to Meade with my complaints and suggestions. I hope they respond. My letter is available if requested.After a great deal of effort and study I got the scope motors trained. This step is absolutely essential if one expects the scope to automatically point in the right direction. I eventually aligned the scope and found the moon by asking for it. Then I wanted Jupiter and selected it from a menu on the Autostar. I got a strange message on the Autostar controller "Proc. Trap 2" with a blinking +/- sign. There's nothing I could find about this in the instruction manual. The only way I could bail out was by turning the power off. This has happened many times. Documention is not good. My instructions from Meade on training motors was for a DS series telescope. Only by learning about other Meade scopes did I realize I had info for the wrong scope. The flow charts for alignment in the manual don't agree with Astrostar displays. Much better documentation is needed. For a novice like me, clear, well written, and accurate instructions are essential. Clearly higher quality control and better manuals are needed. The screws meant to hold my scope to the tripod were bad. I had to clean the threads with a 1/4-20 die. After the second use a tripod leg clamp lever broke. Now one leg is permanently extended. The optics are great. Terrestrial viewing is terrific, especially bird watching with the optional erecting prism. The scope cries for a good digital camera. Included software is good. Starry Night is an excellent educational tool for learning about the night sky. The other software, Astronomer's Control Panel isn't optimized for the ETX-70AT. I've tried to send my PC date and time to the scope and get errors about "illegal format" with no help. It's amazing to me that one can buy a computer controlled telescope with great optics for less than $(...). This instrument has so much potential. It's a shame that Meade appears to be so lax about quality control. This is an entry level instrument and should get a lot of attention. I'll keep trying to make it reach its potential.
Rating:
Summary: good instrument, a bit oversold
Review: I researched my telescope purchase extensively and am very happy with my choice. However, emerging astronomers should be aware that a telescope of this size will only be able to see all the items they say it can see if you are in the middle of the desert (dry air) on a clear night with no moon. If your viewing conditions fall short of this, the visibility of the planets and the level of detail observable on them is severely limited. I'm probably incompetent but so far I've found viewing deep space objects frustratingly difficult. I would also suggest that the Barlow lens option is VERY worthwhile to get maximum enjoyment. I can happily report, however, that the autostar tracking system works perfectly once the system is aligned. You really, really can just bring up an object, hit GOTO, and it goes there....pretty cool.....
Rating:
Summary: An instrument with great potential
Review: I've owned an ETX-70AT for almost three months. It continues to frustrate me. I am a novice at astronomy, but I do understand technical matters and technical writing. I really want it to work and will keep trying. The scope optics are great. The Autostar controller software is awful. The instruction manual needs significant improvment. Scope alignment is difficult. Training the motors is essential, but Meade sent me instructions for another scope. A leg clamp on the tripot broke on the second use. The scope learning curve is long and steep. I've written a five-page letter to Meade describing my problems and suggestions. I hope Meade will address them...
Rating:
Summary: Worth it for the Autostar
Review: I've owned this telescope for a few months now. In all that time I've taken to a dark sky site (my dad's house)at least twice a week, so I've had quite a bit of experience using it. First off, if you're looking for impressive views of the planets or deep sky objects, you'll be disappointed. For the same amount of money you could buy a Dobsonian reflector (6") which gathers *much* more light. But you don't buy a telescope like this for its optics. The real reason to own the ETX-70AT is for the Autostar computer! That was the whole reason I purchased this scope, and it was worth it. The Autostar is a great learning tool. I've learned many constellations thanks to it, as well as the location of several deep sky objects (my favorite is the Andromeda Galaxy). Aligning the telescope for use with the Autostar is easy as long as you buy a circular bubble level and possibly a compass if you don't know the location of Polaris. After levelling the scope and tube, and pointing it north, setup is a breeze; you simply align it with two bright stars--Arcturus and Vega for example. If you choose "easy" mode, the Autostar automatically selects two of the brightest stars in the sky, ones that really stand out from neighboring stars. So even if you don't recognize Arcturus when you see it, you'll know it when you're looking at it through the finder because it's by far the brightest star in that part of the sky. Once the simple alignment procedure is completed, the fun begins. You can choose from several different categories of objects, but my favorite thing to choose is the guided tour called "Tonight's Best". Since the Autostar knows your date and time, it automatically picks out the best objects in the sky for that particular time. Last night, it chose such things as the Andromeda Galaxy, Neptune, and several star clusters. If the Moon is out, you can be sure that it'll be on its list as well. If you're new to astronomy--like I am--I think you'd enjoy this telescope simply for the Autostar, but if you're looking for detailed, bright views, you'd probably be better served with a larger reflecting telescope. I just bought an 8" Dobsonian, which wasn't much more expensive than the Meade, and it's really no comparison. The Dob looks better for everything. But, I'm still glad I own the Meade. It's a great learning tool, and it's far more portable than a larger scope. I've taken it on several long hikes this summer when I've gone camping and it easily fits (minus the tripod, of course) in my backpack. So I see no reason to get rid of it. Even when I use my bigger scope I like to set the 70AT up alongside it to help me find deep sky objects. So if you're new to astronomy, and just kind of testing the waters and want something portable, I give this a high recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: welllllll it was ok (only jokinig it was great)
Review: its a grate telescope for a biginer like me is sopost to be a crismas prezzi but i ve used it be for the big day thae planet ar in a good state and clear and the orion nebula looks great and the moon is just stunnig the next thing on my list with the small but good scope is to try it out with some astrophogrophy only bad thing is the lingn met it took time for me to get i working over all its an amazing telescope for price and capebilaty
Rating:
Summary: Meade ETX-70AT Telescope w/Tripod and CCD Camera
Review: Meade ETX-70AT Telescope w/Tripod and CCD Camera is an excellent Telescope and good buy. Got one for Christmas 2001 and have had alot of fun with it so far. Live in Illinois so have to be brave to use it this time of the year but I still do. Works excellent, easy to set up and crystal clear viewing. Using the 9mm that came with it I could view the stars with clarity and excellent Terrestial viewing. I was watching Jet Airliners (only a white jet stream by sight) but with the scope I could see the colors of the planes wings and the dark outlines of the windows. With a 2X or 3X barlow lense, probably would not be any problem to see the people in the planes. Definently get a 2,3X Barlow and maybe a PLM4mm lens 88X(264X with a 3X barlow). Really having a lot of fun with it though.
mcm
Rating: 
Summary: ETX-70 Good starter but beware...
Review: My 1st scope and I have no major complaints (except for the poorly placed focuser). Astronomy newbies beware though, this scope has a focal length of only 350 mm. That makes for very small images with the supplied eyepieces. I then purchased the Meade 2X Barlow. Saturn's rings and Jupiter's cloud banding now visible but still not quite what I expected. The limited focal length compels the 70 to be used as a wide field scope. Pleiades looks excellent but better through a quality pair of astronomical binocs. The Autostar is probably it's best feature and works as advertised. Prospective buyers will need a quality small eyepiece 4-5 mm and also a high quality Barlow to see planetary detail.
Rating:
Summary: Good for beginners
Review: My teenage daughter was thrilled to receive the telescope for Christmas of 2001. However, after the first week, she wanted a closer look and need more lenses. When you buy this, be sure to also get a Barlow Lens for more detailed viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Good for beginners
Review: My teenage daughter was thrilled to receive the telescope for Christmas of 2001. However, after the first week, she wanted a closer look and need more lenses. When you buy this, be sure to also get a Barlow Lens for more detailed viewing.
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