Compared to the smaller scopes in the ETX line, the five inch aperture of the ETX125EC brings out significantly more detail in the moon, the planets, and deep space objects. How much detail? The Ring Nebula, M57, looks like a pale smoke ring. The dark dust lane that shapes the Sombrero galaxy, M104, shows itself by dramatically flattening the south side of M104's glowing spindle shape. (You'll still need a little imagination to see a "sombrero.") Jupiter's "Great Red Spot" is visible (it's actually pale tan this year), and Saturn's rings take on detail and shading that you just don't see in a smaller telescope.

Ironically, the high powered optics of the ETX125EC are also its biggest drawback. While observing planets at 200X magnification or more, any vibration while focusing or tracking is also magnified two hundred times. The Series 4000 26mm eyepiece gives a one degree true field of view with an ETX-90. The same standard eyepiece reveals only 0.7 degrees and only half the viewing area with the ETX125EC. In practical terms, this means that the Autostar controller may not hit the target every time the way it does with the smaller ETX models. Meade's clever solution is the "spiral search," which helps to locate targets that wind up just outside the field of view--all you have to do is press "GO TO" a second time and Autostar will begin a search pattern to help you find your target.

This scope has proven popular among telescope enthusiasts for its flexibility. One friend who bought an ETX125EC as his first telescope doesn't bother with the Autostar--he likes to look at the planets, and he can find them himself, thank you. Another friend is an experienced observer with several big telescopes in the garage and bought one for it's portability--he's planning to travel east on a star gazing trek this summer and will use the ETX125EC as his traveling scope.

Some owners of this telescope will want to add Meade's #1247 electric focuser and anti-vibration pads to reduce vibration problems. Just be aware that eight inch Schmidt-Cassegrains from Meade or Celestron are more solidly mounted, yet don't cost much more than an ETX125EC souped up with accessories. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Excellent optics
• Autostar computer
• Portable size

• Sensitive to vibration

The computer-driven Autostar controller makes it easy to find 30,000 celestial objects.

Just plug the Autostar into the telescope's HBX port in place of the standard-equipment electronic controller, do a quick telescope alignment, and you're ready to observe any object in the Autostar's 30,000-object database.

ETX optical systems include a Maksutov meniscus corrector lens of Grade-A BK7 optical glass. High-transmission magnesium fluoride (MgF2) coatings on both sides of the correcting lens, as well as aluminum-silicon monoxide coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors, are provided as standard equipment.

Use the standard pushbutton electronic controller at any of four dual-axis speeds: 8x sidereal for image centering in the main telescope at high power; 32x for image centering at lower powers or for pushbutton object tracking in the altazimuth mode; slow mode for image centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking of nature and sightseeing; or medium speed for fast slewing across the sky. The observer can instantly select any of these speeds simply by depressing the speed button on the controller.

The telescope's ultraportable design allows the viewer to view from any flat surface, be it a window sill, car hood, or picnic table. The optional tripod can raise the telescope to any comfortable height.

The Nuts and Bolts

1. Eyepiece 2. Viewfinder 3. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew - Tightens the eyepiece in place. 4. 90 Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing. 5. Optical Tube - The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece. 6. Vertical Lock - Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. 7. Fork Arms - Hold the optical tube in place. 8. Focus Knob - Moves the telescope's optical tube in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus. 9. Horizontal Lock - Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. 10. Computer Control Panel A. ON/OFF Switch. B. Auxiliary Ports - Provide connection for current and future Meade accessories. C. Handbox (HBX) Port - for the Electronic Controller or the optional Autostar handbox. D. The 12v connector, designed to accept an external power supply such as the optional AC Adapter or Power Cord. E. LED power indicator light. 11. Base Housing - Supports the telescope for placement on a flat, level surface, such as a tabletop or optional tripod. 12. Holes for Optional Tripod - See your tripod's instruction sheet for mounting information. 13. Right Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle. 14. Flip-Mirror and Flip-Mirror Control Knobs - ETX telescopes include an internal mirror. With the flipmirror control in the "up" position, light is diverted to the eyepiece. With the flipmirror control in the "down" position, as shown in Fig. 2b, light proceeds straight out the photo port for photography. 15. Photo Port - Attach any 35mm camera with a removable lens to this port using an optional adapter. 16. Declination Setting Circle (on left fork arm). 17. Viewfinder Alignment Screws - adjust these screws to align the viewfinder. 18. Viewfinder Alignment Bracket. 19. Dust Cap 20. Battery Compartment (not shown, underneath base).

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