Meade ETX-60AT: A Guide to the Classic 60 mm GoTo Refractor With Autostar

The Meade ETX-60AT is a small computerised refractor from Meade’s ETX range, sold with the Autostar hand controller. The earlier post on this site was a used-sale listing for one that had been stored for years and used only a few times. This rewrite explains what the telescope is and how to use it, based on Meade’s ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT instruction manual.

Verified details from Meade’s manual

• Optical design: refractor
• Aperture: 60 mm (the “60” in the name)
• Focal length: 350 mm; focal ratio f/5.8
• Eyepieces: MA 25 mm and MA 9 mm, giving 14x and 39x
• Hand controller: Autostar, able to move the telescope automatically to any of the 1400 objects in its database
• Power: six AA batteries, supplied by the user, fitted in a compartment on top of the drive base
• Movement: altitude-azimuth (Alt/Az) mount with motorised tracking
• Also usable as a 350 mm telephoto lens for photography with the optional #64ST T-Adapter

How the Autostar works

Meade’s manual explains that the Autostar does not need its own batteries: the telescope’s batteries power it. After you set up and align the telescope, you can:

• Choose an object from the Autostar’s database of 1400 objects and let the telescope slew to it
• Let the mount track the object automatically as the Earth turns
• Explore guided tours of objects visible that night

Follow the alignment steps in the manual carefully, including entering your location, date and time.

Magnification

Magnification equals focal length divided by eyepiece focal length:

• MA 25 mm: 14x. The manual says this eyepiece gives a wide, comfortable field of view.
• MA 9 mm: 39x. A smaller field of view with higher magnification, for when seeing conditions permit.

The short 350 mm focal length favours low powers and wide views. A Barlow lens or a shorter eyepiece can give more magnification for the Moon and planets, though a 60 mm aperture limits how much useful detail you can see.

What can you see?

• The Moon: craters and mountains, especially along the line between light and shadow
• Jupiter: up to four moons beside the planet
• Saturn: a small image with the rings visible at higher power on a steady night
• Star clusters: the Pleiades and other bright open clusters suit the wide, low-power view
• Daytime: Meade’s manual says the ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT make excellent terrestrial telescopes

Battery care: important for used telescopes

The original seller stored the telescope with no batteries in it, which is exactly what Meade recommends. The manual warns:

• Install batteries the right way round, and do not mix new and used batteries or different battery types.
• Incorrectly installed batteries can leak, catch fire or explode, and void the warranty.
• Remove the batteries if the telescope will not be used for a long time.

When reconnecting the battery holder, the manual advises unplugging the 9V-style connector before removing batteries, to protect the wires.

Checking a used ETX-60AT

• Power on: with fresh batteries fitted, the Autostar should display text, and the mount should move in all directions, as the original seller reported.
• Optics: look through the front lens with a torch for fungus, haze or scratches.
• Eyepieces: check that both MA eyepieces are present, and inspect rubber eyecups for tears. The listing noted a small tear in one eyecup, which does not affect the view.
• Manual and accessories: the original listing included the instructions, which help with alignment.

Beginner tips

• Start in daylight. Practise setting up and focusing on a distant object.
• Use the 25 mm eyepiece first to find and centre objects.
• Use a stable table or tripod. A small telescope still needs a steady base.
• Never point at the Sun without a certified solar filter covering the front lens.

Who is it for?

The ETX-60AT is a compact, beginner-friendly GoTo refractor for the Moon, bright planets, star clusters and daytime views. A well-kept used example, like the one in the original listing, can still be a fun introduction to computerised stargazing.

Quick summary

• 60 mm refractor, 350 mm focal length, f/5.8.
• MA 25 mm (14x) and MA 9 mm (39x) eyepieces.
• Autostar hand controller with 1400 objects, powered by the telescope’s six AA batteries.
• Motorised Alt/Az mount with automatic tracking.
• Store it without batteries, and never mix old and new cells.