Put your Meade ETX-60AT, ETX-70AT, ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC or ETX-125EC telescope on your photo/video tripod with the Big Foot photo tripod adaptor . Why spend $100-$200 for a telescope tripod when you already have a photo or video tripod?
What is a BIG FOOT Photo Tripod Adaptor?
This Photo Tripod Adaptor has a full 2" x 2" (4 sq. inches) low profile (1/2 inch) attachment pad with the tripod. This is much more contact area than other similar product.
What is the Advantage of the BIG FOOT tripod Adaptor?
1 The tripod attachment pad is often made of a flexible material like rubber. The BIG FOOT allow the tighten force to spread over a larger area. This means a tighter attachment..
2 The low profile means less leverage to flex. Bigger contact area means less likely to flex.
3 The telescope will stand on the BIG FOOT. You can place the telescope on a flat surface without removing the adaptor. The telescope can and will stand on the big foot adaptor without tipping over on a flat surface. The telescope with other adaptor will not stand on it own without tipping over because of the small attachment contact area. You have to either remove the adaptor immediately or let the telescope lie on its side. What a pain!
4 Attach your telescope to any photo/video tripod with a standard 1/4"-20 thread
5 Made of solid aluminum
6 Made in the U.S.A.
Polar Alignment, Alt/Az Aignmetn for The Meade ETX Telescope
There is an option in the Autostar that sets the Mount for Meade ETX telescopes. You can choose to put the telescope in the Polar or Alt/Az position. This refers to the HOME position of the Meade ETX telescope. This is the initial position that you must place the telescope in when you start the Polar alignment or Alt/az alignment procedure. You must place the telescope in the same position that you chose in the Meade Autostar. Meade DS series telescopes cannot operate in Polar position
There is an option in the Autostar that sets the Mount for Meade ETX telescopes. You can choose to put the telescope in the Polar or Alt/Az position. This refers to the HOME position of the Meade ETX telescope. This is the initial position that you must place the telescope in when you start the Polar alignment or Alt/az alignment procedure. You must place the telescope in the same position that you chose in the Meade Autostar. Meade DS series telescopes cannot operate in Polar position
Polar Alignment Home Position
The official Meade manual for the Meade ETX-90EC and Meade ETX-125EC does not include good instructions on how to place the telescope in the Polar mount position. To make matters worse, the picture provided in the ETX-90EC and Meade ETX-125EC manual of the Polar position is incorrect. This, in itself, can cause confusion.
Polar alignment home position characteristics
1) The telescope should be pointed to the general direction of North.
2) If you are facing north, the computer control panel should be on the left (west) side.
3) The telescope should be turned counter clockwise until it reaches a hard stop and reversed back so that the DEC dial is above the computer panel.
4) The fork arm should be leveled.
5) The DEC dial should point to 90° on the DEC dial.
6) The latitude adjustment on the tripod should be set to the latitude of your location.
7) OTA should point at NCP.Alt/Az Position
Alt/Az Home Position
Alt/Az home position characteristics:
1) Tripod/telescope base should level.
2) If you are facing north, the computer control panel should be on the west side.
3) The telescope should be turned counter-clockwise until it reaches a hard stop and reversed back so the DEC dial is above the computer panel.
4) The OTA should be level.
5) The DEC dial should be at 0°.
6) The OTA should point to North. Refer to Figure 6.
