Originally produced in 1996, Meade ETX 90 is the first telescope to be designed for both beginners and professionals alike. At the time, this telescope was also the first affordable alternative to high-end products such as the Questar Maksutov Cassegrain, and more than 20 years later it’s still a great telescope.
The Meade ETX 90, the original model, successfully combined great features with affordability, with one of the best aspects of this device being the resistant materials used in its design. The fact that is easy to transport also makes it an excellent option for people who love to travel, while for beginners, this model is ideal because it needs no additional utensils to make it work.
Meade ETX 90 has a great price considering all of its features, specs, and functionality, including its 26mm eyepiece and 1250mm focal length that delivers sharp images. One of its drawbacks is that the telescope works on internal batteries, though, with some users mentioning that the batteries don’t last long enough.
Computer-Controlled Telescope
The Meade ETX 90 is a computer-controlled telescope, which is a much more popular choice of telescope nowadays. The GoTo system processes star alignment, allowing the telescope to track planets and individual stars and constellations.
Even in areas that are polluted by light and where it’s hard to find the stars, the system manages to use longitude and latitude to select the celestial object you want to observe. Calibrating the system is actually easy, too, so beginners can learn more by using this device.
Maksutov-Cassegrain
A Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is a hybrid device because it uses both mirrors and lenses to produce images. There are reflector and refractor telescopes and each one of them can be used for specific tasks. A hybrid telescope like this one, however, takes the best from both types and then combines them in a single product. The optics of this telescope have high levels of contrast, great resolution, and image brightness.
Another impressive feature of Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes is that they can be used both during the night and the day. In comparison, refractor scopes are very hard to use in the daylight, while reflector scopes project images upside down. That is why it’s better to choose a hybrid device like this one.
Performance
The Meade ETX 90 will offer you impressive images of terrestrial sights, as well as those of the galaxy. It has a high focal ratio, compared to other telescopes, and the eyepiece included in the kit is very powerful, too. This product comes with 2 Super Plössl eyepieces. You get 48x magnification with the 26 mm eyepiece. Its flip-mirror system provides 90-degree observation for both sky objects and land objects. With this telescope, you will be able to see crisp images of Saturn, the Moon, and several stars. Furthermore, this instrument outperforms many telescopes when it comes to resolution, clarity, and image contrast.
How to Maintain it
With proper care, you can explore the stars for many years. In order to use your device for as long as possible, though, you need to know how to maintain it. Storage is one of the most important considerations in this respect, and you will need to put it in a special case or a box in order to keep it away from the Sun’s rays. Also, store it in a non-humid room so that its system is not affected.
The caps should always be kept on the lens. This way, dust can’t get in and ruin the device. When you need to clean it, you can just use a microfiber cloth to wipe it gently. Do not use cleaners or other sprays, and if there is a stain that you cannot clean with the cloth, go to a professional so that you don’t ruin the telescope.
Meade ETX 90 is one of the best choices for beginners because it is easy to use and provides great images. One of the main benefits of this telescope is its very affordable price of less than $500, especially considering its feature and main specs. Moreover, it provides crisp images, it doesn’t need to be assembled before you use it, and it combines both a reflector and refractor lens.
Despite all of these benefits, the Meade ETX 90 is an old model considering that it was first produced 20 years ago, and nowadays, there are much more modern telescopes. Also, you can only purchase used Meade ETX 90 telescopes because this model is no longer produced. However, if you like old-school devices at budget-friendly prices, the Meade ETX 90 is the ideal choice for you.