Meade ETX105EC Telescope w Autostar Controller (497) and Tripod (884)

One year after their introduction, Meade ETX-Series Astro Telescopes, like this 105AT, became the most popular modern telescopes in the world. All the ETX's are stunningly beautiful, ultraportable, and highly versatile telecope systems with unprecedented optical resolution and performance. The included Autostar Computer Controller is one of the important advances in telescope aiming control in the past 25 years, allowing you easy, automatic viewing access to thousands of celestial objects.

Reader Reviews
OK i'm 2 weeks into discovering this little scope.
i read and read for weeks and decided this was a great deal for a mak-cassegrain with autostar or "go to" feature. this is my first scope, so take that with a grain of salt. i live in the mountains in a new home, hence the eagerness to get a good scope. upon opening it i rushed to local photog store and picked up a barlow 2x and moon filter. another $65 total but suggest you get these at once.

first impressions:
good quality on scope. proud to keep in on display in the great room. guests notice it and can't wait for it to get dark!
finderscope is a bear to align, but with practice should be easier.
tripod is sturdy and no complaints thus far
autostar is NOT user friendly on first test drive...takes time to get comfortable i hope.
it does take 8 AA batteries. buy NiMH rechargeables.
the slow autostar display is enough to make me drink too much red wine waiting for it to finish! thank goodness i figured out the "enter" key or "mode" key lets me bypass the excrutiating slow scrolling text. (fyi mode functions as "back" or "escape")
figuring stuff out takes a lot of time...be patient.
now i am technically versed as i work for software company and this is giving me a bit of a challenge....why? poor autostar documentation.
if the user manual for autostar was more detailed with a quickstart tutorial, it would go quick. reality...i have the mind to call Meade and ask for their technical writer and scream obscenities at them :}

nonetheless, i plan on keeping the scope and am excited to learn more and get to know my way around the night sky. get the book Nightwatch - great for a newbie like myself

would like to post a final review once my neighbor gives me an autostar tutorial with his LX200...just waiting on clear skies in Utah! i do hope to give this scope a 5 star rating once i figure out autostar.