Amazon.com Product Description

The Meade Mirage 10x50 binoculars are moderately priced binoculars for the discriminating casual observer. They offer 10x magnification, high resolution, high contrast, and brilliant imaging usually found in more expensive models. A leatherette covering protects the binoculars, and a large central focusing knob is easy to adjust. ... Read more

Features

• Moderately priced for the casual observer
• 10x magnification and 300-foot field of view at 1,000 yards
• Includes soft nylon carrying case, neck strap, and lens covers for objectives and oculars
• Large central focusing knob for easy adjustment
• Achromatic objective lenses

Reviews (2)

Excellent Binoculars for astronomy.
I recently got into astronomy in a big way - went out and bought not one - but two Meade computer controlled telescopes with the latest and greatest eyepieces, etc. After doing some research and through trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that the best way to start out in astronomy is to buy a pair of 10x50 binoculars - the Meade Mirage 10x50's are an excellent choice - and "learn the sky" with the binoculars before moving on to a telescope. These binoculars are so good they may be all the telescope you ever need.

Awesome Optics
The 50mm lense offer the clearest and widest view possible. ... Read more

Features

• Magnification -10x
• Objective Diameter -32mm
• Field of View -290 feet @ 1000 yards
• Dimensions -5.6L x 4.25W x 1.75D
• Weight -12.1 ounces

Reviews (3)

Garbage telescope
There is a saying among amateur astronomers to stay away from ANY telescope that advertises magnification. This telescope is garbage, I was given one for Christmas several years ago and returned it. The optics are just terrible, the mount unstable and the 60 mm objective appeture will let you see the moon and not much else. For just a few dollars more, you can purchase a SkyQuest 4 - 1/2 inch dobsonian telescope from Orion that is dozens of times better. Meade does make some nice scopes, but these low end ones are only going to wind up in the junk. I would recommend that before anyone purchase a telescope they first read a book called Nightwatch by Terrence Dickenson, or do some research on the internet. There are many good websites...I have owned several telescopes including another one by Meade and the Saturn is one of the worst telescopes that I've looked through.

An inexpensive way to see the stars!
I was able to see so many great details of our solar system when I got this telescope. Sometime in the future I might upgrade to a really nice one, but this one is perfect for my wife and I to look at the moon together. It's a nice rich color too. It looks great sitting in our house next to the window. I think with the great price Amazon sells it for it would make a great gift.

Heaven's Eye Sight
This telescope is a great for new beginners who want to look at the stars and view details fo the moon. It's very easy to set up and very light to carry. If you are interested in looking at the stars, you should get this telescope. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This Meade Travel View binocular sports a versatile 10-30x magnification for practically any observational purpose. The objective lens is 50mm in diameter, making sure that you get a clear and bright image. It has a soft, rubberized cover for a firm grip and a central focusing system. Also included is a soft nylon carrying case and neck strap. ... Read more

Features

• Compact and light for travel anywhere
• 10-30x magnification
• Fully coated lens
• Includes carrying case and neck strap
• Center focusing system

Reviews (3)

Very poor
The first pair I got from the store had a double image. The second pair I got after exchanging the first was a bit better, but still had a double image at full zoom. I sent this pair directly to Meade to be replaced and the pair they sent back is completely blurred out of focus in one eyepiece, so I can't tell if it's still got a double image. The company says that they are going to open up a few of them there and test them out before sending me another pair, but I think the level of quality is obvious based on the first 3 pairs. If I was still within my refund period I would definitely dump these for a different brand!

Meade should ONLY stick to telescope making.
Meade is the best telescope maker in the market, but boy, these binoculars (are bad). At 10X power I could see ok, at 20x I had a hard time focusing things, and at 30x I could not see anything clear at all. I'm returning them today.

Dont Buy This! Its A Waste!!!
Its definetly not worth buying. Please dont waste your money. I am so pissed off with the quality and image. Its got the worst optics! i bought it yesterday and I am returning it today. and dont be fooled with the 10-30x magnification. it cant show you a clear image even on 10x ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The compact Meade Travel View binocular sports a 4x magnification, and is often referred to as opera glasses. Light and easy to carry, it is perfect for theater or sporting events. It has a soft, rubberized cover for a firm grip and a central focusing system. Also included is a soft nylon carrying case and neck strap. ... Read more

Features

• Compact for travel anywhere
• 4x magnification
• Standard lens coating
• Includes carrying case and neck strap
• Center focusing system

Reviews (1)

Not expecting much but still disappointed . . .
I bought these for my four-year old son thinking that the low magnification (4x) and large exit pupil (7.5 mm) would make it easier for him to spot things, focus in, etc. Boy was I wrong. These things are virtually worthless--I'd send them back but don't want to waste money on shipping. The field of view is miniscule which makes looking through these binocs akin to looking through a couple of drinking straws--there are a lot of blurry, obscure things on the periphery and not much shows up in the center. (...)Frankly, I'm shocked that a quality company like Meade puts its name on a product like this. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Meade's DS-70EC refracting telescope offers high-quality optics and easy push-button electronic operation, making it a perfect instrument for the serious beginner. It features a multicoated, achromatic two-element objective lens and precise, smooth altitude and azimuth movements. It includes the Meade handheld electronic controller, which allows for four-speed push-button operation and easy object location and tracking. It also includes Meade's StarNavigator software, which displays more than 10,000 celestial objects for help in locating galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets. Additionally, the telescope comes with a full-length adjustable aluminum tripod.

The DS-70EC exhibits Meade's fine attention to detail and quality, from the precision-polished crown and flint optical glass components and contrast-increasing multicoatings, to oversize bearings on both telescope axes that facilitate great precision in tracking. It offers a resolving power of 1.6 arcseconds, a limiting visual magnitude of 11.3, a 250x maximum practical visual power, and a 5mm by 24mm viewfinder.

The DS-70EC is also built to be fully compatible with Meade's Autostar computer controller, for automatic location and tracking of celestial objects. ... Read more

Features

• 70mm (2.8 inch) aperture; 700mm objective lens focal length
• Includes electronic controller for easy push-button object location and tracking
• Smooth, precise tracking with altazimuth mounting
• 2-element achromatic objective lens with multicoating
• Includes full-length, adjustable aluminum tripod

Reviews (9)

OK - but better scopes available in the same price range
While not a bad scope, it shows signs of cost cutting. The finder and the 9mm eyepiece are awful - I replaced the 9mm eyepiece as soon as possible. The mount is not as stable as it should be for medium to high powers - I found it was hard to find focus due to the jiggling of the image. The electronic controls are fine but really don't offer any benefit over manual slo-mo controls available on many scopes.

This is a step up from "junk department store refractors" to be sure, but I recommend getting a more "back to basics" scope without the electronics. Scopes in the same general price range are available with better accessories and mounts, and/or larger apertures.

Good value for the money
Pros:
Good beginner scope (and probably the only scope necessary for a casual observer). Even if used only 3 or 4 times ever, the views of the Moon (lots of craters near where light side transitions to dark) and Saturn (looks like a dot with a ring around it) are worth this amount of money if you never have seen them through a telescope. Its neat to see those things with your own eyes in your own backyard even if they look small (its like looking at the back of an pencil eraser at Jupiter or Saturn), vs looking at pictures in a book. With the motors attached the image holds steady in the wind. It is pretty easy with the motors to hold Saturn in the center field of view and you never have to touch the barrel, just the control pad. This is small enough to carry with one hand from the garage to the backyard.
Cons:
70 mm size not large enpugh for deep sky objects (nebula, galaxy), this might limit depth for serious types (who would probably want a size of 150 mm)
Finderscope is small and hard to get at to look through. Ok for the bright planets and moon though.

Great beginner telescope!
We bought this telescope for our son's 9th birthday to keep him happy and occupied while his dad sets up our more advanced telescope. In particular, we wanted a telescope that he could use easily on his own. Set up was a breeze, and we were amazed at the clarity of what we were able to see on a rather hazy night in a fairly light polluted area. Jupiter with its bands and moons were clearly visible as were the rings on Saturn. Though it comes with electronic controls and will work with the Autostar, our son enjoys positioning the telescope manually which he found easy to do. This is a perfect beginner telescope!

Great Telescope for Beginners
(...)
Max Advertised Power was I think 250 but with the 9mm and 25mm lens you dont even get close which are the defaults that the telescope comes with. You have to buy the Barlow lens or the 4mm lens to see saturn.
Over all for the (...)price its really great, but buying the lenses will cost an additional (dollar amount), so total comes to about (dollar amount), for that price this is the best in its class.

Don't waste your time
In my opinion, viewing anything outside of this solar system is basically unviewable with this scope. If you want to look at Saturn, it is only a small dot with a ring around it. You really need to concentrate and have good vision to be able to see Saturn to the best extent possible with this scope. Jupiter is a ball where you also need to concentrate if you would like to see the "Great Red Spot" (which is hundreds of times larger than the Earth!!!). You will need tons of accesories to get the most out of this scope. Overall, don't waste your time on this scope, save your money for a better telescope. ... Read more

Features

• Durable rubber armor for most observing applications
• 10x magnification
• Wide-angle imaging characteristics
• Fully coated lens
• Includes soft nylon carrying case, neck strap, and lens covers

Reviews (3)

Excellent Clarity-Holds Focus
Have used this product for nearly two years at football games, on duck hunts, and viewing wildlife. Found the Meade Infinity easy to focus and it holds that focus. Was constantly having to re-focus other binoculars I used. Excellent clarity for a relatively inexpensive binocular.

MEADE MIRAGE 10X25 BINOCULAR (P-1-A32A3)
I JUST PURCHASED THE ABOVE BINOCULAR. HOWEVER I CAN'T GET THE LARGE LENSE TO CLEAN. THERE APPEARS TO BE A GREASE ON THE LENSE THAT THE CLEANING CLOTH OR WINDEX WILL NOT ELIMINATE. CAN I USE 409 TO CLEAN THE LENSE?

Excellent binocular for low price
I just got this binocular and it looks pretty. It is easy to operate and have very nice view on distance objects. I use to watch aircrafts landing and I am very satisfied with the picture quality. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Meade Travel View binocular sports a powerful 8x magnification for practically any observational purpose. With a 42mm objective lens diameter you are sure to get a clear and bright picture. It has a soft, rubberized cover for a firm grip and a central focusing system. Also included is a soft nylon carrying case and neck strap. ... Read more

Features

• Powerful binoculars for any general purpose
• 8x magnification
• Fully coated lens
• Includes carrying case and neck strap
• Center focusing system

Reviews (1)

Really worth the money!
These binoculars are nice! Clear image, good feel, light weight and quality construction. They have BK-7 prisms fully coated optics and rubber coating. They are made in China but their construction is better than the twice the price Meades made in Japan. They have the same not so bad case and cheap neck strap but more than make up for that in image quality. A definate 5 stars considering the price. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Meade's DS-90EC refracting telescope offers a large aperture, high-quality optics, and easy push-button electronic operation, making it a perfect instrument for the serious beginner or intermediate observer. It features a multicoated, achromatic two-element objective lens, and precise, smooth altitudeand azimuth movements. It includes the Meade handheld electronic controller, which allows for four-speed push-button operation and easy object location and tracking. It also includes Meade's StarNavigator software, which displays more than 10,000 celestial objects for help in locating galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets. Additionally, the telescope comes with a full-length adjustable heavy-duty aluminum tripod with accessory shelf.

The DS-90EC exhibits Meade's fine attention to detail and quality, from the precision-polished crown and flint optical glass components and contrast-increasing multicoatings, to oversize bearings on both telescope axes that facilitate great precision in tracking. It offers a resolving power of 1.3 arcseconds, a limiting visual magnitude of 11.8, a 300x maximum practical visual power, and a 6mm by 30mm viewfinder. Its large 90mm objective lens allows you to observe celestial objects like the rings of Saturn, Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, the moon-like phases of Venus, and hundreds of deep-space phenomena like galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.

The DS-90EC is also built to be fully compatible with Meade's Autostar computer controller, for automatic location and tracking of celestial objects. ... Read more

Features

• 90mm (3.5 inch) aperture; 1000mm objective lens focal length
• Includes electronic controller for easy push-button object location and tracking
• Smooth, precise tracking with altazimuth mounting
• 2-element achromatic objective lens with multicoating
• Includes full-length, adjustable heavy-duty aluminum tripod

Reviews (4)

The Perfect Telescope
I think that this telescope works really good. The Autostar System finds objects perfectly. I usually use Autostar more in the day because when it's bright, it's hard to find objects in the sky. I have seen Saturn, and Jupiter so far. I got this telescope three days ago, and I love it.

Better than Meade DS-70EC
I replaced my DS-70 with DS-90.Images are now brighter and sharper than before.
Here is what can you see with DS-90EC.Mercury-It's hardly to observe.When you catch it you can see it's moonlike phases.Venus-You can observe phases at any time.Nothing to see on the planet.Moon-WOW!Moon is plentiful of details.Every time you put your eye in the eyepiece you will see something new!Mars-The red planet is best observable during the oposition.Than you can see many details(including a polar cap).Jupiter-It's my favourite!On gas giant you can see up 7 cloud bands,two main equatorial belts and lot's of clouds.Of course,you can see the great red spot(GRS)and four galilean moons as starlike dots.You can often see a shadow of Jupiter's moon(s) on planet disk.GRS(And the other details)is much better observable when you are out of city(no light pollution).Saturn-Surely the most beautiful planet.You can easily see the rings and the Cassini divison.Up to three cloud bands are visible on the planet.You can also see up to five moons.Uranus-You can see a greenish disk without details.Some people said that they were see Miranda,Uranus largest moon,but I didn't.Neptun-Nothing specially.Just very,very small disk.Pluto-No chanse to see it.It's totally invisible.There are many other thigs to see: Comets,Double stars,Nebulae,Star clusters,galaxies......
If you are a beginner this is the best telescope to start with.

Good scope within Budget
The meade DS90 has very good optics compare to other named telescope. This is a refractor and the refractor has been known of its sharp and clear image on papers but meade proved that action is louder then just talk. The electronic system is really suburb. If you are the begginer or intermidiate user then I will recommand an autostar, the filter set and 2.5x powermat (barlow) to see the galaxies, nebula and planets in full datail. Just keep in mind that you should not exceed its recommanded power which is from my point of view is 150x. You can find magnification by multiplying the aparture of telescope in inches by 50x. This one is 90mm so it will be 3.55". The best way to view planet and galaxies is between 80x to 120x. ENJOY.

Outstanding Image quality
It is a plasure to put your eyes into the viewfinder of this Meade DS-90EC Telescope!. One may say that Meade does not make bad instruments and you are right. Also this telescope is a beauty in its own, even I can place it in my livingroom without my wife bleaming on it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This Meade Travel View binocular sports a powerful 10x magnification, making it practical for almost any observational purpose. With a 50mm objective lens diameter you will be sure to get a clear and bright picture. It has a soft, rubberized cover for a firm grip and a central focusing system. Also included is a soft nylon carrying case and neck strap. ... Read more

Features

• Full-size binoculars for any general purpose
• 10x magnification
• Fully coated lens
• Includes carrying case and neck strap
• Center focusing system

Reviews (4)

Good value.
These are a nice set of binoculars for the money. The only thing I regret is that it is limited on how close you can set the lenses together. This is an issue for children. Otherwise, they are fine.

A middle aged woman's dream!
So I'm getting on in years, I admit, and my eyes just aren't what they used to be. Ms. Jones is not a kid anymore, she has them instead. Both my two daughters and my six year old son love playing sports. They are big soccer players (they are quite good---can't say it runs in they family!) and I go to all their games. I have glasses but it is still really difficult for me to tell who is who out on the field. I want to be able to watch my babies all through the game but it's hard if I don't know which babies are mine. These binoculars really focus in and they make it soooo easy to tell who is who. I can even read the numbers on their jerseys! I'd recommend these two anyone 40 and up. Thank you so much.

Nice low-end astronomical binos...
These aren't really marketed as astronomical binoculars, but I figured I'd give 'em a shot, since they cost next to nothing but appeared to be of at least acceptable quality.

I was right - I've had the chance to compare them to considerably more expensive binos at star parties, and feel more than happy with my purchase. Sure, the [amt] (and much more!) units out there are nicer, but for a casual instrument I don't feel like I'm missing too much.

Minor complaints:
Under certain unusual conditions, I've noticed ghost images, but in practical use this hasn't been a problem. Like most 10x50's, they're a little hard for me to hold steady for an extended period of time without support (10x is really quite a bit of magnification). The field of view in these isn't especially wide.

All in all, a bargain.

Great Inexpensive Standard Size Binoculars!
After looking long and hard for the perfect general-purpose binoculars, I realized that I didn't need the $100+++ models that I had been reading reviews for. Meade being a respectable telescope company, I decided to buy these when I found them in a mall store.

I am very impressed with these binoculars. They don't have some of the high-end features found on more expensive models, like BK-4 prisms and multicoated lenses, but they still deliver a sharp and bright picture. They are very comfortable to hold, they look good, and they come with a nice, wide strap.

The only unfortunate aspect of these binoculars, in my opinion, is the long close-focusing distance. The closest distance to which these binoculars can focus is 30 feet. That could be troublesome for bird watching or other near-distance applications, but since these are fairly high-power binoculars, chances are that few people will use them for such applications anyway.

All in all, the Meade Travel View 10X50 Binoculars are a great deal and a reliable, sturdy, fun pair of binoculars. ... Read more

Features

• Tripod for Meade ETX Astro telescopes
• Adjustable in height from 34 to 54 inches
• Elevation angle can be fixed at any observing latitude between 20 and 90 degrees
• Suitable for either standing or seated observing
• Attaches in seconds

Reviews (6)

Adequate
I've used the Meade 07021 Deluxe Field Tripod #883 with my ETX-90EC for over a year now and generally it has performed okay. The tripod itself is made of a light aluminium material for the legs, so while this reduces weight for portability it seems a little light on solidity. The locking screws which hold the extendable legs in place also seem a little flimsly. Having said that however, I took notice of reviews prior to purchasing the tripod and never overtighten them and accordingly they have worked okay. Suprisingly, it doesn't take much tightening of the screws to secure the legs. I often expect the legs to slip down but they stay in place during extended viewing sessions. The actual mounting plate and associated adjustment knobs all work fine and are manufactured to an acceptable standard. The tripod has a three prong metal bracket which sits in the middle of the legs when the tripod is in position and which folds up with the tripod when stored. This bracket is quite flimsy but has not failed yet. There is a centre tray which is screwed to the centre of the bracket to give the tripod more stability and holds eyepieces etc. This is manufactured okay. Overall, I think the tripod could have been made sturdier and from better materials in some areas. However, I have taken extra care with it, so I really can't complain as mine is still in good condition. I also think the tripod is somewhat overpriced, so look out for specials on it. In summary it's an okay tripod if you look after it and get it at the right price.

The most important ETX accessory!
Due to some shipping problem of late, this tripod arrived about 3 weeks after my Meade ETX 125 and other accessories. The 'scope is useable without the tripod, but it is not comfortable and you are at the mercy of the steadiness and level of whatever you set it on.

This tripod makes polar alignment very easy and there are fine-tuning knobs to dial it in after coarse setting. It is very steady, easily adjustable, clearly labeled and has a bubble level as well. The instructions in the ETX 125 and the tripod says there is no need for precise adjustment and not to let making a precise adjustment take away from the enjoyment of the 'scope. Even though either the stock electronic controller and the AutoStar accessory controller can work satisfactorily with only coarse leveling and north aligning, BOTH CONTROLLERS are closer to the mark if the tripod is precisely aligned.

This tripod has everything to set a quick, stable and precisely aligned base for the ETX scopes. One word of warning... If you have the heavier ETX 125 and are polar aligning in a latitude below 45 degrees (my estimate!), there is a lot of weight on the north leg. I find the north leg can noticeably sink in soft lawns after alignment that may affect the GO TO alignment!

An adiquate tripod for great telescopes
The Meade ETX telescopes specialize in their portability. When you add a tripod to the set, it becomes harder to take the telescope to more remote areas. I have recently taken my ETX 125EC with this tripod to Lake Lila in the Adirondacks. We were camping in a tent in a place that had to be canoed to, so we set out on a Wednesday with all of our tents and food and gear for a week but we were unable to fit the telescope and tripod, so we left those at the car. We had to make a special trip a few days later to pick them up. It would have been really nice to be able to take the telescope with us on the first trip. We ended up missing two beautiful nights that would have provided for excellent observing because of the bulkiness of the tripod. There is another instance when I was winter camping in the Adirondacks near Little Tupper Lake, and again we had to leave the telescope and tripod at the car because of the bulkiness. We were traveling to a lean-to on skis and there was no way that we could have taken the tripod and telescope along with our luggage. We ended up not using the telescope all together on that trip because of the inaccessibility. There is no carrying case for it and so the only way to transport it safely is in its outrageously oversized shipping box, filled with a Styrofoam shell. Also, There have been many car trips in which this box has taken up way too much space in the trunk.
The tripod itself is a necessity though. It would be impossible to get any good observations without it. It has a handy balancing bubble to make sure that it is level, and an 'N' on one of the legs to remind you which way is north (as an amateur astronomer, finding this out through the stars should not be too difficult though), and it is sturdy. The legs are easy to extract, contract and adjust. It is the most sensible tripod to buy with any ETX telescope because the other options are way too heavy and even more bulky, not mention more expensive. There is the table tripod, which is much, much smaller and lighter, but it is way too ineffective. It is unable to be adjusted so the telescope must be placed on a desk or a steady surface. The only beneficial use of that tripod would be if the telescope were a decoration in an office or something and it needed to be tilted a bit.
A tripod is needed in order to get any serious use out of any ETX telescope and this tripod is the best one that Meade offers, be forewarned that it limits the portability of the telescope though.

Necessary to take full advantage of ETX
I held off buying this tripod because I already had a very good standard tripod and I did not want to spend $... on a new one. However, when I found the tripod for 75% off in a store that was going out of business, I snapped it up. Now I can polar align the scope, use the motor drive, and find deep sky objects using the setting circles. It made a big difference. I still think that this tripod is overpriced though, and I don't see why we shouldn't be able to buy just the wedge adaptor so that the ETX can be used with any tripod. By the way, if you hate the ETX's finder scope, this tripod will reduce your reliance on it.

Essential accessory for ETX telescope
I played with my ETX 'scope before I got the tripod, but now I can really USE the 'scope. I'm now able to take my telescope around the backyard to see around the trees, take it on camping trips, take it on long-weekend trips, and on picnics. Before - forget it. As another reviewer notes, the stability of the tripod is critical for clear views - the bounce goes away. I could see the bands on Jupiter the other night. I can adjust the tripod high enough for my comfort or low enough so the kids can see, too. The weight of the scope and a 35mm camera is no problem. Highly recommended accessory for land or sky viewing. ... Read more

Features

• 4-element Plossl lens
• High power
• Designed for use with Meade telescopes
• Useful in moon and planet observation
• For steady atmospheric conditions

Reviews (2)

For lunar, planetary, and double star observing.
Plossl-type eyepieces are the most popular design, as their 4 or 5-element configurations generally yield center-to-edge sharpness through the entire field of view. Almost every eyepiece manufacturer offers Plossls in various focal lengths and fit-and-finish price ranges.

Eyepieces with focal lengths shorter than 10mm are generally considered "high power" tools (the lower the focal length, the higher the power). Therefore, this one certainly qualifies as a high power eyepiece. Used in a scope with a focal length of 1000mm, this eyepiece will render 166 power (telescope f.l. divided by eyepiece f.l.). On a telescope of half that focal length, (500mm) a 6mm eyepiece will provide half that much power (83x). In most high power applications, a 6mm eyepiece is my personal weapon of choice.

High power eyepieces are great tools for "splitting" double stars, and for lunar and planetary observing. Viewing double stars at virtually any power can be extremely rewarding, since many of them exhibit thrilling combinations in their spectral colors, i.e.: - gold and blue; yellow and red; topaz and orange. On clear and still nights, the moon and planets are rendered in natural color as well, and high power is essential for their detailed study.

Meade's top-of-the-line eyepieces are generally considered among the finest available. Price-wise, this is one of several offered in their intermediate series. It is however, an ocular of excellent quality, and is extremely appropriate for the amateur astronomer on a budget. Comparatively speaking, this eyepiece will deliver a view equal in quality to some pricier models. It would take a very perceptive and critical eye to recognize the difference.

The PL 6mm is a nice component, exhibiting fairly high quality throughout. It lacks the fit and luster of Meade's top-of-the-line series, but plating and anodizing are well up to acceptable standards. It will yield high-quality images, and that's where the dominion of final analysis lies with any eyepiece.

You should be advised that if you wear eyeglasses to observe, a high power eyepiece may be difficult to use. Generally speaking, the higher the power, the closer you have to bring your eye to the lens. There are exceptions to this, but they are much more expensive. The cure for this "problem" is to use a medium-power eyepiece with a Barlow lens. A 2X Barlow doubles the power of any eyepiece, while maintaining the longer eye-relief originally associated with the eyepiece alone. Thus a 12mm eyepiece with a Barlow will yield the same power as a 6mm would, while affording you the longer eye relief of the 12mm.

With the majority of telescopes, (of common or average focal length) the Meade PL 6mm eyepiece will yield extremely pleasing views of lunar and planetary subjects and double star systems. It would make a fine addition to any observer's collection. I have never known customer satisfaction to be an issue with Meade eyepieces. Highly recommended.

Magnification of an eyepiece
The amount an eyepiece magnifies is based on its focal length the focal length of the objective (telescope).

To get magnification divide the focal length of the objective by focal length of the eyepiece.

A 6mm eyepiece will only magnify 58x for a telescope with a focal length of 350mm. For an ETX-90 with a focal length of 1250mm the magnification is 195x. For the ETX-125 with a focal length of 1900mm the magnification is 297x. Maximum useful magnification is 50 times the diameter in inches. This eyepiece may magnify too much for the ETX scopes. A 9mm, 12mm or 15mm would be a better choice.

This eyepiece is meant for high magnification and requires a steady atmosphere. On the few times that the seeing was good enough, this eyepiece has a 52 degree field and offers great views of Jupiter and Saturn with my 8" LX200 SCT telescope. ... Read more

Features

• Motorized panhead captures smooth and steady images in any direction
• 120 degree left/right and 20 degree up/down movement
• Remote control and autopan for wireless operation
• Works with camcorders, cameras, and most tripods
• Camcorder and tripod not included

Amazon.com Product Description

For lunar and planetary observing, the Meade Plossl 4mm eyepiece offersa magnifying power of 68x and is specifically designed for use with Meadetelescopes. ... Read more

Features

• 4-element Plossl lens
• High power
• Designed for use with Meade telescopes
• Useful in moon and planet observation
• Needs steady conditions

Reviews (6)

A Handy Eyepiece
this is a pretty good eyepiece, great magnification (with my DS-90) and perfect for amaetuer astronomers looking at the moon. some not-so-good things are its low-light collection. and its really hard to find things with it unless you are experienced with aiming your telescope.

Too small, low light
Overall, we really like the Meade telescope we bought. But this eyepiece probably won't be used very often.

First of all, the viewing hole on the eyepiece is TINY. It's tough to find anything through it.

Secondly, the loss of light when using this piece is so significant, that it's more worthwhile to just view it at a slightly lower magnification.

You're better served buying one of the lower magnification lenses, and using a 2x or 3x Barlow lens with it.

Great power match to scope
Brings things right up close and personal. It is about as far as you would like to take the magnification for the 60mm scope but it works very well. You have to scan the moon to see all of it. The only down side I see is the 4mm is a pretty small hole to keep in the focus of your eye. It requires a steady head. It might be better to use the barlow lens and a larger objective to realize similar magnification. But I have no complaints.

A good tool (at a good price) for the practiced amateur
There might be be some confusion over the power (magnification) that an eyepiece will yield. Under the list of "Features", it states that this eyepiece renders high power, and that its use requires steady conditions. Those statements are indeed correct. You should know however, that eyepieces are not manufactured with only a specific brand of telescope in mind. This eyepiece will function perfectly well with any brand of telescope in 1.25" format.

However, under "Product specs" (as of Feb 17, 2001) it states that this 4mm eyepiece will yield 68 power. Be advised that the power of an eyepiece cannot be established (or stated) without considering the focal length of the telescope it is used in. To state that this eyepiece will render 68 power assumes that the telescope associated with it has a focal length of only 272 millimeters. Considering the intended use of this eyepiece, that would make for an unlikely (though not unheard of) combination.

This eyepiece will in fact render much more than 68 power in the average backyard telescope. For instance, in a scope with a focal length of 1000mm it will yield 250 power (1000mm divided by 4mm). In a scope of half that focal length it will yield half that much, or 125 power. Furthermore, the user of a scope with a 500mm focal length would utilize a 7.3mm eyepiece to get 68 power (500 divided by 7.3 = 68).

Because this eyepiece is intended for high power applications, it will be useful only under extremely dark and stable skies supplemented by better than average "seeing" conditions. If you should experience such a fortuitous combination, this eyepiece in conjunction with a quality telescope will render very good views of planetary subjects, and some very impressive lunar detail. It would also be useful for "splitting" double stars.

Be advised that if you normally wear eyeglasses to observe, you will have some difficulty using a high power eyepiece of this standard variety. Eye-relief with this component is severely limited. Eyepieces of short focal length with the luxury of longer eye-relief are available, but at a substantially higher cost. If you don't wear eyeglasses to observe, and if you're lucky enough to experience dark and steady skies, this eyepiece will do a very good job at a very competitive price.

This is certainly a useful tool, and is extremely well suited for its intended purpose. Therefore it gets 5 stars, and deserves to be recommended for the practiced amateur who is looking for that righteous combination of bang for the buck.

Be Carefull
Be carefull. This Eyepiece is meant for the ETX-60 and ETX-70 scopes. I bought it for my ETX-125EC and had to return it. The ETX-125 and ETX-90 should use the Meade SuperPloss Series 4000 ocular lenses. Otherwise this is a good lens to use for planetary and lunar observation if you can get a steady mount and calm skies. The eye relief is a bit short though. If you wish to get close up views of the planets you definately need this lens. ... Read more

Features

• Great starter microscope for students or for science hobbyists
• Three large professional-size objective lenses (4x, 10x, and 40x)
• Precision coarse-and-fine rack-and-pinion focuser permits sharp focusing
• Adjustable-inclination microscope body
• 6-aperture rotary diaphragm for lighting control

Reviews (2)

Not everything i expected.
i am very familiar to microscopes but this one is very painful. it does not give the sufficient ammount of light because it contains a mirror, the microscopes with lamps in them are way better. other than that the microscope is pretty good with the lenses but i wouldnt waste my money on this.

This microscope has revealed a hidden world to me
Each life has several foci, activities around which the days revolve, and objects which are the tools of those crafts. The Meade Model 9400 microscope which sits on a table in the center of my study/laboratory overlooking Malibu Lake is just such a object for me, and its importance in my daily activity cannot be overestimated. I arise early each morning to wander through Malibu Creek State Park and other parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, where I collect specimens of protozoa for later classification and preservation. Since I spend several hours each day looking through the eyepiece of this instrument, I can say that I am experienced enough to state that it is a quality tool of fine manufacture. Its range of magnification, from 40X to 400X, is sufficient for the serious amateur. The rotary diaphragm, giving the microscopist control over the amount of light used for viewing, is also an important feature, and the course and fine adjustment focus knobs further increase its versatility.

I will also point out that it is of sturdy design, having survived being pushed from the worktable to the floor by Moby Dick, our large and overly affectionate cat. It is the instrument which travels with me on my journeys around the globe, and which has helped me catalog those organisms described in my ongoing series of monographs on the protozoa of far-flung corners of the world, the most recent being a work in progress titled _The Protozoa of Quijotanía_. My only suggestions for improvement are that the microscope be sold with a screwdriver small enough to adjust the mirror, and a camel's hair brush with which to clean the lenses. If the manufacturers were to make a carrying case designed for this model, I would be interested in buying that separately as well. A fine instrument for the amateur naturalist, I expect that this sturdy, well-made tool will serve me, for a long time, as a portal into the microscopic world which lies invisibly all around us. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Meade Autostar No. 495 electronic controller is an advanced accessory controller for any Meade DS series telescope.With the optional Meade Autostar computer controller plugged into the control panel of your DS telescope, locating any astronomical object in the sky is as easy as pushing a button. Identical in operating characteristics to the Autostar controller available for Meade ETX telescopes, Autostar for DS telescopes is easy to use, even for the beginner who has never operated a telescope.

If your DS telescope includes the No. 492 dual-motor electronic control system, then the telescope can be Autostar equipped with the simple addition of the No. 495 Autostar handbox only; no additional motors or other parts of the system need be purchased. Just plug the No. 495 Autostar hand controller into the telescope's control panel in place of the electronic controller and, after a quick one-minute alignment, Autostar is ready to use.

The Meade Autostar No. 495 controller provides digital readouts of telescope position, continuously in right ascension and declension, and precise sidereal-rate tracking. Once Autostar locates an object, it directs the telescope to track the object automatically on both telescope axes simultaneously, keeping the object centered in the field. It also offers nine-speed dual-axis operation. Use Autostar's push buttons to move the telescope on either or both axes simultaneously at any of nine drive speeds, from very slow 2x sidereal to fast 6 degrees per second.You can also find the locations of the constellations by pushing Autostar's arrow key for a description of the mythology of the constellation, as well as information on important objects located within its boundaries. The Meade Autostar No. 495 controller features go-to capability to any of 200 user-defined objects.

Use Meade StarNavigator sky software, included with every DS telescope, on your PC to go to any object on the PC display at a click of the mouse (requires No. 505 connector cable set). This software features more than 20 other menu options, including guided tours of the best objects observable on any specified date; major event menus; utility functions (such as timer, alarm, and eyepiece power calculations); and much more. ... Read more

Features

• For use with Meade DS series telescopes
• Makes locating any astronomical object in the sky as easy as pushing a button
• Easy to use, even for the beginner who has never operated a telescope
• After a quick 1-minute alignment, Autostar is ready to use
• Works in tandem with the Meade StarNavigator sky software included with Meade telescopes

Reviews (1)

Great for BEGINIERS!
I saw it in use and it is great. I am visually impaired and it helps me find things I want to look at; and the price makes it affordable for any budget! ... Read more