Engineered for peak performance, Meade Instruments' LX200-ACF 254mm f/10 GoTo Cassegrain Telescope
combines multiple technologies to produce distortion-free high-contrast
images with true color rendition across the entire flat field of view.
The
scope's performance begins with the aplanatic Advanced Coma-Free (ACF)
optical system that produces a flat field of view with reduced
astigmatism and zero diffraction. A low-expansion borosilicate primary
mirror further reduces distortion due to temperature fluctuation, and
the Schott Borofloat glass corrector plate aligns the light waves to
correct spherical and chromatic aberrations. Meade then fully
multi-coats all optical surfaces with their proprietary Ultra
High-Transmission Coatings (UTHC), which increase light transmission,
further improves color fidelity, and boosts contrast. For long-exposure
astrophotography or long-duration observation sessions, the LX200 boasts
a primary mirror lock to completely cancel any residual image shift due
to mirror movement.
Advanced optical properties are just the
start of the technologies that this GoTo telescope boasts. The OTA is
attached to the dual-fork alt-az mount which has dual-axis micro motors
used to find and track objects with virtually zero vibrations. Meade
outfitted it with a built-in 16-channel GPS receiver and a time chip, so
the mount can automatically determine the current date, time, and its
location within minutes of being turned on. The information is sent to
the AutoStar II controller which uses an electromagnetic sensor to
determine True North and can automatically align the scope with minimal
user interface. During long observation or exposure imaging sessions,
the controller continuously checks its orientation and tracking and
adjusts it as needed, sending the data to the Smart Mount and SmartDrive
systems which learns the tracking errors and adjusts itself for the
future.
The brain of the mount is Meade's iconic AutoStar II
computer controller. This hand-held unit has an internal database of
over 145,000 objects from the Moon and planets, to galaxies, nebulae,
and constellations. It can calculate future events like sunrises and
meteor showers, and predicts solar and lunar eclipses for the next 100
years. Once set up and running, the AutoStar II can take you on guided
tours of the best objects visible above, including audio tours that can
be heard from the internal speaker.
To get new users started,
Meade includes a 1.25" visual back for the OTA and a 26mm eyepiece that
yields 96x magnification. For alignment and manual star-hopping
navigation, an 8x50 finderscope and mounting bracket are also included.
This finderscope has an illuminated aiming reticle with
variable-intensity to protect night-adjusted vision. This version of the
LX200-ACF is offered here with just the mount and OTA for those who
already have a sturdy and reliable tripod or permanent pier that can
carry its 62-pound weight plus any accessories or imaging systems that
may be used with it.
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