Meade LX85™ German Equatorial Mount with AudioStar

Description
Customer Reviews

Product Highlights

GoTo German Equatorial Mount

AudioStar® Hand Box- 30,000 Object-Database

Vixen-Style Dovetail Receiver

33lb. Payload Capacity

Built-In Integer Gearing Motor Drive

Engineered for portability, while still easy to use for astrophotography, the Meade Instruments LX85 German Equatorial GoTo Mount delivers the performance required for clear views and images through the use of dual-axis low-cog DC servo motors with backlash compensation. Added to this is Meade's proprietary Smart Drive system that records and constantly refines its Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) to improve positioning and tracking precision and ensure your target object stays centered for long-exposure photography. Supporting the mount is a 1.75" stainless steel tripod that has a wide stance for stability on most terrain, and a center tray that holds eyepieces and accessories and acts as a leg lock to further stabilize while helping to minimize vibrations.

Controlling the mount is the next generation iteration of the iconic AutoStar system: the AudioStar. This computer controller is equipped with a database of over 30,000 objects, including the planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and the complete Messier catalog; it can also be programmed with up to 100 custom user-defined objects with filters to create custom object lists. An integrated speaker and Astronomer Inside system is packed with over four hours of commentary that is customized to objects that are visible in the night sky on any given day and time. Its intuitive menu-driven user interface makes observing the heavens fast and easy, and multiple alignment options make the controller an invaluable tool to new users and experienced star-gazers alike.

Mount

33-pound payload capacity is ideal for large-aperture and/or heavy optical tubes and accessories like astrophotography rigs
German equatorial mount allows accurate tracking for long-duration observation sessions
Ideal for astrophotography as single Right Ascension tracking eliminates field rotation that causes fuzzy and blurry primary images and streaking of star fields
Controlled by AudioStar hand controller to limit vibration and improve movement accuracy
Low-cog 12 VDC servo motors enable precision GoTo and tracking accuracy with limited vibrations
Vixen-style dovetail saddle is compatible with many optical tube assemblies
Includes a 9-pound counterweight with shaft
Dual-axis manual clutch releases for movement without the use of the hand controller
Integrated bulls-eye bubble level to aid set up, alignment, and tracking accuracy

AudioStar GoTo Controller

Two-line LED display
Twenty-key alphanumeric keypad, red LED backlight
68HC11, 8 MHz processor
Built-in red utility light
30,000+ object database
User-friendly menu-driven system navigation
Slew speeds: 1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 0.5°/sec, 1°/sec, 1.5°/sec, 4°/sec (max)
Assisted alignment procedures: Easy (Two-Star), One-star, Two-star, Three-star
Customizable guided tours for specific day, time, and location
Built-in speaker with Astronomer Inside plays over four hours of educational content about the celestial objects you view
Predicts events to plan future astronomy sessions such as sunrise/sunsets, moon phases/moon rise/moon set, meteor showers, lunar/solar eclipses, equinoxes/solstices
Smart Drive records permanent periodic error correction (PPEC) to improve tracking accuracy over time
Backlash compensation allows user to train out the intrinsic play between gears to improve GoTo and tracking accuracy
Powered by mount to be lighter and easier to use
24" coiled cord
Updateable via Internet using RS-232 port

Database Details:

Solar system, including moon, sun, planets
Comets and asteroids
88 major constellations
Popular named objects
Galaxies, quasars, and nebulae
Multiple catalogs including Messier, Caldwell, and NGC
Stars, including named stars, SAO catalog, double stars, variable stars
Satellites, including the International Space Station (ISS), and Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
User-defined astronomical and terrestrial objects

Tripod

Adjustable-height from 31.5" to 43.5" accommodates a wide variety of optical tube assemblies and viewing positions
Lightweight and durable cast aluminum mount base
1.75" diameter stainless steel legs
39.5 x 6.25 x 5.75" collapsed size, for easier portability
Tray keeps accessories accessible and off the ground
Weight: 12.4 pounds

Specifications

Mount Type	German equatorial
Load Capacity	33.0 lb / 15.0 kg
Motor	2 x 12 VDC low-cog stepper
GoTo Capability	Yes, Audiostar hand controller
Altitude / Latitude Adjustment	Not specified by manufacturer
Polar Axis Scope	None
Includes Tripod/Pier	31.5" to 43.5" adjustable height Cast aluminum mount base 1.75" stainless steel legs
Power Source	12 VDC
Dimensions	Mount Head: 13.2 x 12.4 x 4.8" / 33.5 x 31.4 x 12.2 cm Tripod, Collapsed: 39.5 x 6.25 x 5.75" / 100.3 x 8.3 x 14.6 cm Fully Assembled: 47.2 x 47.2 x 5.8" / 119.9 x 119.9 x 14.7 cm
Weight	Mount Head: 10.9 lb / 4.9 kg Tripod: 12.4 lb / 5.6 kg Fully Assembled: 34.1 lb / 15.5 kg

In the Box

Meade LX85 German Equatorial GoTo Mount

AudioStar GoTo Hand Controller

Counterweight Shaft

9-Pound Counterweight

Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition DVD

Limited 1-Year Warranty

Rating Snapshot

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Average Customer Ratings

5.0

Mr.

Very solid and heavy. Very well constructed. I like that you can unlock the legs for leveling and the leg stays put until you re-tighten it again!Lots of load capacity, my rig is TOO LIGHT to balance and I need extra weight on the OTA! I am very happy and will shop with Brandon Optics again!!

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Reviewed by: Jon Hudema from Thunder Bay on 5/18/2020

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