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Meade LX200 16" ACF (without tripod)
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Research Grade - Advanced Coma-Free & UHTC Optics - Fully Computerised
To order this item outside mainland Britain or Highlands & Islands, please contact us.
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- Optical Design: Advanced Coma-Free (ACF)
- Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
- Pyrex Primary Mirror
- Aperture: (16")
- Focal Length: 4,064mm (f/10)
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- Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser
- Meade AutoStar-II hand controller
- Meade AutoStar Suite Software
- Motorized Fork mount
- GPS, True-level and North sensors
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Meade LX200 16" ACF (without tripod)
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Outline
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The massive, observatory class 16" LX200-ACF has 16” diameter f/10 ACF optics (focal length 4064mm)
and Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) for maximum image brightness and contrast. Features the
advanced LX200 AutoStar II computer system with 145,000 object library, multiple guided tours,
High Precision Pointing capability with sub arc-minute pointing accuracy, Meade SmartDrive with
Permanent Periodic Error Correction, and super precision electrically driven Meade Zero-Image-Shift
Microfocuser.
Precise and quick star alignment is done near effortlessly with Meade's level north technology alignment
system incorporating a 16 channel GPS receiver, while Home and Park functions retain information for
permanant installations. The Autostar II is flash-updatable via free downloads at Meade.com (optional
cable required). The drive base of the telescope has multiple input and output ports including an RS-232 PC
interface and jacks for a (user supplied) CCD Autoguider and illuminated reticle.
Mechanically loaded as well all LX200 models feature a primary mirror locking mechanism, which effectively
prevents movement of the primary mirror during long exposure astrophotography or observing. Turn the lock
knob located just above the telescopes main focus knob and the progressive-tension primary lock completely
cancels any residual image shift due to mirror movement during visual, photographic, or imaging applications.
The 16" LX200-ACF features a massive fork mount cast in one continuous piece, with a total of four 80mm roller
bearings for declination and two even larger 150mm and 100mm roller bearings in azimuth. Fast slew speeds are
from 1 to 6 degrees per second, and can be user selected at .1 degree per second increments, while fine slewing
and photographic guiding speeds can be adjusted from .01x to 1x sidereal in one one-hundredth increments.
Power is supplied via the included AC adapter.
The 16" LX200-ACF comes fully equipped with a 2" diagonal prism, Series 4000
26mm Plössl eyepiece, 8x50 viewfinder with quick release bracket and Meade AutoStar® Suite Astronomer Edition
Software for PC. Ships on pallets, truck freight. Product carries full one year Meade factory
limited warranty.
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The most widely used research quality telescope now features the most advanced
optical system. Meade’s LX200-ACF brings Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optics within
reach of aspiring astronomers everywhere. Nearly every observatory reflector
in the world uses an aplanatic (coma-free) optical system like the Ritchey-Chrétien
(RC), including NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Now you can own similar optics to
what the professionals use. The LX200-ACF includes all the field-proven features of the LX200 including GPS, Primary Mirror Lock, Oversized Primary Mirror, SmartDrive™; Smart Mount™, AutoStar® II and more. The new LX200-ACF. It’s the biggest news in astronomy since, well, the LX200.
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Meade’s (Advanced Coma-Free™) optics deliver stunning Ritchey-Chretien performance at a Schmidt Cassegrain price.
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The "advanced" in Advanced Coma-Free
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A traditional Ritchey-Chrétien (RC) is a type of reflector that delivers a coma-free,
flat field of view via hyperbolic primary and secondary mirrors. Because the mirrors
in these telescopes have always been very expensive to make, few amateur astronomers
could enjoy them.
Fortunately, Meade engineers developed a radical new Advanced Coma Free design by
combining a hyperbolic secondary mirror with a corrector-lens-and-spherical-primary-mirror
combination that performs as one hyperbolic element. This ACF design produces a coma-free, flat field
of view that rivals traditional RC telescopes at a fraction of the cost.
The design even eliminates diffraction spikes and improves astigmatism, both of which are inherent
in the traditional RC design. When reviewing Meade’s LX400-ACF Advanced Coma Free,
Sky and Telescope magazine said, “ [It] does indeed perform like a [Ritchey-Chrétien].
The difference between the off-axis images (compared to a Schmidt-Cassegrain) was
dramatic to say the least.”
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Coma Killer
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What is coma? It’s not some sort of astronomical state of unconsciousness.
It’s an optical aberration. Precisely defined, coma is a distortion in which the image
of a star cannot be focused to a point, but takes on the shape of a comet.
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f/10 Advanced Coma-Free Optics
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Building from a classic RC design, Meade has created a new
design with the same coma-free pinpoint star images and flatter field also reduces the
astigmatism and eliminates diffractions spikes found in classical RCs. The LX200-ACF is
the perfect platform for the demanding researcher and imaging enthusiast with telescopes
available in apertures of 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches, and 16 inches.
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Meade Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC™)
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Increases total light transmission and image brightness by nearly 20% over Meade’s
standard coatings. Objects such as stars, galaxies and nebulae will appear significantly
brighter.
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Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser
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Optional for the 8”, 10”, 12”,14” and standard with the 16” models, allows you
to obtain precise image focus with no image movement. Perfect for astroimaging
or during planetary observation. Focus is controlled thru the Autostar II handbox.
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Oversize Primary Mirror
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Diameters are greater than their listed aperture (e.g., the diameter of the 8” LX200-ACF
is actually 8.25”). This additional 1/4” yields a wide, fully illuminated field-of-view.
Primary Mirror Lock locks the mirror in place preventing movement during long-exposure
astrophotography.
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Smart Drive™
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Provides permanent periodic error correction (PPEC) on both axes by learning and averaging
error over the course of one or more training periods, thereby minimizing guiding corrections
during long-exposure photographs. PPEC is available on both axes and functions in both polar
and altazimuth modes.
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Sony®GPS Receiver Sensor
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Automatically inputs precise time, date, and geographical location to help quickly
and precisely align the telescope.
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AutoAlign™
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Telescopes with Meade’s new AutoAlign are smart scopes that know the night sky right out of
the box. AutoAlign picks two alignment stars for you and places them right in your view-finder.
Just center to fine tune your alignment and the wonders of the universe are at your fingertips.
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AutoStar® II
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The AutoStar II controller features “Hot Keys” for quick access to a 145,000 celestial object
database. AutoStar II can be updated with the latest software upgrades, guided tours and timely
objects like comets free at meade.com.
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| Specifications |
LX200 8" |
LX200 10" |
LX200 12" |
LX200 14" |
LX200 16" |
| Optical Design |
Advanced Coma Free |
Advanced Coma Free |
Advanced Coma Free |
Advanced Coma Free |
Advanced Coma Free |
| Clear Aperture |
203mm (8") |
254mm (10") |
305mm (12") |
356mm(14") |
406.4mm (16") |
| Focal Length Focal Ratio |
2000mm f/10(8") |
2500mm f/10 (10") |
3048mm f/10 (12") |
3556mm f/10 (14") |
4064mm f/10 (16") |
| Maximum Practical Visual Power |
600X (8") |
650X (10") |
750X (12") |
850X (14") |
950X (16") |
| Telescope Mounting |
heavy-duty fork type; double-tine |
heavy-duty fork type; double-tine |
heavy-duty fork type; double-tine |
heavy-duty fork type; double-tine |
heavy-duty fork type; double-tine |
| Primary Mirror Lock |
included (progressive tension) |
included (progressive tension) |
included (progressive tension) |
included (progressive tension) |
included (progressive tension) |
| Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser |
optional accessory |
optional accessory |
optional accessory |
optional accessory |
included (4-speed) |
| Eyepiece |
Series 4000 26mm Super Plossl |
Series 5000 26mm 5-Element Plossl |
| Viewfinder |
8 x 50mm |
8 x 50mm |
8 x 50mm |
8 x 50mm |
8 x 50mm |
| GPS, True-level and North sensors |
included (16-channel GPS receiver) All models |
| Pointing Precision, High Precision Mode |
1-arc min. |
1-arc min. |
1-arc min. |
1-arc min. |
1-arc min. |
| Autostar® II Hand Controller |
included (147,541 object database) All models |
| Batteries (user-supplied) |
8 x C-cells |
8 x C-cells |
8 x C-cells |
8 x C-cells |
none |
| Battery Life (approx.) |
20 hrs |
20 hrs |
20 hrs |
20 hrs |
n/a |
| Slew Speed: |
RA and Dec: 0.01x to 1.0x sidereal, variable in 0.01x increments; 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal; 1°/sec. to 8°/sec., variable in 0.1° increments All models |
| Tracking Rates |
sidereal, lunar, or custom-selected from 2000 incremental rates All models |
| Primary, Secondary Mirrors |
Pyrex® glass |
Pyrex® glass |
Pyrex® glass |
Pyrex® glass |
Pyrex® glass grade-A |
| Correcting Plate/Lens |
water white glass |
water white glass |
water white glass |
water white glass |
water white glass |
| Total Net Telescope Weight |
73 lbs. |
90 lbs. |
125 lbs. |
166 lbs. |
166 lbs. (including tripod) |
| Telescope Shipping Weight (approx.) |
94 lbs. |
122 lbs. |
165 lbs. |
225 lbs. |
360 lbs. |
| Field Tripod Height |
30" to 44" |
30" to 44" |
40" to 50" |
40" to 50" |
n/a |
| UHTC |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
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Notice
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We are constantly checking the accuracy of the technical data. We are prepared
to provide more detailed information on request. Technical data is subject to
change without notice.
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