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Meade LX200 ACF 12" UHTC Optical Tube Assembly
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Research Grade - Advanced Coma-Free & UHTC Optics - Optical Tube Assembly
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)
- Focal Length 3048mm (f/10)
- Optional accessories:
- Meade 8x50 Finder scope
- Star Diagonal.
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Meade LX200 ACF 12" UHTC Optical Tube Assembly
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Outline
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The new Meade LX200-ACF catadioptric telescope has Advanced Coma-Free
optics to bring the astronomical image quality of a professional
observatory to you at an amazing price. It has a flat, coma-free
field similar to that of the Ritchey-Chrétien reflector optics used
in most professional observatory telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope,
but at a fraction the cost!
Astronomy Now says "the optics are superior to traditional Schmidt Cassegrains
and the new instrument excels and is a clear winner" Meade LX200ACF Advanced
Optical Tubes offer superb optics in a portable package and are available to
attach to your choice of mounting.
The LX200ACF includes all the field-proven features of the LX200 including Primary
Mirror Lock, Oversized primary mirror, Plus the LX200ACF comes with observatory-class
optics crafted in Irvine California, Tubes are supplied without accessories but
the 8" and 10" versions do have a universal flat mounting bar running along the base
of the tube as standard. We can supply mounting hardware for the 12" and 14" models
to suit most equatorial mounts including Losmandy.
Reviewed recently in Astronomy Now Magazine concluding that "the optics are superior
to traditional Schmidt Cassegrains and the new instrument excels and is a clear winner".
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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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| Specifications |
LX200 8" OTA |
LX200 10" OTA |
LX200 12" OTA |
LX200 14" OTA |
LX200 16" OTA |
| 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 |
optional |
optional |
optional |
optional |
optional |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| UHTC |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
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Mounting a Second Optical Tube on Meade Telescopes
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An additional refractor can be mounted on top of Meade telescopes with the Farpoint mounting rings,
dovetail accessory adapters and dovetail plates as shown below.
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The Opticstar ED80S Gold shown mounted on fork-mounted SCT telescopes.
A & C Farpoint Scope Rings 125mm and Dovetail Adapters.
B Farpoint Dovetail Plate for Meade SCT.
D Farpoint Dovetail Plate for Celestron SCT.
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Accessories
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The following table lists a number of accessories that may be of interest to some customers.
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| Vixen-Style dovetail accessories |
| Image |
Product Page |
Description |
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Opticstar 120mm Scope Rings and Dovetail, Vixen-style |
Collimating rings and dovetail to mount small refractors on mounts such as the
Celestron CG4, CG5, Sky-Watcher EQ3-2, EQ5, HEQ5, EQ6, Vixen mounts, etc.
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Farpoint 125mm Scope Rings and Dovetail, Vixen-style |
Collimating rings and dovetail to mount small refractors on mounts such as the
Celestron CG4, CG5, Sky-Watcher EQ3-2, EQ5, HEQ5, EQ6, Vixen mounts, etc.
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Farpoint Universal Dovetail Bar - Vixen-style |
Dovetail to mount refractors on mounts such as the Celestron CG4, CG5, Sky-Watcher EQ3-2, EQ5, HEQ5, EQ6, Vixen mounts, etc.
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Farpoint "Sure Grip" Saddle - Vixen-style |
Saddle for Vixen-style dovetails to mount optical tubes.
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Farpoint Side-by-Side Saddles - Vixen-style |
Two Vixen-style saddles and Vixen-style dovetail to mount two optical tubes on a single mount.
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Sky-Watcher Equatorial Mounting Plates |
Dovetails of various lengths, to attach optical tubes to Vixen-style equatorial mounts |
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Opticstar Mini Dovetail - Vixen-style |
Compact dovetail to attach small optical tubes to Vixen-style equatorial mounts |
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Opticstar Short Dovetail - Vixen-style |
Short dovetail to attach small optical tubes to Vixen-style equatorial mounts |
| Losmandy-Style dovetail accessories |
| Image |
Product Page |
Description |
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Farpoint 125mm Scope Rings and Dovetail Adapters, Losmandy-style |
Collimating rings and two adapters for Losmandy-style dovetails to mount refractors on mounts
such as the Celestron CGEM, GGE Pro, Losmandy, etc (dovetail plate not included, please see below).
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Farpoint Dovetail Plates for Celestron SCTs, Losmandy-style |
These plates mount onto existing holes on the Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope tube. |
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Farpoint Dovetail Plates for Meade SCTs, Losmandy-style |
These plates mount onto existing holes on the Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope tube. |
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Farpoint Vixen Saddle to Losmandy Saddle Adapter |
Adapter to fit optical tubes with Vixen-style dovetails on Losmandy-style saddles. |
| Other accessories |
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Product Page |
Description |
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Opticstar 1.25" Extension Tube |
Used to achieve focusing with long focal length eyepieces where focal travel
on the telescope is limited.
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Opticstar 2" Extension Tube |
Used to achieve focusing with long focal length eyepieces where focal travel
on the telescope is limited.
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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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