Meade Instruments: » LX90 SCT & ACF Series. » LX200 ACF Series. » LXD75 ACF Series. » ETX Computerised Telescopes. » Lightbridge Dobsonian Telescopes. » Premium Refractor Telescopes. Coronado Solar Telescopes: » Personal Solar Telescopes. » SolarMax II Telescopes. Opticstar sections: » Cooled, long exposure cameras, 6.1MP CCD, USB 2.0. » Video cameras for planetary use up to 1.3MP, USB 2.0. » Imaging accessories. » Auto-Guiding systems, complete solutions. Ascension telescopes and accessories: » Apochromat ED Triplet Refractors » Achromat Doublet Refractors » Eyepieces including zoom eyepieces. » Guiding eyepieces. » Extension tubes. » Flip mirrors. » Imaging filters. » Barlow lenses. » Binoviewers. » Red dot finders. » Eyepiece projection kits. » Mirror and prism diagonals. The Imaging Source: » High speed USB 2.0 video cameras. » High speed Firewire video cameras. Farpoint Astro: » Dovetail systems and mount accessories. » Focus masks. » Binocular mountings. Willmann Bell books. Shoestring Astronomy sections: » Autoguiding connectivity kits and interfaces. » Shutter control units for DSLR cameras. » Focus motor controllers.
Meade LX600 12" ACF without tripod
Advanced Coma Free - UHTC Optical Coatings - LightSwitch type Alignment
To order this item outside mainland Britain or Highlands & Islands, please contact us.
Meade LX600 12" ACF without tripod
  • 12" Advanced Coma Free (ACF) optics
  • Focal Length: 2438mm
  • Focal Ratio: f/8
  • Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
  • Heavy-duty fork type mount
  • 50mm Viewfinder
  • 26mm Series 4000 Super Plossl
  • Meade Autostar II Goto Handset
  • Complete StarLock autoguide system
  • LightSwitch technology for auto-alignment
  • Optional 5A 12VDC Power Supply Unit
  • Optional X-Wedge
  • 1 year UK warranty
  • Meade SKU: 1208-70-01N
Meade
Telescopes		 Meade
Mounts		 Meade Telescope
Accessories		 Ascension
Telescopes		 Telescopes
Meade LX600 12" ACF without tripod
Package includes:
  • Meade 12" ACF f/8 optical tube with UHTC optical coatings.
  • Meade StarLock unit.
  • Meade LX600 Heavy Duty Fork Mount.
  • Autostar II Hand Controller (GoTo).
  • 26mm Series 4000 Super Plossl eyepiece.
  • Meade UK Warranty.
  • OFFER: Please refer to the right hand column on this page.
Optional Accessories
12V DC 6A Regulated Mains Power Supply Unit to power telescope. + £29.95
Order No. Price (inc_VAT) Shipping Delivery click button to purchase
MED12087001N £ 5984.00 £ 0.00
Meade LX600 User Manual
(PDF)		 Meade & Coronado
catalogue (PDF)		 Drive Base Dimensions
(PDF)

Outline
Meade Instruments is proud to announce the latest addition to our line of industry leading developments, the LX600, ready to take your visual and optical astronomy to the next level. The fast f/8 Advanced Coma Free optical system produces a wider, flatter field with no coma for pinpoint stars out to the edge of larger imaging sensors and extreme wide angle eyepieces. Includes StarLock for full time guiding at one arc second precision and LightSwitch style auto-alignment, Crayford style zero shift focuser with reduction, AutoStar II GOTO system with over 145,000 object library, and much more.

Advanced Optics
The Meade Advanced Coma Free (ACF) optical design offers the coma-free pinpoint star images and flatter image fields greatly desired by discerning amateur astronomers, astrophotographers and professional observatories alike. This patented system also reduces the astigmatism and eliminates diffraction spikes found in classical RCs.

This 12" LX600 has 12" diameter f/8 ACF optics (focal length 2438mm) and Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) for maximum image brightness and contrast. The redesigned mirror mounting system achieves zero image shift eliminating the need for a mirror lock and includes an internal Crayford style focuser with two speed, 7:1 reduction control that allows for quick and easy adjustments.

High Precision Tracking
The no-compromise LX600 dual fork mount features 5.75" main gear and pointing accuracy of one arcminute or better in High Precision Mode. This rock solid platform is sure to exceed the need for the most demanding applications.

Includes StarLock- the revolutionary new technology that makes target acquisition on your imaging sensor and accurate guiding during exposures completely automatic. With Meade's exclusive LightSwitch technology at its core, StarLock uses an 80mm f/5 optic and two camera sensor system to provide computer assisted alignment. Once aligned the StarLock automatically guide corrects the mount in real time, achieving a tracking accuracy of up to 1 arcsecond in good seeing and with the capability of guiding on stars as faint as 11th magnitude.

The LX600 features DC-servo motors on each axis with a maximum slew speed of 8 degrees per second, allowing slewing 180 degrees to the opposite side of the sky in under 30 seconds. Fine slewing and photographic guiding speeds can be adjusted from .01x to 1x sidereal, in .01x sidereal increments. Preset slew speeds include 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x; 1 and 2 degrees per second, adjustable in .1 degrees/sec. The mount and all electronics are internally powered from 8 (user-supplied) C-cell batteries. An external 12V DC battery or power pack may also be used. Meade 607 Power Cord and Meade Universal Power Supply sold separately. The mount includes both mechanical locks and slow motion manual controls in both axis.

Meade LX600 Series
The Meade LX600 series.

Features and Accessories
The 12" LX600 Advanced Coma-Free comes fully equipped with AutoStar II keypad with 145,000 object library, Meade 1.25" diagonal, 26mm Super Plossl eyepiece and 8x50 viewfinder with quick release bracket. Power panel includes the following ports: 12V input, 12V output, illuminated reticle, handbox, RS-232 x1, StarLock, Aux, and Focuser. Meade Microfocuser compatible, Microfocuser item 07080 sold separately.

Note: Shown mounted on optional X-Wedge, sold separately. X-Wedge not included.

Product carries full one year Meade factory limited warranty.



Telescope Specification
. LX600 10" ACF
without tripod		 LX600 12" ACF
without tripod		 LX600 14" ACF
without tripod		 LX600 16" ACF
without tripod
Clear Aperture 10 inches (254mm) 12 inches (305mm) 14 inches (356mm) 16 inches (406mm)
Optical Design Advanced Coma Free (ACF) Advanced Coma Free (ACF) Advanced Coma Free (ACF) Advanced Coma Free (ACF)
Focal Length 2032mm 2438mm 2845mm 3251mm
Focal Ratio f/8 f/8 f/8 f/8
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
Optical Coatings Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
Resolving Power (Dawes Limit) 0.456 arcseconds 0.380 arcseconds 0.326 arcseconds 0.285 arcseconds
Secondary Obstraction 20.95% 16.86% 13.28% TBC
AutoStar Controller Autostar II Autostar II Autostar II Autostar II
Object Database 145,000 objects 145,000 objects 145,000 objects 145,000 objects
Viewfinder 8x50mm with cross hair reticle 8x50mm with cross hair reticle
Eyepiece 26mm Series 4000 Super Plossl 26mm Series 4000 Super Plossl
Diagonal 1.25" diagonal prism Series 5000 2" enhanced diagonal
Optional Focal Reducer / Field Flattener 2" diam., 3 element, fully multi-coated, f/5 (designed specifically for f/8 ACF)
Optimal back focus distance at f/8 TBC TBC TBC TBC
Optimal back focus distance at f/5 3.5 inches 3.5 inches 3.5 inches TBC
Focus System Internal Crayford style zero image-shift primary mirror focus with dual speed 7:1 control
Slow Motion Controls Mechanical & Electronic Mechanical & Electronic Mechanical & Electronic Mechanical & Electronic
Slew Speeds RA and Dec: 0.01x to 1.0x sidereal, variable in 0.01x incremens; 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal; 1°/sec., variable in 0.1° increments
Tracking Rates Sidereal, lunar, or custom-selected from 2000 incremental rates
Control Panel 12v DC in, 12v DC out, Power, Focuser, Reticle, Handbox port, 1 computer connection port (RS232), 1 StarLock port, 1 Aux guide port
Focuser Mechanism Internal Crayford-style, zero image-shift, dual speed 7:1 focuser
Tripod not included not included not included not included
Batteries (user supplied) 8 x C cells 8 x C cells 8 x C cells n/a
Battery Life (Typical) 20 hours 20 hours 20 hours n/a
Power 12V DC, 5 Amp power supply (optional)
GPS Receiver included included included included
True Level & North Sensors (NT) included included included included
Time Chip included included included included
Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser optional optional optional optional
Smart Mount yes yes yes yes
Smart Drive yes yes yes yes
Oversized Primary Mirror yes yes yes yes
AutoStar Suite Planetarium Software included included included included
Wedge (optional) X-Wedge (optional) X-Wedge (optional) X-Wedge (optional) X-Wedge (optional)
StarLock
Wide Field Camera 25mm x 26mm f/1.04 optic with 1/2 inch format CMOS sensor gives field of 14.72 x 11.78 degrees
Narrow Field Camera 80mm x 400mm f/5 optic with 1/2 inch format CMOS sensor gives field of 57.2 x 45.8 arcminutes (2.68 arcseconds/pixel)
High Precision Pointing +/- 1 arcminute
High Precision Guiding Down to 1 arcsecond - depending on sky conditions
High Precision Alignment Semi-automatic drift align procedure for ultra-precise polar alignment
Starlock Weight 6 lbs. (2.72 kg) 6 lbs. (2.72 kg) 6 lbs. (2.72 kg) 6 lbs. (2.72 kg)
Materials
Primary Mirror Low expansion borrosilicate glass
Secondary Mirrors Individually figured with primary mirror for maximum correction. Low expansion borosilicate glass
Correction Plate/Lens Aspheric high-spectral transmission Borofloat glass from Schott AG Germany
Optical Tube Aluminium Aluminium Aluminium Aluminium
Weights and Dimensions
Shipping Weight 56 kg 70 kg 78 kg 228 kg
Shipping Dimensions 113cm x 73cm x 57cm 134cm x 60cm x 82cm 134cm x 60cm x 82cm tbc


Notice
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.

How To Order Terms & Conditions Email Us
Product Search

Promotional Offer
Cash Back on Opticstar
Imaging Products
updated: 1st August 2017
Opticstar cashback offer.

Customers who purchase any Meade telescopes or Meade optical tubes or Meade mounts listed on this page qualify for a 10% cash back on any Opticstar astronomy cameras purchased at the same time or at a later date.

This offer is valid for 1 year commencing on the date that the Meade product is purchased from the Opticstar website or the Opticstar showroom.

Any additional purchases at a later date of Meade products that qualify for this offer will renew the cash back period to 1 full year.

Opticstar astronomy cameras that qualify for this offer include the following: Once an Opticstar CCD or CMOS camera has been purchased within a year of the qualifying Meade purchase, the cash back can be claimed by contacting Opticstar by email or over the phone quoting the receipt number(s). Please allow up to 14 days to process the payment.

Sample Images
Opticstar DS-145M ICE
posted: 13th March 2009
Sample image.
The NGC7293 shot by John Haunton with the Opticstar DS-145M ICE.
Feedback
We want to hear your comments.
contact
Sample Images
Opticstar DS-335C ICE
updated: 20th August 2010
Sample image.
The M42 nebula shot by Nick Witte Vermeulen with the Opticstar DS-335C ICE.
Astrophotography
Opticstar Imaging
posted: 26th February 2013
Opticstar telescopes for imaging.
High quality refractor telescopes, bundled with CCD cameras for deepd sky imaging, planetary video imaging and auto-guiding.
more
A&M 80mm f/6 Review
"Best Of Breed"
updated: 25th March 2009
A&M 80mm f/6 A&M/TMB.
The A&M 80mm f/6 A&M/TMB has been reviewed in Cloudy Nights and it has been hailed as the "best of breed". The review concludes by saying "offers stunning performance while standing out from the crowd, look no further".
Willmann Bell
Books for Astronomy
updated: 20th September 2019
Willman Bell books.
Acclaimed books from Willmann Bell...
more
Opticstar News
New DS-616C XL+ Model
posted: 24th August 2017
Opticstar DS-616C XL+.
Star product, improved.
The new Opticstar DS-616C XL+ deep-sky CCD is the successor to the popular DS-616C XL that earned the annual star product award back in 2013. It maintains all the features of the original model as well as other improvements.

DS-616C XL is Astronomy Magazine's Star Product
posted: 12th September 2013
Opticstar DS-616C XL is Astronomy magazine's product of the year.
Star product.
The Opticstar DS-616C XL deep-sky CCD camera has earned the annual star product award from Astronomy, the world's best-selling astronomy magazine. Read about it in the September 2013 issue.

© Opticstar Ltd 2020