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Meade LX200 ACF 8" UHTC
Research Grade - Advanced Coma-Free & UHTC Optics - Fully Computerised
We can only ship this item in the United Kingdom.
Meade LX200 ACF 8"
  • Optical Design: Advanced Coma-Free (ACF)
  • Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
  • Pyrex Primary Mirror
  • Aperture: 203mm (8")
  • Focal Length 2000mm (f/10)
  • Meade AutoStar-II hand controller
  • Meade AutoStar Suite Software
  • Motorized Fork mount and Field Tripod
  • GPS, True-level and North sensors
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Meade LX200 ACF 8" UHTC
Package includes: ([Limited Offer] FREE: Meade Series 4000 Eyepiece & Filter Kit, RRP £249)
  • Meade LX200 ACF 8" f/10 Optical Tube with UHTC coatings.
  • Meade Fork Mount and Tripod.
  • Meade Autostar Hand Controller (GoTo).
  • GPS, True-level and North sensors.
  • 2" Focuser, accepts 1.25" and 2" Eyepieces.
  • Viewfinder 8x50mm.
  • Instruction Manual.
  • One Year Manufacturer's Warranty.
  • FREE option, please select any one of the following:
  • OFFER: Please refer to the right hand column on this page.
Options
Upgrade Opticstar DS-335C to DS-335C ICE T.E.C. model. + £300.00
FREE Option
Opticstar DS-335C 3.3MP CCD camera. £0.00
5 x Ascension Super Plössl Eyepieces. £0.00
Opticstar LRGbB and UHCT Filter Set for visual observation and imaging. £0.00
Order No. Price (inc_VAT) Shipping Delivery click button to purchase
MEDLX200A8U £ 2639.00 £ 0.00

Outline
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.

Advanced Coma-Free optics
Meade’s (Advanced Coma-Free™) optics deliver stunning Ritchey-Chretien performance at a Schmidt Cassegrain price.

The "advanced" in Advanced Coma-Free
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.”

Coma Killer
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.

f/10 Advanced Coma-Free Optics
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.

Meade Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC™)
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.

Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser
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.

Oversize Primary Mirror
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.

Smart Drive™
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.

Sony®GPS Receiver Sensor
Automatically inputs precise time, date, and geographical location to help quickly and precisely align the telescope.

AutoAlign™
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.

AutoStar® II
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.


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. 318 lbs. (with Field 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" 40" to 50"
UHTC Included Included Included Included Included


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
Promotional Offer
Cash Back on Opticstar
Imaging Products
updated: 4th August 2010
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 M20 nebula shot by John Haunton with the Opticstar DS-145M ICE.
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Opticstar PL-130M CoolAir
posted: 10th February 2009
Mosaic of the Moon at 2354x4010 pixels 
 captured by Herwig Sulzbacher.
An impressive 9.4 megapixel mosaic of the Moon by Herwig Sulzbacher with the Opticstar PL-130M.
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Sample image.
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