Fast f/8 Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) Optics.
Building on Meade’s award-winning Advanced Coma-Free™ (ACF™) optics, the LX800 employs a fast f/8 optical system with high-contrast baffling that assures crisp, pinpoint imaging to the very edge of the field. The all-new OTAs feature an internal Crayford-style, zero image-shift focusing system with a two-speed, 7:1 control that rigidly holds the primary mirror, eliminating the need for a mirror lock. In addition, with the LX800s optional large-format, three-element f/5 focal reducer/field flattener, you gain even wider fields, faster exposures and a flat field on larger sensors.
130mm 3-element ED APO Refractor.
Also available is Meade's new Series 6000 3 element air-spaced f/7 apochromatic refractor. The 130mm diameter (5.1") fully multi-coated triplet objective lens is from the highest quality ED (extra-low dispersion) glass for outstanding contrast and sharpness as well as near zero detectable chromatic aberration or "color fringing". Featuring a super precise dual speed 3" Crayford focuser with 10:1 gear reduction for ultra fine focus control.
Precision machined German Equatorial mount.
Constructed of machined stainless steel and aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum, the LX800 mount presents a rock-solid platform with precision roller bearings on both axes. Its .68 inch diameter brass worms and 5.8 inch diameter, 225-tooth aluminum gears deliver smooth, precise movement with up to a 90 pound instrument load. Add to this internal cabling and the AutoStar II fully-computerized GoTo system with GPS, with a database of over 144,000 objects. All this sets atop a new ultra-stable tripod.
Internal cabling.
The LX800 mount includes internal channels for routing mount cables as well as cables from your accessories. No more cable snags during your imaging sessions!
Threaded stainless steel
counterweight shaft.
The LX800 includes a 1.75" diameter threaded stainless steel counterweight shaft with 18 lb. threaded stainless steel counterweights for easy and safe adjustments to telescope balance.
StarLock. Full-Time Automatic Guiding.
StarLock - the heart of the LX800 - is 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 a 80mm f/5 optic and a super wideangle lens in a two camera system that automatically finds your target in high-precision, immediately captures a field star as dim as 11th magnitude and then guides to an incredible accuracy of one arcsecond. StarLock achieves this amazing accuracy because, unlike add-on guiders, StarLock is integrated into the telescope control system and communicates directly with the motor controllers in real time with a maximum precision of 0.01 arcseconds. There’s no need for a separate guider or computer and the StarLock requires no calibration, no user focusing or guide star selection. StarLock even automatically programs periodic error correction and then corrects for any other errors down to virtually zero. StarLock also provides computer-assisted polar alignment using the drift method for extreme precision. No expensive shaft encoders or add-on guiding systems can provide this level of performance.