Meade 8" f/10 LX90 ACF Telescope with Tripod and Wedge (0810-90-07)

Meade 8" f/10 LX90 ACF Telescope with Tripod and Wedge

• 8" f/10 Advanced Coma Free Optics - 2032mm (f/10) focal length
• Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
• Features AudioStar: 30,000+ Object-Database and built-in GPS
• Internally powered via 8x C-cell batteries (not included) to operate the telescope up to 60 hours
• Special bundle includes 8" Equatorial Wedge (Meade #07002), Wedge Adapter Plate (Meade #07389), Series 4000 26mm Super Plössl, 8x50 finder, 1.25" diagonal, visual back and Standard Field Tripod

The Meade 8" LX90 ACF telescope is an extremely versatile, high-resolution GoTo telescope, in a very compact form given the large aperture. With pushbutton controls, automatic locating and tracking of celestial objects, and a wealth of object data at your fingertips in the AudioStar controller, the LX90 will provide hours of enjoyment under the night sky. Both visual astronomers and astrophotographers alike will appreciate the quality and capability of this powerful telescope.

The included 8" Equatorial Wedge and LX90 Wedge Adapter Plate are designed to convert your alt-azimuth telescope into a system ready for long exposure astrophotography. Featuring heavy duty cast aluminum construction with latitude and longitude fine adjustments, and a compass to use the magnetic pole as a starting reference. The equatorial wedge is mounted between the telescope and tripod to accomplish the tilt of an equatorial type mount that matches the observer's latitude and permits precise polar alignment of your telescope. The wedge allows the astrophotographer to align the telescope's axis of rotation with the Earth's axis of rotation. This alignment eliminates stars in your long exposure photograph from appearing as a long arc, trail or streak due to an effect known as field rotation. For short planetary and lunar photography, a wedge is not necessary and the telescope can be set up in altitude-azimuth (alt-az) configuration as normally used for visual observation.

Equatorially mounted telescopes with fork mounts like this LX90 bundle have several advantages over German EQ telescopes. The fork mounted configuration doesn't require any pier flip when tracking across the meridian. It can track continuously across the meridian without interruption. The zenith is the best place to image objects due to its high altitude and less sky to image through. All German equatorial telescopes all need to stop tracking near this area to flip to the other side of the mount, re-acquire the target, stabilize guiding, then can continue imaging the object. It is a big inconvenience that is solved by fork mounted telescopes.

Fork mounted telescopes are also the most versatile mounts as they can be configured between the simple to use alt-azimuth mode or equatorial mode which is ideal for long duration astrophotography. Fork mounted telescope typically have smaller footprints compared to their EQ counterparts making them ideal telescopes for small observatories.

Features an 8" aperture, 2032mm focal length, and f/10 focal ratio with Dual-Fork Mounting. Equipped with Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) and a resolving power of 0.570 arc-seconds for the improvement of brighter star clusters, more fine detail in nebulae, and greater surface features on planets. Includes a Series 4000 26mm Super Plössl eyepiece (96x), viewfinder (8x50 optical with crosshair), 1.25" Diagonal Mirror, and Standard Field Tripod. OTA and Mount Weight: 28 lbs. OTA/Mount Dimensions: 25.5" x 14" x 19". Tripod Weight: 19 lbs. Tripod Dimension: 30" to 44" Variable. Total assembled weight including wedge: 58 lbs.

Designed and Manufactured in North America.

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

The ACF primary, secondary and corrector plate glass blanks are manufactured in the USA exclusively for Meade.

This telescope also features Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC). UHTC are specialized multi-layered coatings that are precisely designed to improve the performance of your telescope's optics. You'll see brighter star clusters, more fine detail in nebulae, and additional surface features on planets. Averaged over the entire visible spectrum, total light transmission to the focus increases by 15%.

The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

LX90 electronics include: advanced AudioStar computer system with a 30,000+ object-library, multiple guided tours, High Precision Pointing capability, and SmartDrive with Permanent Periodic Error Correction. Precise and quick star alignment is done near effortlessly with an incorporated 16-channel genuine Sony GPS receiver.

The Meade AudioStar features audio files and an internal speaker.

With the included AudioStar telescope hand controller you have easy access to thousands of objects along with a wealth of data about each one! AudioStar Astronomer Inside technology features a built-in speaker that plays over four hours of educational content about the celestial objects you are viewing! After a very simple alignment routine, the AudioStar is ready to take you to any object above the horizon in its database. Can also be connected to a PC for more advanced control.

Features a solid and stable aluminum double-fork mount with fast slew speed adjustable from 1.5 degrees to 6.5 degrees per second. Mount and electronics are internally powered by (8) x C-cell (user-supplied) batteries, which will typically operate the telescope for a generous 60 hours (optional Meade Universal AC Adapter can be used).

Technical Specifications

In the Box

• Meade 8" f/10 LX90 ACF Telescope with Tripod and Wedge
• AudioStar hand controller,
• Standard Field Tripod,
• Equatorial wedge and wedge adapter plate
• 26mm Plossol eyepiece

Manuals & Warranty

Instruction Manual:

• EN: Meade 8" LX90-ACF Advanced Coma Free Telescope w/UHTC
• EN: Meade AudioStar Controller
• EN: Meade EQ Wedge for 8" ACF and SC Telescopes

Software Downloads:

• Autostar Suite Astronomers Edition (Lite Version) (67.9 mb)
• Autostar Suite version 5.53 (full DVD) (1.4 gb)
• Meade AutoStar Updater Program

Meade Instruments 2-Year Warranty