Meade 12" f/10 LX200 ACF Telescope with Tripod and X-Wedge (1210-60-07)

• 12" f/10 Advanced Coma Free Optics - 3048mm (f/10) focal length
• AutoStar II GoTo system (145,000 objects) and built-in GPS included
• Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
• Mirror lock to completely eliminate any residual image shift
• Special bundle includes X-Wedge (Meade #07028), Series 4000 26mm Super Plössl, 8x50 finder, 1.25" diagonal, and Giant Field Tripod

The Meade 12" LX200 ACF telescope handles your observing and imaging needs with ease. Incredibly compact for its aperture, yet with a robust and solid fork arm mounting for a vibration free image. Push button controls, automatic locating and tracking of celestial objects, and a wealth of object data at your fingertips in the AutoStar II hand controller. A mechanical mirror lock will completely eliminate any residual image shift — ideal for astro-imagers. Both visual astronomers and astrophotographers alike will appreciate the quality and capability of this beautifully made telescope.

The included Meade X-Wedge is an extremely heavy-duty wedge allowing for a secure and stable mounting. Designed for long exposure astrophotography and imaging with Meade models up to 14" diameter. This precision CNC machined wedge is constructed from ultra-rigid aircraft grade aluminum with smooth, accurate altitude and azimuth adjustments. Thirty percent more stable than competing equatorial wedges, the X-Wedge sets a new standard for equatorial stability with exceptional vibration damping. The X-Wedge is suitable for use at latitude ranges between 25 - 65 degrees.

The X-wedge is mounted between a telescope and the 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 the LX200 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, from horizon to horizon, 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 need to stop tracking near this area to flip to the other side of the mount, re-acquire the target, stabilize guiding, then 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 available 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 telescopes typically have smaller footprints compared to their eq counterparts making them ideal telescopes for small observatories.

Features a 12" aperture, 3048mm focal length, and f/10 focal ratio with Dual-Fork Mounting. Equipped with Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) and a resolving power of 0.380 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 Giant Field Tripod. OTA Dimensions: 11.75" x 22" L. X-Wedge Weight: 29 lbs. Tripod Weight: 50 lbs. Assembled Telescope Weight (including X-Wedge): 162 lbs. Tripod Dimensions: 30" to 44" variable.

Designed and Manufactured in North America.

Features AutoStar II computer system with 145,000 object-library, multiple guided tours, High Precision Pointing capability with sub arc-minute pointing accuracy, and Meade SmartDrive with Permanent Periodic Error Correction.

The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

Precise and quick star alignment is done near effortlessly with Meade's level north technology alignment system incorporating a 16-channel GPS receiver. Drive base of the telescope has multiple input/output ports including an RS-232 PC interface and jacks for a CCD Autoguider (user-supplied) and illuminated reticle.

Mechanically loaded as well, all LX200 models feature a primary mirror locking mechanism, which effectively prevents movement of the primary mirror during long-exposure astrophotography or observing. Turn the lock knob located just above the telescopes main focus knob and the progressive-tension primary lock completely cancels any residual image shift due to mirror movement during visual, photographic, or imaging applications.

Features the DC-servo driven, super heavy-duty dual-fork mount — the strongest and most rigid mount in its class. Fast slew speeds are from 1 to 8-degrees per second, and can be user selected at 0.1-degree per second increments, while fine slewing and photographic guiding speeds can be adjusted from .01x to 1x sidereal in one one-hundredth increments. Mount and electronics are internally powered by 8 C-cell (user-supplied) batteries which will typically operate the telescope for around 20 hours (optional Meade Universal AC Adapter also available). The mount also has mechanical locks and slow motion manual controls in both axis if no power is available.

Technical Specifications

In the Box