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The Meade 16 LX 400 ACF UHTC Telescope: A professional Advanced Coma Free System for astrophotography and visual observations
In 2002 Meade's engineers set out to design a telescope with optical performance superior to any sold today. It would feature the most sophisticated and technologically advanced mechanics and electronics ever offered. In short, it would be an observatory-level telescope for the serious astronomer and astrophotographer.
After carefully evaluating the merits of every telescope design, Meade engineers concluded their Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien was the optimal telescope design. A fast (f/8) RC design produces a large, coma-free field of view from edge-to-edge, allowing astrophotographers to use the latest in imaging technology to capture tack sharp images over a wider field. Visual observers can view pinpoint stars and extended objects across the larger field of view. In fact, almost every professional reflector telescope in the world's observatories is a Ritchey-Chrétien, even the Hubble Space Telescope.
Although the Ritchey-Chrétien is a premier optical design, Meade engineers saw opportunities for further improvement. The LX400ACF optical design consists of a hyperbolic secondary and corrector lens/primary mirror combination that performs as one hyperbolic element. Further, by utilizing the precision polished and figured front corrector lens, the engineers were able to eliminate the typical secondary mirror support structure which causes diffraction spikes that degrade image contrast and resolution. The corrector lens also minimizes the astigmatism inherent in the traditional RC design. Performance was further improved by incorporating computer-optimized baffling and Meades unsurpassed Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) for maximum image contrast and brightness.
In the hands of the serious astronomer or astrophotographer the new Meade LX400ACF is an instrument that will produce razor sharp star images across the entire field of view on par with the best professional observatories. The dream of owning the ultimate Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien telescope is finally here.
The MAX Mount is the distillation of Meade's generation of experience serving the astronomical community. It is a mount system designed by practiced and experienced observers for the most demanding observers. The design team's credo was to Design the last mount you will ever buy. It was a tall order. We chose to build a classic German mount because it has the flexibility to carry any optical instrument we can design. That includes both our current offerings and ones we are just dreaming up now. Read on and I think you will agree, MAX really is the finest production telescope mount on the market.
MAX features a unique modular design that allows a couple of individuals to assemble, either permanently or transportably, a mount twice the size of any other commercially available mount. The mount breaks down into a Portable Pier (tripod), Pedestal, RA Housing Assembly, and DEC Housing assembly. Together all of the components and an OTA assembly fit easily into a station wagon, SUV, minivan or small truck. When assembled, quick release, but rock solid, dovetail plates allow OTA and instrument packages up to 250 lbs to be quickly mounted and de-mounted.
Features
- Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) standard
- 4-speed front focusing mechanism
- Heavy-duty fork mount, with 4-diameter polar ball bearing, dual-axis 5.75 worm gears, and 2 multi-function, multi-port control panels
- Manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes
- Thermal stabilization fan
- Setting circles in RA and Dec
- Autostar II control system
- 4-Megabyte flash memory
- Digital readout display
- Permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes
- High-Precision Pointing;
- 180,000-object onboard celestial software library
- GPS alignment system with extended sensitivity Sony GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors
- Smart Mount which improves the pointing accuracy of your LX400ACF Telescope's Go To system
- 12v DC telescope power supplied from internal battery compartments accepting 8 (user-supplied) C-cells
- 8 x 50mm viewfinder
- 2 diagonal mirror with UHTC and 1.25 adapter
- Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle 2 O.D. 24mm eyepiece
- LX400 ACF Ultra-Stable variable-height tripod
- Suitable for advanced and professionals
Specifications
- Optical System: Ritchey-Chrétien Reflector
- Objective lens diameter: 406 mm
- Highest practical power: 800x
- Focal length: 3251 mm
- Aperture ratio: f/8
- Mounting: MAX Mount
- Eyepiece diameter: 24mm UWA
- Weight: 336.0 kg
Included Accessories
- Eyepieces: 24mm Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle Eyepiece
- 8 x 50mm viewfinder
- 2 diagonal mirror with UHTC and 1.25 adapter
- Meade Autostar II Computerized Hand Controller
- Steel Tripod
- Manual
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