Ultra-High Transmission Coating - A Clear Advantage
In Meade mirror-lens telescopes, before incoming light is brought to a focus, it passes through, or is reflected by, four optical surfaces: the front surface of the correcting lens, the rear surface of the correcting lens, the primary mirror, and the secondary mirror. Each of these four surfaces results in some loss of light, with the level of loss being dependent on the chemistry of each surface's optical coatings and on the wavelength of light. Technologies developed at the Meade Irvine coatings facility, including installation of some of the largest and most advanced vacuum coating instrumentation currently available, have permitted the vacuum-deposition of a series of exotic optical coatings precisely tuned to optimize the visual, photographic, and CCD imaging performance of Meade telescopes. These specialized, and extremely advantageous, coatings are offered as the Meade Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) group, available optionally on many Meade telescope models. Averaged over the entire visible spectrum (450nm. to 700nm.), total light transmission to the telescope focus increases by about 20 percent which makes a significant difference, especially when viewing objects that are light years away.
Rigid & Smooth
Steady support is a must when you want to take a good look at deep space. That's why this telescope relies on a die-cast aluminum double-tine fork mount that rigidly supports the optical tube in all sky orientations. It also includes a chromed-steel variable height tripod that provides all the rigidity required in sensitive field operations. This is the same high quality tripod included with Meade's LX-200 telescope. Worm gears (4.9" diameter) on both axes permit smooth sidereal-rate tracking of celestial objects as well as precise guiding corrections during long exposure imaging. With the appropriate accessories you can take stunning photographs or try your hand at CCD imaging. The sky is the limit!
GO TO Over 30,000 Objects Automatically
The included Autostar controller connects to the telescope's control panel and permits an incredible array of options like automatic GO TO capability at 6.5 degrees per second on both axes, simultaneously, to over 30,000 database objects including: 13,235 deep-sky objects sorted by named objects; galaxies; diffuse nebulae; planetary nebulae; star clusters and the complete Messier, Caldwell, IC and NGC catalogs. Also in the Autostar database are: 16,888 stars sorted by name, SAO catalog numbers; double and variable stars; the centroids of the 88 constellations; 50 objects in the solar system (8 major planets from Mercury to Pluto, the Moon, 26 asteroids, 15 comets); 50 Earth satellites including the International Space Station and the Hubble telescope. Plus, 200 memory locations for objects you select.
More Autostar Abilities
In addition to automatic GO TO capability of any item in the Autostar's massive database, it also provides automatic GO TO capability to any object of known R.A. and Declination. If you have a star named after a loved one or read about something in an astronomy magazine, and want to check it out for yourself, all you need are the coordinates and Autostar can find it for you. This is especially useful for objects like comets and meteors. You can select from nine different slew speeds from fast for quick location to very slow speeds necessary for accurate tracking of celestial objects. Fast alignment of the telescope in either equatorial or altazimuth modes can be easily accomplished with any of the three alignment functions including Meade's exclusive Easy Align. Other hand controllers require disassembly of the telescope electronics for memory upgrade, but Autostar is fully upgradeable over the Internet. You can add the positions of new comets, update the positions of Earth satellites, even add new software as it becomes available. With the addition of the RS-232 serial interface (sold separately), you can also control this telescope through your personal computer.
Included With Purchase
Autostar Computer controller with digital readout display, 9-speed drive controls on both axes and GO TO controller; 30,223-object onboard celestial software library; 8 x 50mm viewfinder; 1.25" diagonal prism; Series 4000 Super Plossl 26mm eyepiece; variable height standard field tripod; operating instructions. Internal battery compartment requires 8 (user supplied) " C" batteries.
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