The most widely used research telescope on earth now comes with the most advanced optical system in space. Meade’s all new LX200R brings Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien optics within reach of aspiring astronomers everywhere. Nearly every observatory reflector in the world is a Ritchey-Chrétien, including NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Now you can own what the professionals own. The LX200R includes all the field-proven features of the LX200 including GPS, Primary Mirror Lock, Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser, Oversized Primary Mirror, SmartDrive™, Smart Mount™, AutoStar® II and more. Plus, the LX200R comes with observatory-class optics crafted in Irvine, California, and a Series 5000 26mm 5-Element Plössl eyepiece. The new LX200R. It’s the biggest news in astronomy since, well, the LX200.
Advanced f/10 Ritchey-Chrétien Optics: The Ritchey-Chrétien or RC optical design is well known to discerning astrophotographers and is the telescope optical design in many of the leading professional observatories of the world. The LX200R is the perfect platform for the demanding researcher and imaging enthusiast with telescopes available in apertures of 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches, and 16 inches.
Meade Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC™) increases total light transmission and image brightness by nearly 20% over Meade’s standard coatings. Objects such as stars, galaxies and nebulae will appear significantly brighter.
Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser allows you to obtain precise image focus with no image movement.
Primary Mirror Lock locks the mirror in place during long-exposure astrophotography.
Oversize Primary Mirror diameters are greater than their listed aperture (e.g., the diameter of the 8" LX200R is actually 8.25"). This additional 1/4" yields a wide, fully illuminated field-of-view.
Smart Mount™ constantly refines pointing accuracy each time an object is centered and updated. Compatible with both equatorial and altazimuth mounts. Smart Drive™ provides permanent periodic error correction (PPEC) on both axes by learning and averaging error over the course of one or more training periods, thereby minimizing guiding corrections during long-exposure photographs. PPEC is available on both axes and functions in both polar and altazimuth modes. Sony®GPS Receiver Sensor automatically inputs precise time, date, and geographical location to help quickly and precisely align the telescope. AutoAlign™– Telescopes with Meade’s new AutoAlign come pre-aligned.They are smart scopes that know the night sky right out of the box. AutoAlign picks two fail-proof alignment stars for you and places them right in your view-finder. Just center them to fine tune your alignment and the wonders of the universe are at your fingertips. AutoStar® II controller features “Hot Keys” for quick access to a 145,000 celestial object database. AutoStar II can be updated with the latest software upgrades, guided tours and timely objects like comets free at meade.com. MADE IN THE USA – All LX200R telescopes are made in the USA at Meade’s state-of-the-art design and manufacturing facility in Irvine, California.
MEADE 8" LX200R Ritchey-Chrétien | |
| Specifications: 8" Model LX200R—Includes 8" Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien optical tube assembly (D = 203mm, F = 2000mm f/10) with UHTC coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors; primary mirror lock; 4-speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser; heavy-duty fork mount, with 4"-diameter sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-microprocessor-controlled 5.75" LX worm gears on both axes, and multi-function control panel; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system with 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, digital readout display, permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes, High-Precision Pointing, and 145,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with 16-channel GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; 12v DC telescope power supplied from internal battery compartments accepting 8 (user-supplied) C-cells (optional 25 ft. cords are available for powering from auto cigarette lighter plug or from 240v AC); 8x50mm viewfinder; eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece; variable-height standard field tripod; operating instructions. |
MEADE 10" LX200R Ritchey-Chrétien | |
| Specifications: 10" Model LX200R—Includes 10" Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien optical tube assembly (D = 254mm, F = 2500mm f/10) with UHTC coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors; primary mirror lock; 4-speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser; heavy-duty fork mount, with 4"-diameter sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-microprocessor-controlled 5.75" LX worm gears on both axes, and multi-function control panel; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system with 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, digital readout display, permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes, High-Precision Pointing, and 145,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with 16-channel GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; 12v DC telescope power supplied from internal battery compartments accepting 8 (user-supplied) C-cells (optional 25 ft. cords are available for powering from auto cigarette lighter plug or from 240v AC); 8x50mm viewfinder; eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece; variable-height standard field tripod; operating instructions. |
MEADE 12" LX200R Ritchey-Chrétien | |
| Specifications: 12" Model LX200R—Includes 12" Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien optical tube assembly (D = 305mm, F = 3048mm f/10) with UHTC coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors; primary mirror lock; 4-speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser; heavy-duty fork mount, with 4"-diameter sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-microprocessor-controlled 5.75" LX worm gears on both axes, and multi-function control panel; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system with 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, digital readout display, permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes, High-Precision Pointing, and 145,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with 16-channel GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; 12v DC telescope power supplied from internal battery compartments accepting 8 (user-supplied) C-cells (optional 25 ft. cords are available for powering from auto cigarette lighter plug or from 240v AC); 8x50mm viewfinder; eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece; variable-height standard field tripod; operating instructions. |
MEADE 14" LX200R Ritchey-Chrétien | |
| Specifications: 14" Model LX200R—Includes 14" Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien optical tube assembly (D = 356mm, F = 3556mm f/10) with UHTC coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors; primary mirror lock; 4-speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser; heavy-duty fork mount, with 4"-diameter sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-microprocessor-controlled 5.75" LX worm gears on both axes, and multi-function control panel; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system with 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, digital readout display, permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes, High-Precision Pointing, and 145,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with 16-channel GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; 12v DC telescope power supplied from internal battery compartments accepting 8 (user-supplied) C-cells (optional 25 ft. cords are available for powering from auto cigarette lighter plug or from 240v AC); 8x50mm viewfinder; eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece; variable-height standard field tripod; operating instructions. |
MEADE 16" LX200R Ritchey-Chrétien | |
| Specifications: Includes 16" Advanced Ritchey Chretien optical tube assembly (D = 406mm, F = 4064mm, f/10) with MgF2 coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors (Ultra-High Transmission Coatings available optionally); primary mirror lock; 4-speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser; heavy-duty, one-piece fork mount with 6 roller bearings and dual-axis 11" worm gears; 7-port multi-function control panel, including RS-232 serial interface and field de-rotater ports; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; thermal stabilization fan; setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system, 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, digital readout display, factory-programmed Smart Drive and 165-speed drive controls on both axes, High-Precision Pointing, and 145,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with 16-channel GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; home-pulse software for remote telescope operation; Smart Mount which improves the pointing accuracy of your LX200GPS-SMT telescope's "Go To" system; 25 ft. power cord and adapter for telescope operation from 115v AC (for field operation from 12v DC auto cigarette lighter plug, see optional #1812A Electronic DC Adapter); 8 x 50mm viewfinder; 2" diagonal mirror with 1.25" adapter; Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece (156x); operating instructions; shipped in foam-fitted export-quality cartons. Choice of tripod or piers available at slightly varying prices: supergiant transportable field tripod; permanent altazimuth pier; or permanent equatorial pier. In case of permanent equatorial pier, specify observatory latitude within 0.5°. |
MEADE Smart Drive™ "in-depth" | |
Included as standard equipment with all Meade LX200R Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, and with the #1664 and #1697 drive systems of Meade apochromatic refractors as well, the Smart Drive permits a professional level of drive-rate precision. No longer are large systems required, worm gear when smaller gears coupled to Smart Drive software can achieve periodic errors of 5 arc secs or less-an observatory standard of precision. All worm/worm-gear combinations, no matter how well made, have minor inaccuracies that manifest themselves as periodic errors in the telescope tracking rate, with the period dependent on the worm's rate of rotation. To program the Smart Drive the observer guides on an object visually, making corrections with the handbox controller. |
|
 | |
The software then remembers these keystrokes, stores them in memory, and in the future automatically compensates for the periodic errors of the gear system. Smart Drive user programming is stored in the telescope's computer memory forever, independently of any power source, unlike other periodic error correctors that must be reprogrammed each time you use the system. The Smart Drive can be erased, updated, or even averaged with future programmings at the user's option. The significant value of the Smart Drive is immediately appreciated during long-exposure astrophotography, where the resultant low periodic error of the system enables relaxed guiding with a minimum of handbox corrections. In CCD imaging, where 2- to 3-minute exposures of deep-space objects are often all that is required for stunning results, the Smart Drive often permits imaging without any guiding requirements at all. | |
Products | Product image library | Downloads | Service | Links |
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
Accessories |  | |
| ||
| ||
| ||
Non-warrantee | | |
Spares Request | | |
| ||
| ||
