Price:
$699.00
It's not just a big telescope. It's a big telescope that goes anywhere. New LightBridge Truss-Dobsonian from Meade sets up and disassembles quickly, so you can take one of these massive windows to the universe out to your favorite dark-sky location with ease. The LightBridge gives you high-quality Meade optics, premium components, and ultra portability, all for about the same price as an ordinary tube Dobsonian. So get a LightBridge Truss-Dobsonian and prepare to cross the universe.
Diffraction Limited Optics
Meade optics consistently outperform telescopes of similar and larger aperture. Consumers know that "Meade Optics Inside" means that what they see through our telescopes will be views that are detailed, crisp, and full of contrast.
Meade Optical Coatings
Aluminum coatings with magnesium fluoride provide bright images full of detail.
2-inch Crayford-style Machined Aluminum Focuser with 1.25-inch Adapter
Smooth precise focusing is achieved with this classic design. A unique focus tension knob and focus lock design give complete control over focus.
Built-In Primary Mirror Cooling Fan
Bring the telescope into thermal equilibrium quickly and efficiently with the battery-powered cooling fan. The fan is mounted to the rear of the "vented" primary mirror cell for fast cool-down.
Steel RA Roller Bearings
Roller bearings make movements smooth and effortless.
Four reticles and varying brightness controls allow this deluxe finder to adjust to your observing needs.
Series 4000 26mm Eyepiece
This is a premium four-element 1.25-inch eyepiece with a stunning 52-degree apparent field of view.
Series 4000 26mm QX Wide-Angle Eyepiece
This premium eyepiece has a two-inch optical design, and boasts a whopping 70-degree apparent field of view.
Easy to Assemble and Quick to Set Up
Metal Front Secondary Mirror Tube with 2-inch Crayford Focuser
A Crayford-style focuser is a premium focuser that allows fast, acurate focusing. Designed for serious observing, a Crayford focuser is usually an expensive add-on accessory, included with all LightBridge Dobsonian Telescopes. This focuser can accept both two-inch and 1.25-inch format eyepieces. Deluxe models include a two-inch format 26mm wide-angle eyepiece. Standard models include a 1.25-inch format 26mm eyepiece.
Lightweight Aluminum Trusses
The LightBridge series Truss-Tube Dobsonian telescopes are designed for portability. If you have never seen a 10- or 12-inch Dobsonian telescope before, they are massive. Traveling to dark-sky locations with the LightBridge design is simple and easy. The LightBridge telescopes can set up and tear down quickly, making them a very desirable telescope for taking out to your favorite dark sky location.
Metal Rear Tube with Primary Mirror Cell
The heart of the LightBridge Truss-Tube Dobsonian telescope, this metal tube holds the primary mirror. Also included is the built-in cooling fan for fast temperature equilibrium. When else can you own a large aperture telescope and travel with it in the back seat of your car?
Solid Laminated Base
The LightBridge telescopes solid base is sturdy and designed to last. Laminated for protection against dew and the elements, it offers a steady platform for even the most high-power viewing.
Supplier SKU 1005-05-02 10" LightBridge (f/5) Truss-Tube Dobsonian
Recommended Usage
For the Enthusiast , Viewing Galaxies/Star Clusters , Viewing Nebulae , Viewing the Moon , Viewing the Planets
Brand
Meade
Weight Complete
65 lbs.
Finderscope
Red Dot
Lens Coating
Multi-Coated
GPS
No
GoTo
No
Good for Astrophotography
No
Telescopes Series
Meade LightBridge Dobsonian Telescopes
Optical Design
Reflector
Aperture
10 inches
Focal Length
1270mm
Focal Ratio
f/5
Mount Design
Altazimuth
Eyepiece 1
26mm Wide-Angle
Highest Useful Magnification
500X
Limiting Magnitude
14.5
Resolution
0.46 Arc Seconds
Resolving Power
0.46 Arc Seconds
Weight Optical Tube
38 lbs.
Objective Lens Size Code
254
User Level
For the Enthusiast
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 3 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 3 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-3
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Meade LightBridge 10 Inch Truss-Tube Dobsonian Telescope:
It was as expected, but the base seems very weak, had to reinforce the base with my own material.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Meade LightBridge 10 Inch Truss-Tube Dobsonian Telescope:
I bought this telescope because I wanted 10" aperture which is required to enjoy seeing the objects mentioned in any amateur astronomy book and did not want to spend a fortune on catadioptric Go-To system. For 10" instrument the Meade LightBridge is very reasonable priced. The telescope is well built - optical tube assembly is all metal, no plastic at all, base is also stable. Beware, the 10" comes with weight, the telescope is heavy. The truss tube system is handy – the telescope can be disassembled and stored or transported in manageable pieces. It does require collimation after assembly but with practice that will not be a problem at all. The 26mm Wide-Angle that comes with the telescope is rather a low end eyepiece, the stars look like comets at the edge of the field. I wish the designers thought about some little things that could have made the use of the telescope more enjoyable at almost no extra cost added. For example, it would be nice if Alt/Az setting circles were printed on the base or if the optical tube had a couple of handles. I also wonder why the optical tube is made in such way that if one wants to stand it vertically on the floor when assembling or disassembling the telescope the tube can only stand right on the collimation screws which protrude just a little bit too far below the rim. Nevertheless, I am glad that Meade manufactures this relatively inexpensive low-tech, yet, good quality telescope.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Meade LightBridge 10 Inch Truss-Tube Dobsonian Telescope:
I picked this scope up on sale because I always wanted a big telescope to share with my kids. It's great. The truss construction is solid, the base is solid, and the simple bearings for the tube - made of aluminum and cloth - give enough friction so it's easy to aim but stays put. I have not had a balance problem even with 13mm Ethos (huge eyepiece). The scope is all metal. Very Nice.
The base for the "deluxe" model includes roller bearings that work well. I don't think Meade makes the non-deluxe unit anymore but you need the roller bearings. Get only the deluxe.
I have taken the thing apart and put it back together a few times and it's very fast and easy. I had to re-collimate it but that goes quickly when you do it inside with lights on. ;-)
Have not tried it in the dark.
The focuser is Crayford style (single stage) and works well at low and medium power. At high power - 5mm Pentax eyepiece - it is touchy to focus but still usable.
The primary mirror seems really good. I tried it with a 26mm Nagler (top of line optics) eyepiece and the image was absolutely crisp, edge to edge looking at Jupiter or Andromeda.
It has a little red laser finder sight instead of a finder scope. Works well and has dot, cross hairs, circle, or dot/circle as the selectable indicator. I like it a lot.
A word of caution - my unit required addition of a 2" eyepiece extender (a plain tube, not a barlow) in order to use the eyepiece that came with the scope - a 26mm Meade QX wide angle. Without it, I could not bring anything into focus. Same issue with the 13mm Ethos. If you have trouble, call Meade support and they'll send the extender. (be patient - their help desk is definitely NOT astronomers)
Another point. The 26mm QX Wide angle is not a good lense. Heard same from a few other owners on the web. Plan on replacing it.
Bottom line, I think this is a nice little Dob - very solid, well made, and very worth the money.
Displaying reviews 1-3
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