Meade 8" f/10 LX90 ACF Telescope with Field Tripod

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Meade 8" f/10 LX90 ACF Telescope with Field Tripod

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8" f/10 Advanced Coma Free Optics - 2032mm focal length
Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
Features AudioStar: 30,000+ Object-Database and built-in GPS
Includes Series 4000 26mm Super Pl�ssl eyepiece, 8X50 finderscope, 1.25" mirror diagonal, and Standard Field Tripod with dual-fork mount
Internally powered via 8x C-cell batteries (not included) to operate the telescope up to 60 hours

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Item # 56944b

Mfg Model # 0810-90-03

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The Meade 8" LX90 ACF telescope is an extremely versatile, high-resolution GoTo telescope, in a very compact form given the large aperture. With pushbutton controls, automatic locating and tracking of celestial objects, and a wealth of object data at your fingertips in the AudioStar controller, the LX90 will provide hours of enjoyment under the night sky. Both visual astronomers and astrophotographers alike will appreciate the quality and capability of this powerful telescope.

Features an 8" aperture, 2032mm focal length, and f/10 focal ratio with Dual-Fork Mounting. Equipped with Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) and a resolving power of 0.570 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 Pl�ssl eyepiece (96x), viewfinder (8x50 optical with crosshair), 1.25" Diagonal Mirror, and Standard Field Tripod. OTA and Mount Weight: 28 lbs. OTA Dimensions/Mount Dimensions: 25.5" x 14" x 19". Tripod Weight: 19 lbs. Tripod Dimension: 30" to 44" Variable.

Designed and Manufactured in North America.

The patented Meade Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optical design offers coma-free pinpoint star images and flatter image fields greatly desired by discerning amateur astronomers, astrophotographers and professional observatories alike. This ACF system also reduces astigmatism and eliminates diffraction spikes.

The ACF primary, secondary and corrector plate glass blanks are manufactured in the USA exclusively for Meade.

This telescope also features Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC). UHTC are specialized multi-layered coatings that are precisely designed to improve the performance of your telescope's optics. You'll see brighter star clusters, more fine detail in nebulae, and additional surface features on planets. Averaged over the entire visible spectrum, total light transmission to the focus increases by 15%.

The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

LX90 electronics include: advanced AudioStar computer system with a 30,000+ object-library, multiple guided tours, High Precision Pointing capability, and SmartDrive with Permanent Periodic Error Correction. Precise and quick star alignment is done near effortlessly with an incorporated 16-channel genuine Sony GPS receiver.

The Meade AudioStar features audio files and an internal speaker.

With the included AudioStar telescope hand controller you have easy access to thousands of objects along with a wealth of data about each one! AudioStar Astronomer Inside technology features a built-in speaker that plays over four hours of educational content about the celestial objects you are viewing! After a very simple alignment routine, the AudioStar is ready to take you to any object above the horizon in its database. Can also be connected to a PC for more advanced control.

Features a solid and stable aluminum double-fork mount with fast slew speed adjustable from 1.5 degrees to 6.5 degrees per second. Mount and electronics are internally powered by (8) x C-cell (user-supplied) batteries, which will typically operate the telescope for a generous 60 hours (optional Meade Universal AC Adapter can be used).

The 8" LX90 is compatible with an equatorial wedge which allows for polar alignment of the fork arms, eliminating field rotation in exposures longer than about 5 minutes. The Equatorial Wedge for 8" ACF Telescopes would need to be combined with the LX90 Wedge Adapter Plate to connect to the LX90 8". If using the X-Wedge, no other adapter plate is needed.

With high-quality features and performance, this model is a staple for your astronomy ventures. Make it your time to own "The Legend".

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for two years from date of purchase. This warranty is provided by Meade for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact Meade at 800-626-3233.

Product Support

Visit our product support section for instruction manuals and more

Specs

Best for viewing

Brighter deep sky
Best for imaging

Solar, lunar, planetary & Messier objects
User level

User level

Beginner Level - Suited for a wide range of uses, these products are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required depending on the type of product. Optical instruments with this rating will have very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment and complexity. Beginning level telescopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulae! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Intermediate Level - These products offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Advanced Level - These products provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. Optical instruments with this rating have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but might be on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These products will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Advanced
Optical design

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece. Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens. Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Advanced Coma-Free (ACF)
Optical diameter

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

200mm
Focal length

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

2032mm
Focal ratio

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

f/10.0
Eyepieces

Super Plossl 26.0mm (1.25")
Magnification with included eyepieces

78x
Resolving power

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

0.57arc*sec
Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

29x
Highest useful magnification

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification. But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

300x
Highest theoretical magnification

394x
Limiting stellar magnitude

Limiting stellar magnitude

The limiting stellar magnitude is a measure of the faintest star you can see through the telescope.

14.2
Front-end outside tube diameter

Front-end outside tube diameter

The maximum outside diameter (OD) of the front end of your telescope will be used to select a solar filter than will fit securely to the telescope for safe solar viewing.

9.14 in.
Optical quality

Optical quality

"Diffraction Limited" means that the limits of image detail are determined by the physical properties of light, and not by optical defects in the telescope.

Diffraction limited
Finder scope

8x50
Focuser

Internal
Diagonal degrees

1.25" 90° Mirror Star
Mount type

Altazimuth
Astro-imaging capability

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Lunar & planetary
Computerized compatibility

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Go-To included
Number of objects in database

30,223
Tracking rates

Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
Motor speeds

Up to 6.5°/sec
Motor type

DC Servo motors with encoders
Power requirement

12-volt DC - 5A (tip positive)
PEC

PEC

Periodic errors are inherent in almost all worm gears due to slight eccentricities and misalignments. PEC (Periodic Error Correction) training function provides a manual correcting method to reduce the amplitude of the worm gear errors. By recording a full cycle of guiding actions, the mount can compensate for drifting in the R.A. sidereal tracking caused by periodic errors. The PEC training function is recommended for advanced users with interest in long-exposure astrophotography only. Standard sidereal tracking is sufficient for all casual visual applications, and PEC training is not required. Also, PEC is typically not used in conjunction with an autoguider.

Yes
GPS

GPS

A GPS module automatically sets the date and exact time and location for the mount, relieving the user from the need to look up coordinates on a map or manually enter perfect time. This can be very beneficial when traveling with the scope as locations can quickly be automatically entered into the hand control.

Included
Backlash compensation

Yes
Setting circles

Electronic, via the hand controller
Available ports

Available ports

Ports allow the mount to connect to devices such as autoguiders (for long exposure photography without tedious manual guiding), PC's running planetarium software (via the RS-232 port) and GPS receivers (through the Aux port).

RS-232, Aux
Tube material

Aluminum
Tripod material

Aluminum & Steel
Height range of mount

Height range of mount

The height range specification is a measure of the tripod itself - not the eyepiece height. Since telescopes come in all shapes and sizes, the eyepiece height will vary, even when using the same tripod. For an EQ tripod the mount is set up so the counterweight shaft is horizontal, and then the height is measured from the ground to the center of the mounting plate.

30.00 in. - 44.00 in.
Weight, optical tube

28.0 lbs.
Weight, mount/tripod

19.0 lbs.
Weight, fully assembled

47.0 lbs.
Additional included accessories

AudioStar hand controller, Standard Field Tripod
Other features

AudioStar controller with multiple guided tours, Powered by 8x C-batteries or external 12v, SmartDrive w/ Permanent Periodic Error Correction
Warranty

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Two year

Shipping Info

When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

Standard Delivery: $100.00
Standard Delivery to Canada: $213.00

SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS APPLY FOR THIS PRODUCT

This product is available to ship Standard delivery to the 48 continental United States. Delivery is not available to US territories/protectorates or APO/DPO/FPO addresses. Standard delivery is available to Canada. 3 Day, 2nd Day and Next Day delivery is not available.

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