Meade LX850-ACF 14″ f/8 with UHTC and Starlock

Description

The New LX850™ with StarLock™. The portable astro-imaging system that can be setup, aligned and imaging in less than thirty minutes. Only from Meade.   Building on the foundation of the technologically revolutionary LX800, Meade engineers have taken the next step in astrophotographic evolution. We kept the same innovative concepts like Starlock™ fulltime automatic guiding and high-precision pointing, f/8 ACF OTAs with internal Crayford-style two-speed focuser and a portable precision German equatorial mount, but reengineered it to deliver more performance with less user effort. Here is a brief list of a few of the changes and new features made to create the new LX850:   NEW polished bronze worms in both RA and DEC drivers that deliver smooth motion with low periodic error. NEW larger roller bearings in both RA and DEC axes to better handle larger loads. NEW roller bearings in the RA and DEC clutch assemblies to allow freer motion with the clutches loosened for easier balancing. NEW one-piece 1 inch thick saddle plate with improved dove tail clamps, thicker OTA rail and radius blocks to reduce flexure between the OTA and mount. NEW alternative StarLock mounting position on ACF OTAs for virtually no flexure between StarLock and the primary optics. NEW StarLock software improvements to guide star selection, tracking/guiding accuracy, Ultra High Precision Pointing, and Drift Alignment. NEW StarLock automatic guide rate calibration which analyzes the sky conditions and sets the best possible guide rates for both RA and DEC.   Fast f/8 Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optical systems on the 10”, 12” and 14” OTAs. These optics produce wider, flatter fields with no coma for pinpoint stars out to the edge of larger imaging sensors or extreme wide angle eyepieces.   Internal Crayford-style primary mirror focusing system with a dual speed 7:1 focus control. Precise focus is a snap.