Featuring Precision GPS Alignment:
Telescope alignment is accomplished automatically using signals from
the Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite system that enables extremely
precise communication to the telescope of the observer"s latitude and longitude,
as well as local time. Integrated true-level and North electronic sensors in
combination with a 16-channel GPS receiver located in the left-hand fork arm
result in accurate telescope alignment to the sky at the touch of a button:
Just press the ENTER button on the Autostar II hand controller and watch as
the telescope measures level, points North, and slews at 8°/sec. to its first
alignment star. Magnetic declination compensation designed into the telescope
software automatically engages during the alignment process.
New Heavy-Duty Fork Mounts:
All LX200R fork mounts are the strongest, most rigid mountings ever made available for
telescopes of these apertures. DC-servo-motor-controlled (12v DC) worm gear drives
with almost two hundred selectable drive speeds, combined with the Meade Smart Drive
on both telescope axes, permit observatory-level precision in tracking, guiding, and
slewing.
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Every telescope also carries an amazing 2 year warranty
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Photo-guide speeds are selectable from 0.01x to 1.0x sidereal, in increments of
0.01x; fast-slew speeds are selectable from 1°/sec. to 8°/sec. in 0.1°/sec. increments.
Use the 8°/sec. speed for rapid motion of the telescope across the skies; once near the
target, switch instantly to a speed of 1.5°/sec. or 3°/sec. for centering in the viewfinder.
Observing in the main telescope, use the 16x or 64x sidereal speed to place the object
in the center of the field.
Autostar II Control System:
Completely redesigned and updated for the LX200R series, the
Meade Autostar II control system includes the widest array of telescope capabilities
ever offered in a commercial telescope:
Built-in 145,000-Object Library Included as Standard Equipment:
Enter into the Autostar II handbox any of the 145,000 celestial objects stored in the
LX200R onboard database, press GO TO, and the telescope automatically slews (moves)
to the object at 8°/sec., centering it precisely in the main telescope field.
Additionally, the display reads out for each selected object its magnitude, size,
object-type, visual quality rating, RA and Dec. Or, let the telescope take you
on an automatic guided tour of TONIGHT"S BEST.
Stored in an expanded 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, Autostar II"s database is
immediately accessible on the Autostar II display and includes an incredible
array of phenomena — virtually a lifetime of deep-space study, even for the
advanced observer. A partial listing includes:
| Object List | No. of Objects |
| New General Catalog (NGC) | 7480 |
| Index Catalog (IC) | 5386 |
| Uppsala Galaxy Catalog | 12,940 |
| Morphological Catalog of Galaxies | 12,939 |
| General Catalog of Variable Stars | 28,484 |
| SAO and Hipparcos Star Catalogs | 42,277 |
| Draper Star Catalog (HD) | 21,127 |
| Yale Bright Star Catalog (BSC5) | 6150 |
| Large Bright Quasars Survey (LBQS) | 1055 |
| Messier Catalog (M) | 110 |
| Caldwell Catalog | 109 |
| Named Objects | 227 |
| Herschel Catalog | 400 |
| Abell Catalog of Galaxy Clusters | 2712 |
| Arp Catalog of Irregular Galaxies | 645 |
| Major Planets from Mercury to Pluto | 9 |
| Lunar Features | 1870 |
| Asteroids and Comets | 120 |
| Earth orbiting satellites | 50 |
| Centroids of the Constellations | 88 |
Additional Autostar II Functions: Dozens of additional handbox
functions, all easily and immediately accessible, make Autostar II the most powerful
electronic tool ever developed for the serious amateur. A partial listing of fewer
than half of these functions includes: GO TO capability to any input RA and Dec.
coordinates; a 200-object user-defined library; event menus displaying the times and/or
dates of Sunrise/Sunset, Moonrise/Moonset, Moon phases, meteor showers, minimum of Algol,
equinoxes and solstices; custom-guided tours defined by the user; standard tours
including Tonight's Best; 24-hour timer with beeper; alarm function with beeper
sounds at selected times; 16-level display brightness adjust; 16-level display
contrast adjust; red-LED utility light; battery alarm for low-battery warning;
7 alignment modes; sidereal, lunar, or any of 2000 custom tracking rates;
factory-trained Smart Drive periodic error correction on both telescope axes
with field-training capability.
Altazimuth Operation:
For all visual observing applications, for lunar and planetary
photography, and for most CCD imaging applications, Meade LX200R models may be set
up in the altazimuth mode just attach the telescope"s drive base directly to the tripod,
use the GPS alignment procedure, and the telescope"s computer actuates 2-axis tracking
that keeps objects precisely centred in the field, even at high powers, during the
entire observing session. For long-exposure astrophotography (longer than about 5 minutes)
altazimuth-induced field rotation requires an equatorial wedge or the #1220 Field De-rotater,
either of which may be purchased separately.
Field Operation:
LX200R telescopes operate for over 20 hours from eight C-cells
neatly stored inside the fork arms. Alternately, telescope powering may be effected
from an automobile cigarette lighter plug (using the optional #607 Power Cord) or from
a standard home outlet (using the optional #547 AC Adapter).
Primary Mirror Lock:
This revolutionary new rear-cell system is designed
for the advanced visual observer, astrophotographer, and CCD imager.
Turn a knob located just above the manual coarse-focus knob, and lock the
telescope"s primary mirror rigidly in place. Used in conjunction with the Zero
Image-Shift Microfocuser (below) the progressive-tension primary mirror lock
completely cancels any residual image shift while focusing during visual,
photographic, or CCD imaging applications.
Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser:
Now you can obtain the most precise image focus
possible _ truly to a microscopic level _ during visual and astrophotographic applications,
and, during CCD applications, simultaneously maintain precise image centration on
even the smallest CCD chips. Included as standard equipment on all LX200R
Ritchie Chretien models, the Meade Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser operates at
4 speeds from extremely slow to fast; the entire microfocusing operation is
actuated through the Autostar II handbox and powered from the telescope's control panel.
Coarse manual focusing is effected through the telescope's manual focus knob
You can read on for a complete list of the
specifications
for the 8" 10" 12" 14" and 16" LX200R Ritchie Chretien Telescopes