This telescope, with its Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, leaves nothing to be desired - SC telescopes are suitable for all applications. No matter if you want to observe planets, far-off nebulae or galaxies, no matter if purely visually or also photographically, anything is possible with an SC telescope!
The compact optics ensure low leverage stress on the mount and make the telescope easy to transport. Focusing takes place internally and is so adjustable that even with astrophotographic accessories attached, focusing is usually no problem.
SC telescopes have a spherical primary mirror. This is usually a drawback, since only parabolic mirrors, as used in Newtonian telescopes, can also correctly focus off-axis light rays. The optical designer Bernhard Schmidt (1879-1935) therefore developed a special correction plate to take care of this. The plate is attached to the front of the OTA. Once used in combination with this Schmidt plate, SC telescopes produce a sharp image with no spherical aberration. This also has the advantage that the OTA is completely closed off at both ends, protecting the main mirror from contamination and preventing disturbing air turbulence.
The secondary mirror is mounted under the centre of this correction plate, and reflects the light back to the main mirror. There, it exits through a hole in the main mirror and through an opening in the back of the OTA. This folded light path is named after Laurent Cassegrain (1629-1693). Even professional telescopes use the advantages of this design - heavy accessories generate hardly any leverage stress and the telescope's eyepiece remains at almost the same height, even if objects of very different altitudes are being observed. This means that no ladder is required and the viewing position is comfortable and safe even for children - this is not unimportant, especially for balcony astronomers!
Advanced Coma-free Optics (ACF): Meade's ACF optical design eliminates the typical aberrations of all mirror optics. Thanks to ACF, the stars are also point-shaped right out to the edge of the image field, displaying no elongated comet-like distortions. The image field is flatter than that of classic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. ACF optical systems show their strengths especially in astrophotographic applications.
Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC): This special multi-layer coating on the front correction plate provides up to 15% more light transmission. The result -brighter star clusters, finer details in nebulae and more surface detail on planets!
The LX85 mount has been designed with astrophotography in mind. With its powerful servomotors and Meade Smart Drive technology, it follows the sky's rotation and keeps the telescope accurately tracking the desired object for long exposure times - and without having to do a meridian flip!
- The LX85 is particularly light and therefore ideal for portable use in the garden or an observing location under a particularly dark sky.
- The AudioStar GoTo control firstcorrectly positions the telescope and then automatically tracks the object you wish to observe. This is also ideal for beginners!
- The LX85 mount allows the connection of an autoguider for precision tracking control.
The LX85 mount follows the usual telescope standards, allowing it to be used with most commercial telescopes up to 15kg in weight. Meade offers the mount together with a wide range of great optics - inexpensive Newtonian telescopes, Maksutovs for lunar and planetary specialists, all-round ACF optics, and even high-quality apochromats for the discerning photographer!
The AudioStar handheld control provides a database of 30,000 astronomical objects. Once aligned to the night sky, AudioStar can position the telescope to point to any of these objects and centre them in the eyepiece - of course only if the object is above the horizon. The GoTo functionality is supplemented by additional features, such as guided tours, position display and connection to a PC.
A special feature of the AudioStar controller is its built-in speaker. The built-in Astronomer Inside technology provides over four hours of audio commentary (in English only). The built-in astronomer will relate interesting information about astronomical objects located in the field of view!
Meade Smart Drive - as the telescope magnifies the astronomical object, an astronomical mount must be very precise. Even small tracking errors will interfere with longer exposure times. Small errors are always there, as the transmission's worm gear cannot be perfectly round. These periodic errors can be detected and compensated for by the computer control. Smart Drive technology makes possible this permanent periodic error correction (PPEC).
LX85: Ideal for ambitious beginners and experienced observers who want to get into astrophotography.
Please note that this does not come with a power cable. Suitable cables and mains adapters can be found amongst the recommended accessories.
It not only matters which telescope you buy but also where you buy it. Our additional services:
- We are a leading telescope dealer and know the devices we sell. Our customer service team will gladly help you after your purchase if you have problems with assembly or operation.
- We provide a copy of the 80-page Telescope ABC beginners handbook with every telescope.
- We also provide an edition of the exciting astronomy magazine, “Sterne und Weltraum” with each telescope.
