Meade - 8 " LX90-ACF (f/10) Advanced Coma-Free with UHTC Coatings

The Meade 8" LX90-ACF Telescope yields similar optical brilliance to the LX200 flagships, but in a package providing better value for those primarily observing rather than imaging.  The quality, workmanship, design, and features will satisfy novices and experienced professionals alike.  This is the "ACF" version of the 8" LX90, which stands for "Advanced Coma-Free".  Meade has employed advancements beyond the traditional Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptrics for the LX90-ACF, gaining significant resolution increases as you move away from the center of the field towards the edge.

The 8" LX90-ACF with UHTC multicoatings provides enough aperture for some serious deep space viewing, but is a size that can be managed simply enough by one person, even to a remote location.  Meade's combined high quality optics, stable double fork mounting, computerized control, and streamlined appearance in a single unit.  The list of technology within is long and exhaustive:  a rigid mount with beefy tripod, an oversized primary mirror, truly diffraction-limited optics, and the very finest of simple and accurate GPS-enabled alignment.

The 8" LX90-ACF's standard-equipment AutoStar computer controller connects to the telescope's control panel and permits viewing and tracking of 30,223 database objects.  That's 50 objects in the solar system, 8 major planets from Mercury to Pluto, the Moon, 26 asteroids & 15 comets.  An apparent endless supply of galaxies, diffuse nebulae, planetary nebulae and star clusters are present, including the complete Messier, Caldwell, IC, and NGC catalogs.  You'll also enjoy looking at 50 satellites, including the International Space Station and the Hubble telescope.

You can do some light-duty lunar/planetary imaging (of up to ~5 minute exposures) with the LX90 through the eyepiece using a digiscoping adapter or with an SLR via the SLR adapter and your camera system's specific T-mount.  For deep space images of exposures much longer than a few minutes, you'll need either a Meade Deep Sky Imager (which uses software to correct for field rotation) or their dedicated #07002-1 Wedge to turn it into an equatorial-type scope.

Power for the LX90-ACF is supplied by 8 "C" batteries, but via optional accessories you can also adapt to an AC wall unit or a vehicle's cigarette lighter (which can operate in the field off of a Celestron Power Tank).  Everything needed to begin observing immediately is included except for the power supply.

LX90-SC Meade's Schmidt-Cassegrain (SC) optics give you high performance for the best possible price. For the person looking to get the most from their astronomical dollar, look no further. Meade uses water-white glass with superior light transmission across the entire visible spectrum, unlike inferior standard plate glass used by other telescope manufacturers. Combined with our industry-leading Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) -- with 15% better light transmission than standard coatings -- and oversized, thermally-stable Pyrex® primary mirrors for optimum light collection, you get a spectacular viewing experience not available on comparable competitors telesscopes. 

GPS - LX90 can do more than track satellites. It talks to them as well. Turn it on and the built-in Sony® GPS sensor immediately determines your precise date, time and location. AutoAlign™ then uses this info to align your scope for a tour of the most spectacular sights in the universe. 

EASY ALIGN™ - LX90s are smart scopes that know the night sky right out of the box. Easy Align picks two alignment stars for you and places them right in your viewfinder. Just center them to fine tune your alignment and the wonders of the universe are at your fingertips. 

OVERSIZED PRIMARY MIRROR - Only Meade manufactures their primary mirrors in diameters larger than their listed aperture (e.g. the diameter of the 8" LX90's primary mirror is actually 8.25").This additional 1/4" yields a wider, fully illuminated field-of-view, and allows you to see the light other telescopes leave behind. 

8 X 50 VIEWFINDER - Quickly and easily locate and center deep sky objects

SLEW SPEED - The LX90 slews (moves) from star to star at 7 degrees per second. That is more than twice as fast as the competition. This means that over the course of an evening, a Meade LX90 will show you two to three times more objects. 

RIGID CAST ALUMINUM FORK MOUNT - The Meade LX90's Optical Tube Assembly is mounted on two sturdy fork arms giving you a rock solid platform for astrophotography. 

LX200™ - SERIES TRIPOD - The LX90 comes standard with the same sturdy field tripod as the LX200-ACF series telescope. 

SMART DRIVE™ - Meade's AutoStar® provides Periodic Error Correction (in polar mode). Over the course of one or more training periods your LX90 will minimize guiding corrections during long exposure astrophotography. 

AUTOSTAR CONTROLLER - Meade's AutoStar® can be updated after purchase. Click here to download software upgrades, guided tours and timely objects like comets, satellites and new discoveries - Free! Keep your AutoStar up-to-date, and your LX90 will grow with you for years to come.