Meade 16" / 20" LX400 ACF Advanced Coma-Free Telescopes on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount are a huge jump over the traditional Schmidt-Cassegrain as far as sharpness of image, flatness of field, and color. Meade Advanced Coma Free Telescopes deliver the same sharp, flat, coma-free field from edge to edge as a typical Ritchey-Chretien. The use of the corrector plate in the ACF system creates a closed and protected optical tube, reduces astigmatism and eliminates the diffraction spikes inherent in the traditional RC design. ACF optical system perform at the same high level as comparable RC systems costing thousands more.

Imagine you're a seasoned astrophotographer saving up for the fast f-ratio, wide-field, comafree, custom telescope of a lifetime. The telescope that can handle the largest CCD chips. The telescope with state-of-the-art optics and mechanics. The telescope that is praised as "approaching perfection" by industry critics and astronomers alike. Suddenly you find out such telescope is available for one-fifth of what you thought - and you won't have to wait six months for it to be built. What would you do? You'd buy one.

In the hands of the serious astronomer or astrophotographer the new Meade 16in / 20in LX400ACF Advanced Coma Free Telescope is an instrument that will produce razor sharp star images across the entire field of view on par with the best professional observatories. Meade Advanced Comafree optical design produces a coma-free, flat field of view that rivals traditional RC telescopes at a fraction of the cost. Meade ACF design even eliminates diffraction spikes and improves astigmatism, both of which are inherent in the traditional RC design.

Meade 16 in. / 20 in. LX 400 ACF Coma Free Telescopes highlights:

Meade LX400ACF is The Remote Control Observatory. Control your Meade LX400 ACF Telescope from the comfort of your home, office, or even out-of-town with completely integrated Meade AutoStar II and LX400ACF software systems. Access the computer that controls your telescope via network or Web access. Work like the pros, imaging whenever the weather, your schedule, and the universe align. With Meade LX400 ACF Advanced Coma-Free Computerized Telescope, you have your own remotely controlled observatory - control your telescope from your computer. Just set-up, connect, control, and image. Meade AutoStar II makes it easy.

Meade Advanced Coma-Free Telescopes LX-400 ACF provide perfect star images edge-to-edge. This professional level of off-axis performance was previously unavailable without spending more than three times the cost of an LX400ACF.

Leveling made easy. New quick release locks are located at the top of the tripod legs (instead of the bottom). Legs can be extended or retracted with a flip of the waist-high lever. Especially helpful on uneven ground.

MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mounts: MAX features a unique modular design that allows a couple of individuals to assemble, either permanently or transportably, a mount twice the size of any other commercially available mount. The mount breaks down into a Portable Pier (tripod), Pedestal, RA Housing Assembly, and DEC Housing assembly. Together all of the components and an OTA assembly fit easily into a station wagon, SUV, minivan or small truck. When assembled, quick release, but rock solid, dovetail plates allow OTA and instrument packages up to 250 lbs to be quickly mounted and de-mounted.

Meade 16" & 20" LX200-ACF Advanced Coma-Free UHTC Telescopes on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount are available in the following models:

• 1608-MAX-01: Meade 16" LX400-ACF Advanced Coma-Free on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with Tripod
• 1608-MAX-02: Meade 16" LX400-ACF Advanced Coma-Free on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with AZ Altazimuth Pier
• 2008-MAX-01: Meade 20" LX400-ACF Advanced Coma-Free on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with Tripod
• 2008-MAX-02: Meade 20" LX400-ACF Advanced Coma-Free on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with AZ Altazimuth Pier

Meade LX 400 ACF 16" & 20" Telescope features: Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) standard; 4-speed front focusing mechanism; Electric slow-motion controls on both axes; Manual slow-motion control on RA axis; Thermal stabilization fan; Setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system; 4-Megabyte flash memory; Digital readout display; Permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes; High-Precision Pointing; 180,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with extended sensitivity Sony GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; Smart Mount which improves the pointing accuracy of your LX400-ACF telescope's "Go To" system; 25 ft. power cord and adapter for telescope operation from 115v AC (for field operation from 12v DC auto cigarette lighter plug, see optional #1812A Electronic DC Adapter); 8 x 50mm viewfinder; 2" diagonal mirror with UHTC and 1.25" adapter; Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle 2" O.D. 24mm eyepiece

Specifications for Meade 16/20 inch Advanced Coma-Free LX400-ACF Telescopes:

Telescope:		16" LX400-ACF		20" LX400-ACF
Optical Design:		Advanced Coma-Free		Advanced Coma-Free
Clear Aperture:		16"		20"
UHTC Coatings Standard:		Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTCT)		Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTCT)
Resolving Power (Dawes Limit):		.285 arc seconds		.228 arc seconds
Focal Length, Focal Ratio:		3251mm, f/8		4064mm, f/8
Telescope Mounting:		MAX Robotic Equatorial Mount		MAX Robotic Equatorial Mount
Periodic Error Correction Both axes:		Five (5) arc seconds (raw); Two (2) arc seconds with PECTOOL
Control Panel:		2 multi-function, multi-port panels		2 multi-function, multi-port panels
Focus 4-speed front focusing mechanism:		Included		Included
GPS, North sensors included:		16-channel GPS receiver (on Mount)		16-channel GPS receiver (on Mount)
Pointing Precision:		High Precision Mode 1-arc min.		High Precision Mode 1-arc min.
Autostar II Hand Controller:		Included (147,541 object database)		Included (147,541 object database)
Alignment:		Equatorial		Equatorial
North electronic sensors:		Included		Included
Temperature Control:		Thermal stabilization fan		Thermal stabilization fan
Power:		120VAC, 5amp power supply required		12VDC, 5amp power supply required
Slew Speeds:		RA and Dec; 0.01x to1.0x sidereal, variable in0.01x increments; 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal; 1°/sec. to 2°/sec., variable in 0.1° increments All models
Tracking Rates:		sidereal, lunar, or custom-selected from 2000 incremental rates All models
Primary, Secondary Mirrors:		Pyrex glass, fine-annealed		Pyrex glass, fine-annealed
Correcting Plate/Lens:		Borofloat		Borofloat
Counterweights:		Requires 4 - 35lb. Counterweights (included)		Requires 5 - 35lb. Counterweights (included)
Accessories:		8 x 50mm viewfinder, 2.0" diagonal mirror with 1.25" adapter, UltraWide 24mm eyepiece. (16" and 20" models)
Total Net Weight:		140 pounds (OTA only)		190 pounds (OTA only)
Weights and Dimensions		Weights		Dimensions
RA Housing Assembly:		66 pounds		L = 20.75"; W = 18.85"; H = 20.34"
Dec Housing Assembly:		75 pounds		L = 18.25"; W = 15"; H = 20.45"
Counterweight Shaft Assembly:		32 pounds without counterweights		L = 38.1"; W = 1.25"
Individual Counterweight:		35 pounds		L = 5.9"; W = 5.9"; H = 2.96"
Portable Tripod:		81 pounds		Height - 26.5 inches; Footprint radius - 30 inches
Permanent Pier:		39 pounds		Minimum Height - 22"; Maximum Height - ?? Tube Diameter - 11.9"
Optical Tube Assembly (OTA)
16" LX400-ACF OTA:		140 pounds		L = 33"; W = 21"; H = 21"
20" LX400-ACF OTA:		190 pounds		L = 40"; W = 25.7"; H = 25.7"
16"OTA + MAX Mount + Counterweights:		609 pounds		L = 40"; W = 25.7"; H = 97.67"
20" OTA + MAX Mount + Counterweights:		694 pounds		L = 40"; W = 25.7"; H = 99.67"

Package Contents:

• Meade 16" or 20" LX400 ACF Advanced ComaFree Computerized Telescope on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with GPS, UHTC
• 8 x 50mm viewfinder
• 2" diagonal mirror with UHTC and 1.25" adapter
• Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle 2" O.D. 24mm eyepiece
• Meade Autostar II Computerized Hand Controller
• MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount

Meade 16" / 20" LX400-ACF Advanced Coma-Free Telescope on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount Rating & Reviews