Meade 12" f/10 LX200 ACF Telescope with Giant Field Tripod
MSRP: $6,799.99
- 12" f/10 Advanced Coma Free Optics - 3048mm (f/10) focal length
- AutoStar II GoTo system (145,000 objects) and built-in GPS included
- Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
- Mirror lock to completely eliminate any residual image shift
- Includes Series 4000 26mm Super Plossl, 8x50 finder, 1.25" diagonal, and Giant Field Tripod
Where To Buy?
The Meade 12" f/10 LX200 ACF Telescope has long been a classic fixture among Meade's LX series of Alt/Az fork mounted telescopes. Incredibly compact for its aperture, the 12" f/10 ACF is ideally suited for setting up in the backyard, in medium sized observatories, and taking in the car to a dark sky site on the weekend. When disassembled, the LX200 12" is fairly manageable and can be set up quickly with a minimum of effort. Be sure to check the component weight breakdown below to make sure you are comfortable lifting the heaviest individual pieces. Strong and stable fork arms hold the optical tube rock solid to dampen any vibrations, which is critical for high power planetary observation or long exposure deep-sky imaging. Push button controls, automatic locating and tracking of celestial objects, and a wealth of object data at your fingertips in the AutoStar II hand controller make the LX200 a joy to use.
The patented Advanced Coma Free (ACF) optics produce impressively flat fields of view with no coma, even out to the edges of larger format cameras or extreme wide angle eyepieces. This makes the ACF system ideal for visual observers and astro-imagers alike. The Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) are included as with all Meade ACF optics, yielding maximum image brightness and contrast at the eyepiece or camera sensor. The ACF system also reduces astigmatism and eliminates diffraction spikes.
Designed and Manufactured in North America.
The ACF primary, secondary and corrector plate glass blanks are manufactured in the USA exclusively for Meade. Meade ACF telescopes, including the mounts, are manufactured and assembled in North America.
The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design
Interested in astrophotography? Meade ACF telescopes, with their long native focal lengths, are great instruments for photographing planets and the Moon in high-resolution detail with a DSLR or astro camera. And the addition of the optional Meade ACF 0.68x Focal Reducer optimizes any ACF for deep space imaging. This thread-on accessory converts an f/10 ACF into a faster f/6.8 system and transforms an f/8 ACF into a speedy f/5.5 imaging beast! The reducer shortens the long exposure times needed to record faint deep-sky objects by half and expands the field of view by nearly 50%, allowing capture of larger objects in a single frame. Your Meade ACF will become a powerful astrograph capable of capturing jaw-dropping astrophotographs with your DSLR or astronomical CCD or CMOS camera!
And though it may be obvious, it's still worth noting: Every Meade ACF telescope features dual-experience functionality, meaning that you can attach a camera and capture stunning astrophotographs, or you can pop in an eyepiece to visually study a celestial object — like Galileo, Herschel, Messier, and other astronomers both professional and amateur have done for centuries. The rewards of astrophotographic endeavors with an ACF lie in the dramatic colors and structure of objects revealed with impressive resolution by the tremendous light gathering capability and sharpness of the ACF optics. The visual experience is equally breathtaking: the real-time sight of an astronomical object through the eyepiece engenders a powerful, almost spiritual connection with the heavens. The view is ethereal and immersive, 3D-like, and made all the richer by the knowledge that you're looking back in time — millions of years in the case of some distant galaxies, to when they emitted the photons that are now just reaching your retinas. With a Meade ACF as your gateway to the night sky, you can experience the sheer amazement of exploring its diverse treasures in both ways — astrophotographically with your camera, or visually with your eyes wide open.
Key Features and Upgrades in the LX200 Series
The Meade LX200 series differs from the LX90 offerings in several key ways. First is the inclusion of a focus lock system, which prevents the mirror from moving while observing or during long exposure astrophotography as the telescope tracks across the sky. Turn the lock knob located just above the telescope's main focus knob and the progressive-tension primary lock completely cancels any residual image shift due to mirror movement during visual or imaging applications.
Next, for those wishing to enhance the focusing process even further, is the ability to attach the optional Electronic Microfocuser (Meade #07080), which enables precise, touch-free focusing via the AutoStar II handset. Simply plug the Microfocuser into the dedicated jack located on the motor base of the LX200 to operate the system.
Next up on the list of refinements for the LX200 series are several upgrades to the motor drive system. The maximum slew rate has been increased to 8 degrees per second over the LX90 (which tops out at 6.5 degrees per second). On a cold night, every second counts when slewing from one side of the sky to the other to acquire your next target, and the time saving will start adding up! The Smart Drive technology provides Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) on both axes over the course of one or more training sessions, thereby minimizing guiding corrections during long exposure imaging. And the Smart Mount system constantly refines the pointing accuracy each time an object is centered and updated. This works in Alt-Az mode, or even with one of the optional wedges in equatorial mode. The LX200 also uses higher torque motors compared with the LX90 system, along with even higher resolution encoders which translates into even better drive accuracy.
Speaking of alignment, the LX200 series includes automatic alignment using a built in magnetic north sensor coupled with the GPS and level sensors. With the LX200, you don't have to manually find north and level in order to set the home position of the telescope — the LX200 does that all for you!
Mechanical Advantages of the LX200 ACF Series
Mechanically, the LX200 series incorporates some notable design and feature upgrades that set it apart. More robust fork arms provide an even more stable platform for the optical tube to ride in, minimizing vibrations in the eyepiece and flexure throughout the night. This does make the LX200 a bit heavier than its LX90 counterpart, but that translates into a more stable platform — the name of the game when you're considering very high power planetary viewing, or long exposure deep-sky imaging. In fact, because of the added stability of the fork arm/motor base, the LX200 is capable of handling more weight than the smaller LX90 fork system, resulting in additional optical tube sizes being offered in the LX200 series: 8" all the way up to the giant 16" ACF model.
Here is the weight breakdown of the 12" telescope's main components:
- Optical tube and fork base assembly: 83 lb.
- Giant Field Tripod: 50 lb.
- Assembled telescope weight: 133 lb.
Of course, ergonomically designed handles on the fork arms make installation quite easy. They're very handy for astronomers who must set up and break down their rig for each observing or imaging session, and ensure a stable and secure grip when holding the telescope during the assembly/disassembly process.
One last mechanical upgrade to mention — slow-motion controls located on the fork arm and base. Both altitude and azimuth include a geared slow-motion knob, in case you need to manually adjust the position of the telescope. This normally would not be necessary when using the computer system, but suppose you are using the telescope out in the field without power, and you forgot to bring a set of batteries to power the AutoStar II GoTo system. In an event like this, the telescope can still be used completely without power and the slow-motion controls will allow for easy tracking, even at high planetary magnification.
Advanced Electronics and AutoStar II GoTo Pointing Technology
The "brains" of the LX200 is the included AutoStar II computer system with its 145,000 object-library (almost 5x the database size of the LX90!), multiple guided tours, and High Precision GoTo Pointing capability. The AutoStar II system provides control of virtually every telescope function. The AutoStar II handbox has soft-touch keys, an LCD display that's backlit with red LEDs to preserve your night vision, and intuitive key arrangement and menus that make AutoStar wonderfully easy and fun to use.
Precise star alignment is performed quickly and nearly effortlessly with Meade's level north technology alignment system, incorporating a 16-channel GPS receiver. The drive base of the telescope has multiple input/output ports including an RS-232 PC interface, Autoguider port, illuminated reticle power, and 12v output power. Mount and electronics are internally powered by 8 C-cell (user-supplied) batteries, which will typically operate the telescope for around 20 hours (an optional Meade Universal AC Adapter is also available).
Optional Equatorial Wedge Transforms the LX200 Into an Imaging Powerhouse
The LX200 is a highly versatile instrument, able to adapt to the needs of the user. An optional equatorial wedge, the Meade #07028 X-Wedge, is available to convert your Alt/Az LX200 telescope into a polar aligned, EQ mounted instrument for deep-sky imaging. There are two distinct advantages to using a wedge for deep-sky imaging. First, it will eliminate any field rotation inherent in an Alt/Az tracking system. This will allow you to take longer sub-exposures without field rotation artifacts. Second, no meridian flip will be required as with a German Equatorial mount. This is a huge inconvenience because imaging must be interrupted while the flip is performed, then a guide star must be re-acquired and the guiding re-established and stabilized. That all requires user supervision and wastes valuable imaging time. Of course, for visual use the wedge is not necessary.
The optional Meade X-Wedge installed between the drive base and the tripod
Quality Borne of North American Manufacturing
Designed and manufactured in North America to exacting quality standards, the Meade LX200 series of fork mounted Alt/Az Advanced Coma-Free GoTo telescopes are perfect for the discerning visual astronomer or dedicated astro-imager. The Meade 12" LX200 ACF features an 12" aperture, 3048mm focal length, and f/10 focal ratio with Dual-Fork Mounting. The Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) and a resolving power of 0.38 arc-seconds provide an improvement in brightness and resolution on everything from star clusters, fine detail in nebulae, to greater surface features on planets. Includes a Series 4000 26mm Super Plössl eyepiece (117x), viewfinder (8x50 optical with crosshair), 1.25" diagonal mirror, and Giant Field Tripod.
Whether at home in your backyard, in a domed observatory, or on road trip to beautiful dark skies, the versatile Meade 12" f/10 LX200 ACF Telescope will provide years of astronomical exploration and amazement.
- Best for viewing
- Fainter deep sky
- Best for imaging
- Solar, lunar, planetary & Messier objects
- Astro-imaging capability
- Lunar, planetary & long exposure
- User level
- Advanced
- Optical design
- Advanced Coma-Free (ACF)
- Optical diameter
- 305mm
- Focal length
- 3048mm
- Focal ratio
- f/10.0
- Finder scope magnification
- 8x
- Finder scope lens diameter
- 50mm
- Coatings
- Fully multi-coated
- Backfocus Distance
- 149.9mm
- Eyepieces
- Super Plossl 26.0mm (1.25")
- Magnification with included eyepieces
- 117x
- Resolving power
- 0.38arc*sec
- Lowest useful magnification
- 43x
- Highest useful magnification
- 300x
- Highest theoretical magnification
- 608x
- Limiting stellar magnitude
- 15.1
- Finder scope
- 8x50
- Focuser
- Internal
- Diagonal degrees
- 1.25" 90° Mirror Star
- Mount type
- Altazimuth
- Dovetail bar system
- No
- Computerized compatibility
- Go-To included
- Number of objects in database
- 145,000
- Tracking rates
- Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
- Motor speeds
- Up to 8 degrees/sec
- Motor type
- DC Servo motors with encoders
- Power requirement
- 12-volt DC (tip positive)
- PEC
- Yes
- GPS
- Included
- Backlash compensation
- Yes
- Setting circles
- Electronic, via the hand controller
- Polar-axis scope
- Not available
- Available ports
- RS-232, Aux, autoguider
- Tube material
- Aluminum
- Tripod material
- Aluminum & Steel
- Tripod leg diameter
- 3.00 in.
- Length of optical tube
- 25.0 in.
- Weight, optical tube
- 83.0 lbs.
- Weight, mount/tripod
- 50.0 lbs.
- Weight, fully assembled
- 133.0 lbs.
- Additional included accessories
- Series 4000 26mm Super Plossl eyepiece, Giant Field Tripod
- Other features
- AutoStar II controller with multiple guided tours, Powered by 8x C-batteries or external 12v, SmartD
- Warranty
- Two year
