MEADE Telescope ACF-SC 304/2438 UHTC Starlock LX600

The LX600 is a simple to operate, portable package that makes taking great astrophotos as easy as focusing your camera and opening the shutter. The collection of features and technology integrated into the LX600 is unavailable from any other manufacturer and cannot be duplicated by just attaching a set of add-ons to another scope.

StarLock

The LX600 integrates a unique star tracking and object finding system into the telescope mount. This integration allows the telescope to center your target perfectly in the field of view. Once centered, the star tracking system communicates directly with the motor drives to automatically assure your scope stays locked onto its target with arcsecond precision. The automated optical tracking system delivers long-exposure guiding with pinpoint stars on astroimages despite misalignments, atmospheric refraction, periodic or other mechanical errors. This level of precision is unobtainable with systems using high precision encoders, software pointing models, large gears or PEC training — and all without the need of an external computer.

New f/8 Advanced Coma-Free™ Optical System

Meade has completely redesigned the OTAs with a new mirror mounting and focusing system to achieve zero image-shift and a two-speed microfocuser. The scope features faster f/8 ACF™ optics giving you pinpoint stars all the way across the field of view. The OTAs are available in 10, 12, 14 and 16 inch apertures.

Internal Crayford-style 7:1 Focuser

The completely redesigned mirror mounting system achieves

zero-image shift, eliminating the need for a mirror lock and integrates a two-speed microfocuser for

quick and easy adjustments.

Solid Fork Mount With Heavy Duty 5.75" Gears.

Large, high-quality worm-gear drives in both axes provide smooth movements with low periodic error that are critical for long exposure astrophotography. Providing the freedom to go horizon to horizon without any meridian flip, unlike German Equatorial Mounts.

Alt/Az Mode

In alt/az mode, the LX600 also makes for the best visual and short exposure experience possible. The LX600 performs LightSwitch® fully-automated self alignment. StarLock will put every target dead center in the eyepiece and track with arcsecond accuracy so you can concentrate on the beautiful, wide fields of pinpoint stars created by the superb f/8 ACF optical system.

Autostar II Controller.

Puts over 145,000 objects at your fingertips with the fastest GoTo performance available (8° per second). Or you can control the system from an external computer.

Giant Field Tripod

With 3" diameter chromed steel legs and cast aluminum tripod head — adjustable from 34" to 54" — the Giant Field Tripod provides a research-grade foundation for the LX600.

All New X-Wedge™

Precision CNC-machined from ultra-ridged, aircraft-grade aluminum with smooth, accurate altitude and azimuth adjustments. Thirty percent more stable than competing equatorial wedges, the X-Wedge is the essential accessory for long exposure astroimaging.

Portability

While you can achieve remarkable visual and imaging results from a suburban backyard, the ease of transporting an LX600 to a remote site will make you anxious to see what you can achieve under truly dark sky conditions.
 

SPECIFICATIONS

Optics

---

Type
Reflector
Type of build
ACF-Cassegrain
Aperture (mm)
304
Focal length (mm)
2438
Aperture ratio (f/)
8
Resolving capacity
0,38
Limit value (mag)
14,2
Light gathering capacity
1890
Max. useful magnification
608
Tube construction
Full tube
Tube weight (kg)
16
Coating
UHTC
Tube material
Aluminium

Reflector

---

Main mirror´s construction
spherical
secondary mirror design
hyperbolic
Ventilation for central mirror
no
Adjustable
yes
corrector plate coatings
UHTC

Focuser

---

Type of build
Crayford
Connection ( to eyepiece)
2
Gear reduction
1:7 fine focusing

Mount

---

Type of build
Fork arm
GoTo control
yes
Mounting type
Azimuthal
Weight (kg)
23
Internal clock
yes

GoTo control

---

Database
145.000
Software
AutoStar II
GoTo Language
English
Alignment method
Starlock
GPS
yes
PEC correction
Meade Smart Drive
Autoguiding
Starlock
Precision
+/- 1

Tripod

---

Type
Tripod
Material
Aluminium
Max. tripod height (cm)
138
Min. tripod height (cm)
86
Weight (kg)
23
Colour
black

Included accessories

---

1.25'' eyepieces
SP 26mm
Finder scope
8x50
Deviating optics
1.25", 90° star diagonal
Miscellaneous
Anti-vibration Pads
Corrector
integrated

General

---

Series
LX600
Variant name
classic
Total weight (kg)
62

Area of application

---

Moon & Planets
yes
Nebulae & galaxies
yes
Nature Observation
yes
Astrophotography
yes
Sun
no (Only with appropriate Sun filter)

Recommended for

---

Beginners
no
Advanced
yes
Observatories
yes

Miscellaneous

---

Battery type
Baby (C, LR14)