MEADE | LX85 ACF 203 (8") UHTC with mount and tripod

The Meade LX85 ACF 203 (8") telescope with mount and tripod features a number of high-end characteristics, in a much smaller package than typical 8-inch reflectors.

• Advanced Coma Free 8" f/10 - 203/2032 mm, designed and manufactured in North America
• Ultra-high transmission coatings (UHTC)
• LX85 equatorial mount and tripod with GoTo movement and tracking, and AudioStar remote control for automated pointing to over 30,000 objects in the night sky.
• Requires a 12V DC power source, or a 220V-12V adapter
• Includes a 26 mm Super Plössl eyepiece, a 90-degree diagonal, an 8x50 optical finder with bracket, a 2" steel tripod, and much more!

The Meade LX85 ACF 8" f/10 telescope with mount and tripod features a number of high-end characteristics in a much smaller format than that of a classic 8-inch reflector. The ACF (Advanced Coma-Free) design allows for very sharp images without coma distortion, inherent in other designs. The ACF system also provides a flatter field of view, perfect for astro-imagers with larger camera sensors.

Equipment

Includes an aperture of 203 mm (8"), a focal length of 2032 mm, and a focal ratio of f/10 with a dual fork mount. Equipped with ultra-high transmission coatings (UHTC) and a resolution power of 0.456 arc seconds to enhance brighter star clusters, finer details in nebulae, and surface features of planets.

Includes a 26 mm Super Plössl eyepiece from the 4000 series (78x), an 8x50 optical finder with reticle, a 31.7 mm (1.25") diagonal, and a standard field tripod.

• Weight of the LX85 ACF 8" : 5.2 kg
• Dimensions of the LX85 ACF 8" : 46 cm
• Weight of the tripod and LX85 mount: 15.5 kg
• Total weight: 20.9 kg

The Advanced Coma-Free ACF UHTC Optics

The ultra-high transmission coatings (UHTC) provide beautifully bright images of deep sky objects, with excellent contrast of the surface features of the moon and planets. The optics feature an oversized primary mirror made of low-expansion borosilicate and a Schott® Borofloat® corrector plate. The corrector plate produces no diffraction spikes as there are no secondary spider vanes, as found on other models such as Newtonian reflectors or Ritchey-Chrétiens.

The glass elements of the ACF primary, secondary, and corrector optics are made exclusively in the USA for Meade.

This telescope is also equipped with ultra-high transmission coatings (UHTC). The UHTC are specialized multi-coatings that are precisely designed to enhance the performance of your telescope's optics. You will see brighter star clusters, finer details in nebulae, and additional surface features on planets. On average, across the entire visible spectrum, the total light transmission at the focal plane increases by 15%.

The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

The LX85 GoTo Mount

The LX85 mount allows for fully automated GoTo movement to (and tracking of) over 30,000 objects in the night sky. This stable mount can easily support slight load imbalances. Thanks to its integrated gear motor, you can track long exposures using Meade's Smart Drive function for permanent periodic error correction (PPEC). Take images of the best parts of the night sky without worrying about meridian flips. The LX85 mount also includes an integrated autoguide port for easy connection to your autoguide camera, making your astro-imaging experience simple and straightforward.

With the included AudioStar remote, you have easy access to over 30,000 objects you can observe at the push of a button! The AudioStar Astronomer Inside technology includes a built-in speaker that plays over four hours of educational content (in English) about the celestial objects you observe!

The AudioStar from Meade includes audio files and an internal speaker. This computerized celestial object locating system plugs into the telescope's remote control port, allowing for quick alignment of the telescope. Once aligned to the sky, the AudioStar is ready to take you to any object in the database of over 30,000 objects. In addition to GoTo and tracking functions, the AudioStar offers a wide range of fascinating and educational features, such as multiple guided tours, digital position surveys, the ability to connect to a PC using optional software and cord, and much more.

The long focal length of 2032 mm is housed in an optical tube that is only 46 cm long and weighs just 5.2 kg. A Vixen-style dovetail rail is attached to the bottom of the telescope's optical tube, meaning it quickly and easily attaches to the Vixen base of the LX85 mount. The telescope includes a 26 mm Meade Super Plössl eyepiece, a 90-degree diagonal, an 8x50 finder, a tripod accessory tray, a 12V DC power cable, and a 4 kg counterweight. It weighs 20.9 kg fully assembled.