Heavy-Duty Mounts with 9-Speed Dual-Axis Electronics: LX200 electronics are integrated into extremely rigid heavy-duty fork mounts. DC-servo-motor-controlled worm gear drives on both telescope axes permit observatory-level precision in tracking, guiding, and slewing. The 9-speed dual-axis drives cover every possible contingency of telescope positioning. Press the SLEW button on the keypad controller for rapid motion of the telescope across the skies at 8° per sec., or at any speed between 3°/sec. and 8°/sec., in 1°/sec. increments, on both axes simultaneously. Once near the target, switch instantly to the FIND speed for centering in the viewfinder at 2° per sec. Observing the object in the main telescope, use the CNTR speed (32x sidereal) to place the object in the center of the field. During long-exposure photography press the GUIDE button for precise corrections at 2x sidereal speed.

Coordinate GO TO Capability: Enter into the display the celestial coordinates (Right Ascension and Declination) of any object, press GO TO, and the telescope automatically slews to the object and centers it in the field.

Built-in 64,359-Object Library Included as Standard Equipment: Enter into the keypad any of the 64,359 celestial objects stored in the LX200's onboard database, press GO TO, and the telescope automatically slews (moves) to the object at 8° per sec., centering it in the main telescope field. Additionally, the display reads out for each selected object its magnitude, size, object-type, visual quality rating, RA and Dec. Or, let the telescope take you on an automatic guided tour of the heavens, simply by pressing the NEXT key. If the selected object is not visible at the time of observation, the display reads Object Below Horizon, and the GO TO command is automatically cancelled.

The Meade 64,359-object library includes an incredible array of phenomena–virtually a lifetime of deep-space study, even for the advanced observer:

Altazimuth Mode Operation: For all visual observing applications, for lunar and planetary photography, and for most CCD imaging applications, Meade LX200's may be set up in the altazimuth mode–just attach the telescope's drive base directly to the tripod, use the fast 2-star alignment procedure, and the telescope's computer actuates 2-axis tracking that keeps objects precisely centered in the field, even at high powers, during the entire observing session. For long-exposure astrophotography (longer than about 5 minutes) altazimuth-induced field rotation requires an equatorial wedge or the #1220 Field De-rotater, either of which may be purchased separately.

Terrestrial Operation: Meade LX200's make incredible land-view telescopes. Set the telescope up in the altazimuth format, activate LAND mode on the telescope's computer, and use the keypad to track land objects on both axes at any of the same 9 drive speeds!

Keypad and Power Panel Functions: The LX200's multi-function capability permits direct connection of CCD autoguider/imagers by plugging into the telescope's power panel; RS-232 serial interface with a personal computer (PC), allowing the user to perform all of the keypad functions through, or write custom telescope software for, a PC; and brightness level control of an illuminated reticle eyepiece from the keypad, including special pulse-mode reticle operation. More than a dozen other keypad/display panel functions are described in the LX200 instruction manual.

Main LX200 electronic circuit board. This board is compactly housed inside the drive base of the telescope.

Version 3.34 Software: The very latest in telescope operating systems, Meade Version 3.34 software, included with all 8" and 10" LX200's, enables quick (less than 10 seconds!) 2-star alignment of the telescope in the altazimuth mode, without requiring input of the observer's latitude or longitude, without even leveling the tripod. Just use 2 easy-to-find reference stars and the LX200 tracks and actuates GO TO with extreme precision.

High-Precision Pointing (HP) Capability: Known since their inception in 1992 for precision pointing capability, Meade LX200's have recently been still further refined to permit the most accurate pointing capability ever offered in a commercial telescope. Now you can command the telescope to GO TO an object located on the opposite side of the sky (for example, a distance of 120 degrees in sky-angle) and, in conjunction with the telescope's unique SYNC command, the LX200 will locate and center the desired object to within a precision of less than one arc-minute. HP capability can be accessed with the LX200 in either the altazimuth or equatorial orientations.

LX200 HP-mode pointing is enabled by a special menu command to the keypad hand controller. For casual observing such high precision in pointing is not generally required, since even without HP-mode pointing, the LX200 is capable of locating objects to within a pointing precision of about 2 arc minutes or better. But consider some of the situations where High-Precision Pointing means the difference between seeing, or imaging, an object, and not:

• Suppose you wish to CCD-image a supernova in an 18th magnitude galaxy - a galaxy invisible except through the process of CCD imaging. With the LX200 in HP-mode, the galaxy can be placed on the chip of every commercially - available CCD unit.
  Photographing faint objects such as the planet Pluto, or asteroids or comets near the photographic limit of the telescope, and plotting the motion of these objects night-to-night, now becomes practical, since the photograph may be taken without the observer ever having seen the object visually, knowing that the LX200 in HP-mode operation will precisely center the object in the telescopic field.

With other telescopes, acquiring even bright objects on the CCD chip can be a chore, searching and slewing by trial-and-error until the object is positioned on the chip. LX200's in the HP-mode place every object on every CCD chip every time.

Home or Field Operation: The LX200's powerful high-torque 18-volt DC drives operate from any AC outlet, using a small AC adapter supplied as standard equipment. For field use, the compact #1812 Electronic DC Adapter, an optional accessory weighing only 4 oz., plugs into any 12v. automobile cigarette lighter receptacle and powers the telescope all night without risk of battery drain.

Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrains have revolutionized the capabilities of amateur astromers to perform advanced electronic and photographic imaging. Shown below are images that dramatically demonstrate these revolutionary capabilities:

The first of these images, taken on June 4, 1994, shows Jupiter prior to the July, 1994, impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, followed by post-impact images of Jupiter taken July 25 and 26, 1994. The final images, at bottom, present Jupiter as it appears almost one year later, on July 5 and 22, 1995. (In all images south is up.) Astrophotographer Dr. Bruns writes:

Specifications of 8" Model LX200: 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly (specify f/6.3 or f/10) with EMC Super Multi-Coatings (D = 203mm, F = 1280mm - f/6.3, or 2000mm - f/10); heavy-duty fork mount, with 4"-diameter sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-microprocessor-controlled 5.75" LX worm gears on both axes, and multi-function control panel on the drive base; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA and Dec; handheld keypad Electronic Command Center with digital readout display, permanently-programmable Smart Drive, 9-speed drive control on both axes, GO TO controller, High-Precision Pointing, and 64,359-object onboard celestial software library; 25 ft. power cord and adapter for telescope operation from 115v.AC outlet (for field operation from 12v. auto cigarette lighter plug, see optional #1812 Electronic DC Adapter, 8 x 50mm viewfinder; eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000 multi-coated Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece; variable-height standard field tripod; operating instructions.

[1] All Pyrex glass used in Meade Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Cassegralns is of Grade-A quality, fine-annealed.
[2] The standard equatorial wedge adds approx. 9", and the Superwedge approx. 12", to the stated tripod heights. Wedges are supplied optionally on 8", and 10" LX200 models.