Meade LX850 14-inch ACF

Combining the finest optics, robust German equatorial mount and StarLock.

  • Advanced Coma-Free (ACF™) optics
  • Ultra High Transmission (UHTC™) coatings
  • Aperture: 356mm (14")
  • Focal Length: 2,845mm (f/8)
  • Dual-Speed Focuser
  • Zero Image Shift Electronic Micro-Focuser
  • StarLock automatic guider
  • Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC)
  • AutoStar II handbox
  • 145,000+ object database
  • Giant Field Tripod
  • UK warranty
Meade LX850 14-inch ACF
  • Product code: 1408-85-01
  • Availability: Out of stock
  • Incoming: to be confirmed
  • Retail Price: £ ---
GBP £ --- (inc VAT)
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England & Wales
£ 100.00
Scotland Central & South
£ 100.00
Scotland North
£ 300.00
Northern Ireland
£ 300.00
UK islands (from)
£ 300.00

Description

Meade 14" LX850-ACF (f/8) Advanced Coma-Free w/UHTC telescope #1408-85-01. The fast f/8 Advanced Coma-Free (ACF™) optical system produces a wider, flatter field with no coma for pinpoint stars out to the edge of larger imaging sensors and extreme wide-angle eyepieces. Includes StarLock dual imager integrated full time guider, Ultra Precision Pointing and Assisted Drift Alignment, 5.8" (14.7 cm) 225 tooth polished bronze worm/gear drives with low periodic error, internal cable routing, GPS receiver, AutoStar II GOTO system with over 145,000 object library, heavy-duty adjustable height tripod with anti-vibration pads, Universal AC Adapter, Meade Zero Image Shift Electronic Micro-Focuser, telescope to computer USB cable and AutoStar Suite software.

Features top of the line Meade Advanced Coma Free (ACF) optical design offering the coma-free pinpoint star images and flatter image fields greatly desired by discerning amateur astronomers, astrophotographers and professional observatories alike. This patented system also reduces the astigmatism and eliminates diffraction spikes found in classical RC designs.


U.K. WARRANTY

ADVANCED

COMPUTERISED

PHOTOGRAPHY

ASTRONOMY
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This 14" LX850 has 14" diameter f/8 ACF optics (focal length 2845mm) and Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) for maximum image brightness and contrast. The all new optical tube assembly (OTA) includes an internal Crayford style zero image shift focusing system with two speed, 7:1 reduction control.

Revolutionary

Includes StarLock- the revolutionary new technology that makes target acquisition on your imaging sensor and accurate guiding during exposures completely automatic. With Meade's exclusive LightSwitch technology at its core, StarLock uses an 80mm f/5 optic and two camera sensor system to provide computer assisted polar alignment using the drift method. Once aligned the StarLock is guiding the mount in real time, and even automatically programs periodic error correction, achieving a guiding accuracy of up to 1 arcsecond in good seeing and with the capability of guiding on stars as faint as 11th magnitude.

Rock solid

The LX850 mount, constructed of machined stainless steel and aircraft grade aluminium is a rock-solid platform for the most demanding applications, with a 40 kg (90 lbs) payload capacity and pointing accuracy as good as one arcminute. Features include precision roller bearings on each axis, a 1.75" stainless steel RA shaft, 5.8" (14.7 cm) main gears, fine manual adjustment controls on both axes, illuminated reticle output port. Mount main body weight is 25 kg (55 pounds). The fully height adjustable, 74cm to 115cm (29 to 45") tripod features massive 3" (7.62 cm) diameter legs for rock steady performance and weighs 16.3 kg (36 pounds). Includes two 11.7 kg (26 lbs) stainless steel counterweights, additional weights sold separately.

Fully equipped

Telescope comes fully equipped with a Meade Series 5000 2" diagonal prism featuring enhanced 99% reflectivity, Series 5000 HD-60 25mm eyepiece, and 8x50 viewfinder with quick release bracket. Also includes bracket for alternate OTA mounting of StarLock if desired.

Carries full one year UK warranty by Opticstar Ltd on behalf of Meade Instruments Corp.

'Sky & Telescope' review

"...the LX850 Astro-Imaging System is a quantum leap forward. It has done for deep-sky astrophotography what Go To telescopes did for observing, turning what many consider a daunting task into something that can be done with push-button ease. It’s quite an accomplishment."

Review by Dennis di Cicco, 'Sky & Telescope' magazine, December 2013.

LX850.

A smarter telescope system - only from Meade

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and innovation, Meade Instruments introduces the latest in a long line of advanced astronomical products: the LX850. Using revolutionary new technology, every aspect of this amazing telescope system has been designed to deliver the new standard in astrophotographic and visual performance.

Faster sharper optical system

The LX850 employs a fast f/8 ACF™ optical system with high-contrast baffling that assures crisp, pinpoint imaging to the very edge of the field. The all-new OTA features an internal Crayford-style, zero image-shift focusing system with a two-speed, 7:1 control.

Precision machined, solid German equatorial mount

Constructed of machined stainless steel and aircraft grade aluminium, the LX850 mount presents a rock-solid platform with precision roller bearings on both axes and a 1.75" (4.45 cm) stainless steel R.A. shaft. Its 0.68" (1.73 cm) diameter brass worms and 5.8" (14.7 cm) diameter, 225-tooth aluminium gears deliver smooth, precise movement with up to a 40 kg (90-pound) instrument load. A fully-computerized GoTo mount with GPS, the LX850 comes with a database of over 145,000 objects. All this set atop a new super-stable tripod.

StarLock - full time automatic guiding

StarLock is the revolutionary new technology that makes target acquisition on your imaging sensor and accurate guiding during exposures completely automatic. StarLock uses an 80mm f/5 optic and a super wide-angle lens in a two-camera system that automatically finds your target in high-precision, immediately captures a field star as dim as 11th magnitude and then guides to an accuracy of one arcsecond. There's no need for a separate guide or computer and the StarLock requires no user focusing or guide star selection. StarLock automatically programs periodic error correction and then corrects for any other errors down to virtually zero.

With the combination of the finest optics, a robust German equatorial mount and the revolutionary StarLock system, the LX850 is the smartest and most complete astro-imaging solution available.

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Meade LX850 14-inch ACF
Attribute Specification
Meade Product Code / sku 1408-85-01
Universal Product Code (UPC) 709942600636
Warranty 1 year UK warranty by Opticstar Ltd on behalf of Meade Instruments USA
Series LX850
Experience Level Advanced
Clear Aperture 356mm (14-inch)
Focal Length 2,845mm
Focal Ratio f/8
Optical Design ACF™ (Advanced Coma-Free)
Optical Coatings UHTC™ (Ultra High Transmission Coatings)
Primary Mirror Oversized Low-Expansion Borosilicate Primary Mirror
Secondary Mirror Individually figured with primary mirror for maximum correction. Low-expansion borosilicate glass
Correcting Plate/Lens Aspheric high-spectral transmission Borofloat glass from Schott AG Germany
Optical Tube Aluminium
Resolving Power (Dawes' Limit) 0.325 arc-seconds
Backfocus Distance 5.93 inches
Oversized Primary Mirror Yes
Secondary Obstraction 13.8%
Focuser Internal Crayford-style, zero image-shift, dual speed 7:1 focuser
Primary Mirror Lock Not required due to internal Crayford style primary mirror focusing system
Eyepiece Meade Series 5000™ HD-60 25mm
Diagonal Series 5000™ 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Dovetail Losmandy®-style with ultra stable radius blocks
Viewfinder 8x50mm with cross-hair reticle
Telescope Mounting Precision machined German equatorial mount
Hand Controller AutoStar II
Object Database 145,000 objects
Pointing Precision 1.0 arc-minute (+/-); High Precision Mode
Periodic Error Correction Both Axes
Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) Yes
StarLock™ Yes
StarLock Wide-field Camera 25mm x 26mm f/1.04 optic with 1/2 inch format CMOS sensor gives field of 14.72 x 11.78 degrees
StarLock Narrow-field Camera 80mm x 400mm f/5 optic with 1/2 inch format CMOS sensor gives fi eld of 57.2 x 45.8 arcminutes (2.68 arcseconds/pixel)
StarLock High-precision Pointing +/- 1 arcminute
StarLock High-precision Guiding +/- 1 arcsecond (with good seeing. 1-4 second correction update rate depending on star magnitude. Faintest guide star 11th mag.)
StarLock High-precision Alignment Semi-automatic drift align procedure for ultra-precise polar alignment
StarLock Weight 1.2 kg (2.7 lbs)
Slow Motion Controls Electronic
Slew Speeds RA and Dec: 1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x sidereal and 0.25°/sec, 0.5°/sec, 1°/sec, and 3°/sec (max)
Tracking Rates Sidereal, Lunar, or custom-selected from 2000 incremental rates
Periodic Error Correction Permanent periodic error correction (PPEC)
Control Panel Ports • On/Off Switch
• 12vDC Power Input
• 12vDC Power Output
• Illuminated Reticle
• Handbox (HBX) Port
• RS-232 Port
• StarLock Port
• Aux Guide Port
• Focuser
Power Requirements 12v DC, 5 amp Meade Universal Power Supply included
Mount Type Germal equatorial mount
Mount Payload Capacity 41 kg (90 lbs)
GPS Receiver Yes
Time Chip Yes
Smart Mount™ Yes
Smart Drive™ Yes
Tripod Giant Field Tripod
Anti-vibration Pads Included
Electronic Focuser Zero Image Shift Electronic Micro-Focuser included
Optical Tube Assembly Weight 29kg (63 lbs)
Mount Main Body Weight 25 kg (55 lbs)
Tripod Weight 23 kg (50 lbs)
Tripod Dimensions 86cm x 137cm (34” to 54”) variable
Transit Weight • Box 1 (optical tube assembly): 36 kg
• Box 2 (optical accessory kit): 4 kg
• Box 3 (mount body): 32 kg
• Box 4 (mount accessories): 20 kg
• Box 5 (counterweight): 14 kg
• Box 6 (counterweight): 14 kg
• Box 7 (counterweight): 14 kg
• Box 8 (giant tripod): 27 kg
Transit Dimensions • Box 1 (optical tube assembly): 98cm x 60cm x 60cm
• Box 2 (optical accessory kit): 31cm x 31cm x 31cm
• Box 3 (mount body): 54cm x 41cm x 79cm
• Box 4 (mount accessories): 72cm x 42cm x 28cm
• Box 5 (counterweight): 27cm x 27cm x 14cm
• Box 6 (counterweight): 27cm x 27cm x 14cm
• Box 7 (counterweight): 27cm x 27cm x 14cm
• Box 8 (giant tripod): 49cm x 44cm x 111cm
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8 October 2021

This article identifies the parts of a complete imaging system for astronomy, discusses the relationships of the parts and presents a range of relevant astronomical equipment and software.

08 February 2019

Reviewed by Dennis di Cicco, Sky & Telescope magazine....the LX850 Astro-Imaging System is a quantum leap forward.

24 June 2016

Meade's Scott Byrum demonstrates to Dennis di Cicco from Sky & Telescope magazine the LX600, LX850, ETX Observer and LightBridge Mini telescopes. Plus, the Stella Wi-Fi Adapter.

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