The Meade 8" LX90
is the first full-capability, computer-controlled 8" Schmidt- Cassegrain ever offered
in its price range. The LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain is not only a high-resolution visual
observing instrument but also is fully qualified for the more advanced areas of astronomy,
including long-exposure CCD-imaging and astrophotography. Special features of
the 8" LX90 include: (a) a die-cast-aluminum double-tine fork mount that rigidly
supports the optical tube in all sky orientations; (b) worm gears of 4.9"-diameter on
both telescope axes that permit smooth sidereal-rate tracking of celestial objects as well
as precise guiding corrections during long-exposure imaging; (c) a chromed-steel
variable-height tripod that provides all the rigidity required in sensitive field
applications — in fact, the same tripod as provided with the Meade 8" LX200GPS.
Autostar Computer Controller: The LX90's standard-equipment Autostar controller
connects to the telescope's control panel and permits an incredible array of telescope
options:
Automatic GO TO capability at 6.5°/sec on both axes, simultaneously, to 30,223
database objects, including:
13,235 deep-sky objects sorted by named objects; galaxies; diffuse nebulae; planetary
nebulae; star clusters; including the complete Messier, Caldwell, IC, and NGC catalogs;
16,800 stars sorted by name, SAO catalog numbers, double and variable stars; the
centroids of the 88 constellations; plus 200 memory locations for user-defined objects.
50 objects in the solar system: 8 major planets from Mercury to Pluto; the Moon; 26
asteroids; 15 comets;
50 Earth satellites, including the International Space Station and Hubble telescope;
Automatic GO TO capability to any object of known RA and Declination.
Nine selectable slew speeds: 6.5°/sec, 3°/sec, and 1.5°/sec, as well as 128x, 64x,
16x, 8x, 2x, and 1x sidereal.
Control of the telescope through your personal computer, using the RS-232 serial
interface. (Requires optional #505 Connector Cable Set.)
Hundreds of special event menus, guided tours, glossary, utility functions, and
telescope status options.
Fast alignment of the telescope in either equatorial or altazimuth modes using any of
three alignment functions, including the Meade-proprietary Easy Align.
Unlike the hand controllers included with competing 5" and 8" SCT's (and
which require disassembly of the telescope electronics for memory upgrade), Autostar is fully upgradeable over the
Internet: the observer can add the positions of new comets, update the positions of
Earth satellites, even add new software as it becomes available.
LX90 or LX200GPS? For many observers the 8" LX90 is all the telescope ever
required. The LX90 includes the exact same 8" f/10 optical system as the 8" LX200GPS, so that
the visual observing experience is identical in both instruments. Notwithstanding the many
virtues of the LX90, however, we still recommend the LX200GPS for those amateurs who can
afford the higher price of the LX200GPS and who intend an extensive program of CCD
imaging, astrophotography, or deep-space observing. The LX200GPS's 145,000-object database
is almost five times the size of the LX90's, and the LX200GPS slews at 8°/sec to a
pointing precision of 2 arc-minutes or better, compared to the 5 arc-minute pointing
precision of the LX90. The LX200GPS, with its oversize fork arms, larger worm gears, GPS
alignment, zero image-shift microfocuser, primary mirror lock, and dual-axis Smart
DriveTM, is the most advanced altazimuth-equatorial platform ever offered in a production
8" Schmidt-Cassegrain. The real answer is that one can not go wrong with either
telescope: the proper choice depends on the user's long-term applications and budget.
