Telescope-Catadioptric Telescopes-Meade 12″ LX200 ACF Computerized Telescope – No Tripod

Substantial 12” Aperture
This massive 12” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope offers 1.44x the light gathering power of the 10” LX200, making it a great choice for those seeking brighter, more clearly defined views and images. Be stunned by how crisp the craters on our Moon are, clearly resolve the Cassini Division on Saturn, and even catch hints of the green and blue hues of the Orion Nebula under dark enough skies. The 3,048 mm focal length is great for observing far distant celestial objects such as the Pinwheel Galaxy (Messier 101), the Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27), the Hercules Cluster (Messier 13), and a host of others! A unique feature, this Meade 12” LX200 OTA includes mirror locks to reduce movement of the primary mirror. These locks not only improve your views, but also offer enhanced stability for long exposure astrophotography applications.

Powerful Dual Fork Arm Mount
Fitted with high precision DC Servo motors in both axes, this dual fork arm mount is designed to deliver the utmost performance. Not only can you expect smooth stable slewing, but this reliable mount tracks the night sky with exceptional accuracy. Its robust build quality makes it a wonderful choice for permanent and semi-permanent setups, though is still manageable enough for trips to dark skies. Also, this mount is equipped with a built-in Sony GPS Receiver for automatic input of your local time and location into the AutoStar II Controller. Through the internal AutoAlign technology from Meade, two stars will automatically be selected for star alignment, in which you will then center these stars within your eyepiece for incredibly accurate GoTo slews. Eight C-cell batteries (not included) provide enough power for 20 hours of continuous use.

Ideal for Both Visual Astronomy and Astroimaging!
Thanks to Meade, there is no reason to have to choose between a telescope purely for visual or for astrophotography—the Meade 12” LX200 offers both! Tack on the included 26 mm Series 4000 Super Plössl eyepiece for 117x magnification, opening the doors to sights of the Whirlpool Galaxy, the Ring Nebula, and up close views of our Moon. For those interested in astrophotography, easily adjoin your user supplied planetary camera for stunning images of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, or engage in long exposure astrophotography with the help of the Meade X-Wedge and Giant Field Tripod. This accessory transforms this altazimuth mount into a powerful equatorial mount by eliminating field rotation within your final images. Additional inclusions like the Smart Drive technology from Meade help enhance tracking performance through permanent periodic error correction, an autoguider port opens the doors to further improve performance with autoguiding, and the mirror locks on the primary mirror reduce the effects of image shift during your nights of imaging!

Navigate the Night Sky with Ease
Making it easy to explore the cosmos, the included AutoStar II Hand Controller is housed with everything you need to operate your 12” LX200. As an advancement to the original AutoStar Hand Controller, this new and improved device is specially designed for the high-end Meade telescopes such as this LX200 series. The massive 145,000 database provides near limitless observing opportunities, and includes a “Tonight’s Best” list to provide insight into what objects are ideal for viewing based on your current location and the time of the year. Traversing through the menu is a breeze thanks to the well-designed layout, meaning you can easily align your telescope, manage tracking speeds, and slew to objects in no time!

Enhance Your Experience With Numerous Optional Accessories
Helping you get the most out of your LX200, a host of optional accessories are available for add on! The Apertura 2x 1.25″ Barlow is a great option for getting up close and personal with the cosmos by offering 2x the magnification of your eyepiece. This is ideal for viewing and imaging small objects like the craters on the lunar surface or the planets in our solar system. If you’re interested in deep space imaging, the addition of the Meade X-Wedge and Giant Field Tripod turns this LX200 into a powerful tool for long exposure astrophotography! By aligning the dual fork arm mount with the celestial pole, you’re free to capture stunning images of objects outside of our solar system. The T-Adapter from Meade is also another useful accessory for astrophotography. Simply thread this T-Adapter to the rear cell of the OTA, then adjoin your DSLR and camera-specific T-Ring for a night of imaging. Additional accessories like the Zero Image Shift Electronic Micro-Focuser streamline your focusing routine, while the #1403 Tube Balance Weight System offers improved stability when using heavy eyepieces or imaging equipment.

Everything You Need, Right Out of the Box
Within this package, you will find a variety of useful inclusions to help you get ready for a night under the stars. The 26 mm 4-element Super Plössl eyepiece offers an outstanding 117x magnification for up-close views right out of the box, while the 1.25” diagonal prism alleviates neck strain and makes observing comfortable. Target locating is proven effortless with the included 8×50 finderscope. This accessory also makes it easy to star align your telescope mount during set up. Browse over 145,000 objects, select targets to slew to, and perform a host of other operations with the included Meade AutoStar II Hand Controller, the brain of your LX200!