Completely redesigned and updated for the LX200GPS-SMT series, the
Meade Autostar II control system includes the widest array of telescope
capabilities ever offered in a commercial telescope.
Enter
into the Autostar II handbox any of the 145,000 celestial objects
stored in the LX200GPS-SMT onboard database, press GO TO, and the
telescope automatically slews (moves) to the object at 8°/sec., centering
it precisely 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.
Stored in 3.5-Megabyte of flash memory, the Autostar II's database
is immediately accessible on the Autostar II display and includes
an incredible array of phenomena — virtually a lifetime of deep-space
study, even for the advanced observer.
All-new LX200GPS-SMT fork mounts are the strongest, most rigid mountings
ever made available for telescopes of these apertures. DC-servo-motor-controlled
(12v DC) worm gear drives with almost two hundred selectable
drive speeds, combined with the Meade Smart Drive on both telescope
axes, permit observatory-level precision in tracking, guiding, and
slewing.
Telescope alignment is accomplished automatically using signals from
the Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite system that enables
extremely precise communication to the telescope of the observer's
latitude and longitude, as well as local time. Integrated true-level
and North electronic sensors in combination with a 16-channel GPS
receiver located in the left-hand fork arm result in accurate telescope
alignment to the sky at the touch of a button: Just press the ENTER
button on the Autostar II hand controller and watch as the telescope
measures level, points North, and slews at 8°/sec. to its first alignment
star. Magnetic declination compensation designed into the telescope
software automatically engages during the alignment process.
Improves the pointing accuracy of your LX200GPS telescope's "Go
To" system. Despite careful efforts to calibrate and then align
telescopes, they may fail to precisely center objects. Smart Mount
allows your telescope to learn about, and then correct for any systematic
pointing errors, regardless of the cause.
This revolutionary new rear-cell system is designed for the advanced
visual observer, astrophotographer, and CCD imager. Turn a knob located
just above the manual coarse-focus knob, and lock the telescope's
primary mirror rigidly in place. Used in conjunction with the Zero
Image-Shift Microfocuser the progressive-tension primary mirror lock
completely cancels any residual image shift while focusing during
visual, photographic, or CCD imaging applications.
Included as standard equipment on all LX200GPS-SMT Schmidt-Cassegrain
models, the Meade Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser operates at 4 speeds
from extremely slow to fast; the entire microfocusing operation is
actuated through the Autostar II handbox and powered from the telescope's
control panel. Coarse manual focusing is effected through the telescope's
manual focus knob.
The LX200GPS-SMT telescopes operate for about 20 hours from eight
C-cells neatly stored inside the fork arms. Alternately, the telescope
may be powered from an 12 volt automobile cigarette lighter plug (using
the optional #607 Power Cord) or from a standard home outlet (using
the optional #547 AC Adapter).
Meade's optional UHTC
(Ultra-High Transmission Coatings) Group provides a series of highly
specialized, exotic optical coatings which dramatically increase image
brightness. Averaged over the entire visible spectrum (450 nm. to
700 nm.), total light transmission to the telescope focus is increased
by about 15%. Meade LX200GPS-SMT telescopes equipped with UHTC present
a quantum leap in image brightness on the full range of celestial
objects.
