 
One
of the most important advances in telescope control in the past 25
years, the Meade #497 Autostar Computer Controller turns the LXD75
into an automatic celestial object locating system. Just plug the
Autostar into the telescope's HBX port, do a quick (less than one
minute!) telescope alignment, and you're ready to observe any object
in the Autostar's 30,000-object database.Best of all, the Meade Autostar
is easy to use. Most Autostar users see more celestial objects in
one night's viewing than typical first-time telescope owners previously
have in a lifetime.
Any
of Autostar's database objects can be called up and entered on the
hand controller display in seconds. The observer then simply presses
the GO TO pushbutton and watches as the telescope automatically slews
(moves) to the object and places it in the field of view. The effect
of Autostar is to bring objects easily within reach which were previously
unreachable for all but the most dedicated of amateur astronomers.
The LXD75'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 to over 30,000 database
objects including:
- The 8 major
planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune,
Uranus, and Pluto
- 5,386 objects
from the Index Catalog (IC) Galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters
of all types
- 7,840 objects
from the New General Catalog (NGC) Additional galaxies, nebulae,
and star clusters
- 109 objects
from the Caldwell Catalog of the best objects for small telescopes
- 110 Messier
(M) objects (the complete Messier catalog of objects)
- 16,800 stars
from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) catalog
- 26 asteroids
including all of the brightest asteroids, 15 periodic comets and
50 Earth-orbiting satellites
- Automatic GO
TO capability to any object of known RA and Declination.
Additional
Capabilities: Beyond the location of database objects,
Autostar allows for a wide range of important telescope capabilities:
-
Precise
sidereal-rate tracking
Once Autostar locates an object, it directs the telescope to track
the object automatically on both telescope axes, simultaneously,
keeping the object centered in the field.
-
Digital
Readouts of telescope position, continuously in
RA and Dec.
-
GO
TO capability to any of 200 user-defined objects stored in memory.
- Automatic
GO TO capability to any astronomical object of known coordinates
(RA and Dec.) Enter an object's coordinates to the Autostar
display, press GO TO, and Autostar moves the telescope to locate
the object and place it in the telescopic field.
Diffraction-Limited
Optics Meade’s Schmidt-Cassegrain optics yield pinpoint
stellar images over an extremely wide field-of-view with only half
the coma of standard Newtonians of the same focal ratio.
Optical Tube Construction
Schmidt-Cassegrain optics are mounted in precision-machined aluminum
cells, which are then mounted in sturdy steel tubes which are baked
with high-grade textured enamel paint. The optical tube assembly
is
closed, reducing air currents inside the tube. This prevents distortion
of an otherwise sharp image. Plus, a closed tube significantly helps
keep the optics clean.
STABLE
MEADE® LXD75™ GERMAN EQUATORIAL MOUNT
Sturdy Mount with Heavy-Duty Castings
Designed by Meade’s engineers and manufactured for high-performance
observing and astrophotography.
Shaft & Bearing System
The sturdy German Equatorial Mount is accurate and precise. The
RA and Dec axes move effortlessly on four high-precision stainless
steel ball bearings.
High-Precision Worm Gears
Located on both axes for smooth tracking and slewing.
High-Precision Pointing (HPP)
For even more precise pointing use the HPP function. HPP puts objects
in the center of the field-of-view which allows you to confirm deep
sky objects at the faintest limits of the telescope’s capability.
Periodic Error Correction
Corrects periodic errors on the RA axis over the course of one or
more training periods, thereby minimizing guiding corrections during
long-exposure photography.
9-Speed Drive Controls From
a rapid slew rate of 4.5°/sec. to 1x sidereal—it’s all controlled
from the AutoStar controller.
3-Star Alignment Ensures
precise alignment while eliminating the need for a complicated optical/mechanical
alignment process.
Heavy-Duty Tripod Variable-height
field tripod with spreader bar brace provides the stability and
vibration damping required for visual observation and astrophotography.
Illuminated Polar Alignment Viewfinder
For quick, precise polar alignment.
The LXD75 telescopes operate for about
40 hours from 8 D-cell batteries. The telescope may also
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 LX90-LNT telescopes equipped with UHTC present
a quantum leap in image brightness on the full range of celestial
objects.
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