Additional Capabilities: Beyond the location of database objects, Autostar allows for a wide range of important telescope capabilities:

Meade Schmidt-Newtonian optics are manufactured at Meade’s state-of-the-art facility in Irvine, California.

The corrector lens and primary mirror are individually figured to create a superior optical system. Pyrex® Primary Mirrors are used in all Schmidt-Newtonian optical systems, providing exceptional thermal stability. Water white glass is used in all Schmidt-Newtonian corrector lenses to maximize light transmission. The use of water white glass results in an increase of light transmission in excess of 10%, as compared to competitive telescopes using soda lime glass. The Corrector Lens fully corrects for spherical aberration and provides pinpoint star images. The Meade Schmidt-Newtonians have extremely fast, well corrected F/Ratios for short photographic exposure times and wide fields-of-view.

The result is a Diffraction-Limited Schmidt-Newtonian optical sytem that yields pinpoint stellar images over an extremely wide field-of-view with only half the coma of standard Newtonians of the same focal ratio.


Meade Schmidt-Newtonian 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. The optical tube includes a 2" Aluminum Rack and Pinion Focuser as standard eqiupment.

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).