Meade 10" f/8 LX850 ACF Optical Tube Assembly
Item #57087
$3,299.99
10" OTA has a fast f/8 optical system with high-contrast, with pinpoint imaging to the edge of the field. Features an internal zero image shift Crayford-style focusing system with a two-speed 7:1 reduction control.
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  • More Info
    • 10" f/8 Advanced Coma Free Optics- 2032mm focal length
    • Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
    • Internal Crayford style focuser with 7:1 reduction and zero image shift
    • Oversized low-expansion borosilicate primary mirror
    • Losmandy wide style mounting rail

    The Meade 10" f/8 LX850 ACF optical tube assembly offers a large aperture in a very compact form. Designed to be portable and lightweight, and includes a Losmandy-style dovetail bar mounted to the bottom of the tube which allow attachment to any Losmandy compatible mount.

    The Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optical system features Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC), an oversized low-expansion Borosilicate primary mirror, a glass corrector plate, and beautiful diffraction limited optics. The ACF optical system has brought the highest level of optical performance well within the reach of amateur astronomers at an affordable price. Using this Meade exclusive design, ACF optics achieve aplanatic performance — with a flatter field, reduced astigmatism and of course no diffractions spikes impeding the view as with a reflector design.

    Designed and Manufactured in North America, and the ACF primary, secondary and corrector plate glass blanks are manufactured in the USA exclusively for Meade.

    The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

    The optical path and components of the ACF telescope design

    Interested in astrophotography? Meade ACF telescopes, with their long native focal lengths, are great instruments for photographing planets and the Moon in high-resolution detail with a DSLR or astro camera. And the addition of the optional Meade ACF 0.68x Focal Reducer optimizes any ACF for deep space imaging. This thread-on accessory converts an f/10 ACF into a faster f/6.8 system and transforms an f/8 ACF into a speedy f/5.5 imaging beast! The reducer shortens the long exposure times needed to record faint deep-sky objects by half and expands the field of view by nearly 50%, allowing capture of larger objects in a single frame. Your Meade ACF will become a powerful astrograph capable of capturing jaw-dropping astrophotographs with your DSLR or astronomical CCD or CMOS camera!

    The LX850's focusing system boasts a couple of distinguishing features compared to Meade's LX90 and LX200 series telescopes. The first is a two-speed focus knob for ultra precise focusing of your targets. Get close to focus quickly with the course focus knob, then use the 7:1 reduction fine focus knob to dial in maximum sharpness. The second is an internal Crayford style zero shift focus mechanism built into all the f/8 ACF optical tubes. This mechanism utilizes bearings between the primary mirror and the baffle tubes, rather than the mirror sliding forwards and backwards directly on the baffle tube itself when focusing. The Crayford-style bearings eliminate focus shift and mirror flop, ensuring zero backlash and smooth motion throughout the focus range. Focusing at high magnifications on a planet by hand is thus extremely easy thanks to this internal Crayford focuser design and the ultra-precise fine focus feature.

    Optical features include an 10" aperture, 2032mm focal length, and f/8 focal ratio. The internal dual speed focuser provides fine control of focus and the UHTC coatings provide impressive views of brighter star clusters, more fine detail in nebulae, and greater surface features on planets. The optical tube weighs 33 lb (15kg).

    Warranty

    Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for two years from date of purchase. This warranty is provided by Meade for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact Meade at 800-626-3233.

  • Specs
    • Best for viewing:
      Fainter deep sky
    • Best for imaging:
      Solar, lunar, planetary & Messier objects
    • User level:
      Advanced
    • Optical design:
      Advanced Coma-Free (ACF)
    • Front-end outside tube diameter:
      11.71 in.
    • Optical diameter:
      254mm
    • Focal length:
      2032mm
    • Focal ratio:
      f/8.0
    • Resolving power:
      0.46arc*sec
    • Highest useful magnification:
      300x
    • Highest theoretical magnification:
      508x
    • Limiting stellar magnitude:
      14.7
    • Optical quality:
      Diffraction limited
    • Finder scope:
      None
    • Focuser:
      Internal
    • Mount type:
      Optical Tube without Mount
    • Astro-imaging capability:
      Lunar, planetary & long exposure
    • Tube material:
      Aluminum
    • Weight, optical tube:
      33.0 lbs.
    • Additional included accessories:
      Losmandy style dovetail bar
    • Other features:
      Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC), Internal zero-shift Crayford style focuser
    • Warranty:
      Two year
  • Important Shipping Information

    When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available.

    A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

    Standard Delivery: $50.00
    Standard Delivery to Canada: $110.00

    SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS APPLY FOR THIS PRODUCT

    This product is available to ship Standard delivery to the 48 continental United States. Delivery is not available to US territories/protectorates or APO/DPO/FPO addresses. Standard delivery is available to Canada. 3 Day, 2nd Day and Next Day delivery is not available.