Meade 8" Reflector on LX85 GoTo Equatorial Mount - 217004

Meade 8" Reflector on LX85 Computerized Equatorial Mount

Observe the Moon, planets, deep-sky objects, star clusters, and even some brighter galaxies like never before with the 8" LX85 Reflector from Meade! In this package, you will receive an 8" reflector equipped with the LX85 GoTo mount as well as an aluminum and steel tripod to reinforce your system with the capability to add more accessories. Also included are 2 Super Plossl 1.25" eyepieces and an 8x50 viewfinder. This package will make it simple for you to find your favorite celestial objects, and enjoy your long nights observing the skies.

Please Note: This mount requires a user-provided 12V DC power source and supply. We recommend the Meade Universal AC Power Adapter (07584) or the #607 DC Power Cord (07043) and a 12V Power Supply. 

About the Meade LX85 German Equatorial Mount

The Meade LX85 is a lightweight yet sturdy, classic German equatorial mount that has been upgraded with an AudioStar hand controller for state-of-the-art GoTo electronics. The LX85 GEM is fitted with 12v DC low-cog servo motors on both axes (right ascension and declination). Meade's Smart Drive offers PPEC training so that you can easily track through long exposures or just keep objects in your eyepiece for a good, long time without the need to adjust for drift. Also, there is no need to perform a meridian flip with the LX85 and an integrated guide port is ready and waiting to accept your favorite autoguider.

The LX85 mount is made of metal and is anodized with a white finish, while a few components, like the setting circles, are finished in “Meade Blue”. The LX85 mount breaks down into three lightweight pieces. The mount head weighs just 19.9 pounds, the tripod weighs 12.4 pounds, and the counterweight weighs 9 pounds. With weights as low as these, even older children and teens can set it up!

Use the AudioStar controller to find objects, do an easy alignment, move the mount electronically, or take a tour of the night's best objects.

With a database of over 30,000 objects and a built-in speaker, the Meade AudioStar will not only help you find objects with its easy, user-friendly interface, it can talk to you about a wide range of objects for a truly interactive experience.

If you don’t know what’s up in the sky on a particular evening, or don’t have a particular observing schedule in mind, let the Meade AudioStar show you “Tonight’s Best”. Choose the Tonight’s Best tour on the controller and you will be shown, you guessed it, the best objects in the sky for that particular date and time. The AudioStar controller has a multitude of functions for you to explore, such as digital positional readouts, a database of up to 200 user-defined objects, 9-Speed dual-axis movement, and much more.

The Meade LX85 has a weight capacity of approximately thirty-three (33) pounds, which allows you to ride a wide variety of telescopes on the mount and still have capacity left for accessories. Just attach an OTA with a Vixen-style dovetail to the saddle and add extra counterweights, if necessary, to balance the load. One 9-lb. counterweight is included with the LX85 mount package.

The adjustable aluminum and steel tripod included with the LX85 weighs just 12.4 pounds. The height of the steel legs can be adjusted so that the tripod will stand anywhere from 31.5” to 43.5” tall. A metal tripod leg spreader bar, which helps immensely with tripod stability, doubles as an accessory tray.

About the Meade 8" Reflector Telescope

A Newtonian reflector is a perfect way to see into the furthest reaches of space without paying an astronomical price. The mirrored optics of the Meade LX85 reflector are less expensive to manufacture than the lenses of a refractor, and offer true color images to boot! Add the fact that an 8” Newtonian is much more portable and lightweight than an 8” refractor, and you can see why so many people jump into deep space with a Newtonian telescope!

The Meade LX85 8” Newtonian Reflector has a fast f/5 focal ratio, yielding bright, wide field images of the sky. Amateur astronomers who wish to try their hand at astro-imaging will appreciate the wide field of view.

An 8x50 finderscope helps you find objects by providing a low power (8X magnification) view of the sky. After you align the finder with your telescope, all you have to do is center an object of interest in the finderscope and then look through the eyepiece!

The Meade 8” reflector comes with a 2" Rack & Pinion focuser for fast and easy focusing. To start you off right, Meade is including two 1.25" eyepieces (a 26 mm and a 9 mm) with the LX85 package.