| The Meade LX80 Multi-Mount is three telescope mounts in one. It is a go-to German equatorial mount, a single optical tube go-to altazimuth mount, and a dual optical tube go-to altazimuth. Setting up in any of the three modes is quick and easy. The Meade LX80 mount can hold a 40 pound equipment payload capacity in both its German equatorial mode and in its single optical tube altazimuth configuration. In its dual optical tube altazimuth mode (with the optical tubes balanced on opposite side of the mount) it can hold a whopping 70 pound payload, an amazing payload capacity for such a modestly-priced mount.
The Meade LX80 Multi-Mount is built around a solid die-cast aluminum structure for durability and high-performance photo/visual observing, with ABS panels. Two large tapered roller bearings handle radial and thrust loads on each axis to enable the LX80 mount to carry large payloads smoothly. The mount has high-accuracy DC worm gear drives and electric slow motion controls in both right ascension and declination that deliver smooth, accurate drive speeds. Precision alignment of the worm gear assemblies assures tracking smoothness and greatly reduced backlash.
The supplied AudioStar computer control system provides fully computerized go-to object location and tracking. The AudioStar has a database of over 30,000 celestial objects it can find and track for you, plus many other unique features and capabilities. For example, the AudioStar computer hand control has Meade’s exclusive Astronomer Inside software and a built-in speaker that will talk to you, giving you four hours of professionally-produced audio descriptions of 500 of the celestial objects the AudioStar can find for you. Astronomer Inside puts the knowledge and experience of a professional astronomer in the palm of your hand.
The AudioStar computer has a go-to pointing accuracy of approximately 10 arc minutes for visual use. There is a high precision pointing mode that can improve the pointing accuracy to 5 arc minutes for imaging purposes. Meade’s proprietary SmartDrive system provides periodic error correction in the German equatorial mode that dramatically reduces drive errors to provide tracking performance that has previously been available only on much more expensive mounts. An optional autoguider port accessory will be available that will plug into one of the AUX ports on the LX80 to provide ST-4 guider compatibility for unattended long-exposure guided imaging.
The LX80 Multi-Mount has preset sidereal and lunar drive rates, plus you can custom-select from 2000 additional incremental drive rates. The mount has RA and dec slewing speeds of 1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, and 128x sidereal; plus 1.5°, 3°, and 6.5°/second. The mount operates in the German equatorial mode over a 25° to 90° latitude range.
Both the primary and secondary optical tube dovetail slots are industry-standard for maximum compatibility with all of your optical tubes. Power for the drives and computer control is supplied by 8 user-supplied AA batteries. Optional adapters with 25’ cords are available for uninterrupted AC( #RCXAC) and 12 volt DC car battery operation (#607).
The mount comes with a sectional counterweight shaft that lets you select the ideal shaft length for either balancing the mount in its German equatorial configuration (using the supplied 11 pound steel counterweight) or attaching a second optical tube to the side of the mount head for dual tube altazimuth use. The counterweight is locked in place on the counterweight shaft by a single hand-tighten knob, making it easy to rebalance your scope if you change accessories.
The LX80 Multi-Mount comes with two Vixen-style dovetails for attaching optical tubes. One is on the mount head for German equatorial and single optical tube altazimuth use. The second head can be attached to the end of the counterweight shaft for mounting a second optical tube in a two optical tube altazimuth configuration and is removable when not needed. Two large hand-tighten knobs on each dovetail hold the optical tubes in place. The dovetail mount system allows optical tubes to be quickly and precisely installed and balanced on the mount, whether in an altazimuth or German equatorial configuration. Setup and takedown times are exceptionally fast.
The LX80 mount includes an adjustable height tripod with 2" diameter stainless steel legs. A center leg brace adds rigidity and excellent damping characteristics. A set of optional #895 vibration suppression pads under the tripod feet will even further improve telescope damping time for steadier high power observing. The center leg brace is drilled to form a convenient accessory tray that holds six 1.25" eyepieces to keep them up out of the dew-soaked grass.
The tripod adjusts over a height range of 30.5" to 47". In addition, each leg has an adjustment for 0.2" fine-tuning of the leg height to aid in leveling the mount. Each leg has two anodized aluminum leg locks with an internal brake to eliminate accidental slippage of the internal extending leg section. These locks face inwards to prevent snagging your clothing or gouging your shin as often happens when running into outward-facing leg locks in the dark.
The Meade LX80 Multi-Mount is available alone, or combined in packages with Meade optical tubes ranging in size from a 90mm solar scope to a 115mm refractor to a 10" Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric. Chances are good it can handle any similar optical tube you may have . . . and at a sensible price that puts the competition to shame.
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