Every time I watch Ed I can't shake the impression that he is the most professional and articulate man on youtube. I could easily see Ed making the jump to a fully produced regular show on PBS or something. Maybe a bit like blending computer chronicles with stargazer.

@peter7624

8 ай бұрын

I like the fact he just gets straight down to business, no blaring music or annoying intros, just the stuff we want to see and hear, not padded out or full of BS. Just the facts presented with humourous wit.

@toonfan2007

5 ай бұрын

Imagine most KZreadrs saying more than one sentence without having jump cuts!

@cbaorion

3 ай бұрын

I agree, Ed is the best!

@spliffy_kohlab8336

2 ай бұрын

I go to sleep to his voice. Sometimes. Very pleasing presentation

I remember in the late '90s seeing the 12'' in a scientific store in the local mall on sale for ~$4k and thinking "One day I'm going to buy one of these." Well, *just* a few years later and I still can't afford one.

This used to be my favorite telescope when I saw it at magazine catalogs (Discovery Channel) in the early 2000s. Some person who had to be moved into a nursing home sold me his for 500 usd (an early 2000s lx200 8" model), and so far it works very well. The most impressive thing about it is how sturdy the alt/az mount is. One time, I hit my head against it looking for a cable in the ground and the tracking on Jupiter kept going strong. It is a planet buster, allowing me to see cloud bands in Jupiter like never before, even at very high magnifications. One small concern in the back of my mind is the possibility that it dies on me, but even then I have found it amazing at manual observing with the mechanical knobs it comes with. Thank you Ed for all the information. Your speech and cadence is so clear that my wife starts commenting about the video all the way from the kitchen, as she understands you perfectly even at low volumes.

@jwg9338

4 ай бұрын

Make sure you change out the capacitors!

Cheers Ed. I still have my 10" LX200. I got it used in 1995 and still use it today. I updated the Keypad, cpu boards along with the software and data base to version 3.34 around two years later along with a few modifications. Never had much of an issue with it except having to change out a fuse or the button cell. Drives have always worked for me, I like coffee. Only cleaned the mirrors twice. You didn't mention the dreaded mirror shift the earlier ones had, easy fix. I do run it on and never had any problems at 12 volts. Even has the original capacitors. For a 28 year old scope it runs the charm and hope it keeps going for a bunch more years. Thanks.

That last point is a perfect example of the maxim that the best telescope is the one you will actually use. Thanks for a great overview of the LX200s.

@gabrielgaby5840

5 ай бұрын

I love my LX200, I think it's Brilliant, I found it in a Cash Converters, (when I had money). Thanks for Contact.

I own the original lx200 10 inch about the time it came out. It came with a wonderful hard carrying case in the price! I had the 10in GPS when it came out and now I have the 10in ACF. I've always enjoyed Meade and I have seen many wonderful things over 30 years now using these telescopes. I've never had a problem with any of them working.

@gabrielgaby5840

5 ай бұрын

Brilliant ain't., I have an LX200, rescued it from Cash Converters, have lens Coloured Optics with it, in Steel Case. Waiting to use, need Equatorial Mount., would you know where to buy, get one. I have asked Ed, to look for me. Also, what Camera would recommend, for Plantery Views. Thank you, Good Luck. Bye., ❤

Yes! A new video! Simply put? I'm a very early beginner and I am literally learning lots of stuff right here on this channel, the rest from my astronomy club. Thank you Ed, you are my mentor in a way, I love your work and I'm learning to appreciate this hobby more and more. Again thank you and clear skies.

Hello from France, Following your advices I just bought a tabletop dobson for my cousin who lost her father few month ago. She is very pleased with it, this is a GREAT telescope as it can be improved all life long by adding different accessories. So thank you a lot !

@CleverGoatee

9 ай бұрын

I myself am the owner of a bigger dobsonian telescope that I do not take outside all that much due to its weight and size mainly

Ed, you always come out with entertaining and informative vids, especially as you gave some time for the Mak (my favorite type of scope)! I only wish you released new vids every 2-3 days, but I know that's unreasonable. Regardless, thank you for all you do for us. You got me started in astronomy over 20 years ago, and I can never thank you enough. As always, I look forward to your next vid. Thank you.

This is the only channel I press the like button and then watch the video. I just know I'm gonna like it so why wait. Can't wait for more videos on the AP course series

@goldni4429

9 ай бұрын

I do the exact same thing!!

8” SCTs are the sweet spot, my HyperStar’d C8 is just incredibly satisfying for EAA. Sufficient aperture, not monstrously huge for one person to handle. That’s why Celestron has sold the C8 for 50+ years. The bigger a scope, typically the less it gets used.

I own 4 of these scopes, all classic (an 8", 2 10" and a 12") and it's always pleasing to see such video done by a person who knows his stuff. Ed is a pro who can be trusted. There a few people out there specialized in repairing the LX200 electronics, but in the long run, the motorizacion of these scopes is going to fail, the plastic gears and the small dc motors are really not very good. Meade went cheap. So, many people go to the option of keeping the mount (a fork mount is really a lot better than a german mount when it comes to observing, not having to flip around the meridian) and put newer electronics with stepper motors. It requires mechanical modifications, but it's a good solution. Google for LX200 telescope and onstep for example.

Always Great reviews Ed.

Thanks for the informative video on this range of Meade SCT's.

Excellent, Ed! Thank you very much for this video!

Thanks for the video Ed!

Very much enjoy your videos. Always very informative.

Love my circa 2000 8" LX200, always put objects spot on in the centre of a moderate (x150) field and would track for 2hrs without adjustment (also strangely had the most accurate non GPS/Internet/radio signal clock I've ever come across). I guess every so often all of the pieces come together just about right, but... I had to replace capacitor C7 on the main board a few years ago. Bought a new and improved power panel from Clearline (absolutely recommended). Now capacitor C2 has blown on the hand controller and girding myself to replace it (I'm no electronics expert). It's a little like owning a much loved old car (noisy as hell, but great when it works) that you don't want to part with but have to keep working on! And maybe it's just me but I always found it's ammeter pulsing slightly like a heartbeat in the dead of night somehow reassuring. But just in case it all goes horribly wrong I've invested in a Sky Watcher HEQ5 Pro so at least I can de-fork it, plus it should carry my other scopes, which makes me feel slightly guilty somehow?

@edting

19 сағат бұрын

Thanks for the update on your LX200. It's good you still have it in service.

I recently bought the Celestron Next Star Evolution 8 and I’m blown away by it, my first object I looked at was Saturn and it was beautiful. I was able to see the rings and its moons and the detail of Saturn, I also saw Jupiter along with its moons and red bands. It makes me want to use the telescope more

Enjoy watching these videos, very informative.

Thank you for another informative [and witty] video guide of what to or what not to buy.

Thank you! A very nice presentation from a very passionate astronomer

Great info, thanks!

Always great information. Thanks!

My first encounter with the LX200 was way back in the summer of 1995 with our club's new 10". I loved how the scope looked with the massive fork and with the superwedge. It also produced my most memorable view of Saturn so far: about 10 days after the ring plane crossing, under excellent seeing, at 391x (with the Meade Series 4000 6.4 mm Super Plossl). I'll never forget the sight. The rings were just a bright line with almost no vertical dimension, the planet flattened and crossed by a number of belts, the moons all in a straight line on both sides of the planet. Easily saw all the Moons down to Mimas, should have tried Janus, but I was still green at the time. I've observed Saturn through better planetary telescopes since, but that view in August 1995 through the 10" f/10 LX200 remains my best ever. It was a really decent telescope. Now, our club also got the f/6.3 version. That one was really poor optically, couldn't keep the image together even at ~200x.

@edting

9 ай бұрын

My evidence is anecdotal on this, but the 10s seem to be the most optically consistent of the Meade SCTs. Mine is so good it's kept me from buying another C9.25.

Damn fine presentation. Thank you.

BTW, as others have stated, thank you for your very informative and well presented videos. You do the astronomical community proud.

Very helpful!

Really good information. Thank you very much.

Ed is a treasure and his videos are wonderful.

I've owned the 10" & 7" LX200's, both with dead mounts. They have slow-motion controls, so I used them that way for several years, but I eventually decided to get rid of both back-ache scopes. I miss the views the Mak produced

Thank you,Wonderful.

Good Day. I now have my second 10" LX200, but this is the GPS model with enhanced coatings on the mirrors. I bought it from "OPT" 14 years ago. At 71 years old, it's kinda on the big side for me now. Great telescope and I love it. Except for the "micro-focuser failing, which I have a replacement for, it's still fully functional. I would like to buy or replace it with an 8" but the cost is as much or more than I paid for my 10" that I have now. Not an option at the present time and I no longer live in Arizona. Excellent In-depth Review. Thank You Very Much.

@gabrielgaby5840

5 ай бұрын

All the best, buddy, (ain't they the Best thing to look at, even if not using),.. looking for a Equatorial Wedge, if you come across one).., Cheers..

Thank you Ed.

I’m fortunate enough to own two 7” Maks and an LX10. The Maks are my favourite scopes (I liked the first one so much, I couldn’t resist when another came my way at a reasonable price). To get the best out of the Maks, unless you live in a location where there isn’t much change in the daytime and nighttime temperatures, you really do need the counterweight removed. Both my Maks have been de-forked and both have had the counterweights removed. I’ve compared my Maks to some high end Russian Maks and optically, for visual use, I cannot tell the difference. Once settled to ambient temperature, they are very good examples of this design of scope. If you want a scope for Luna and Planetary observations, one of these fitted with a binoviewer will give you many hours of pleasure. As for the LX10, a nice straightforward, easy to use scope that gives decent views without very much to go wrong. A nice overview Mr Ting-thank you.

Great review Ed, I’ve kept an 8” Meade SCT since I’ve started observing as an adult.. about 40 years. It’s also my favorite outreach scope because it can see quite a few items on any night, and I find the optics excellent, and go to very accurate. I have to say that my drive is an LX90 and not the LX200.. the LX90 ACF has been reliable. Before the LX90 I had a pre-LX 200 version that was also reliable.

I had a 12inch LX90 about 10 years ago. Optically great. Mount was garbage. Meades customer service or lack of it is well documented on numerous online forums. I would only buy these deforked ota's and put it on a decent equatorial mount. Without the wedge they are useless for imaging. My friend deforked his 12inch and put it on a Paramount. Great for lunar and planetary. Unlike the Celestron sct ota's these cannot be used for widefield Hyperstar imaging.

@k.h.1587

9 ай бұрын

The 8 was good, the 10 a bit Shakey and the 12 a total bobblehead

Great video. I'd love it if you were able to do one on some of the forgotten Meade SCTs like the LX-50 and my own LX-100.👍🏾👍🏾

I really didn't know what I was doing when I brought my Meade 8inch SCT. I guess I got lucky. I ungraded to the max. Still love it.

Thanks Ed. I have a 10" classic, years ago my wife raised a good point when she said "what are you going to do when you get old". She was right but don't tell her. I'm 72 now.I have only had my 10" out once this year due to the fact it is heavy and awkward to carry. I'll be putting a permanent pier in this fall or in the spring. Until then I'll be using my beginner 4 1/4" Newt. One thing you said that concerns me is the capacitors. I haven't had any issues but perhaps it is just a matter of time. Thanks again Ed for sharing your knowledge and presenting it so well.

My lx200 10" emc was bought as an almost new Ota. The optics are sharp and clean! I came across an old fork mount for it and replaced the caps in the paddle and on the motherboard. Works fine now! The Ota was really too much for my celestron asgt mount. It worked, but it just made the mount seem like it was straining to move the thing around even when we'll balanced. That made me seem out the fork, which as I said, works fine. Not great, but fine... At least I can just use it... 😉👍

The reason why I have not got a GOTO, computerized mount until 2017 was reliability of the electronics over time as Mr. Ting mentioned. I use German equatorial mounts, so if one proves to be no longer repairable, I can simply use the telescope on another mount.

Thanks Ed.

thanks a lot Ed

I have the 12" deforked meade. It Max's out my EQ6 mount.

I just bought a late 80's era LX6 8" for $100. No GOTO, but it still tracks with precision. I bought it thinking I would de-fork it and put it on a AVX mount, but I'm having a lot of fun with this old tech. BTW, I also recently picked up a Meade #295 60mm refractor on a stout EQ mount from the early 80's. The views through that old Japanese glass are amazing!

@k.h.1587

9 ай бұрын

LX 6 had great drives, although very power hungry compared to other manual drives, probably because it used a microcontroller. If yours is f10 you are lucky, but being an lx6 it is probably one of the dreaded f6.3 models and the optics tend to be sub par on those, at least if you want to do planetary viewing, they were pretty nice for wide field which does not push the optics too hard. Had a friend with the 8"6.3 and it wasn't too sharp unfortunately, might have been out of collimation because when I used to use it with him I was not yet hip to that. Many years later I ended up with a 10" f10 version, which is technically called the premier even though the mount is identical to the lx6. This was how I discovered how power hungry it was, when it drained 10 AA batteries in only a few hours, which surprised me since other manual tracking motors I have used could go several nights on a set of batteries. This is probably because the mount has programmed periodic error correction which requires some degree of computing power which wasn't as efficient in those days. Yeah the tracking is very good on these. Hope your optics are decent. You might want to check it out really well before investing in a mount for that tube. I too enjoy the old tech though, I used to have several go-to scopes, sold some, others lost when my storage was robbed. Insurance found a loophole to not have to pay out, so when I started over it was with old tech some scope hoarder friends gave me good deals and trades for. One being the 10" lx6/premier and the other a powerstar C8. With an 8 it is usually manageable enough on a fork and wedge, so I just leave it as is. The 10" rarely gets setup and was considering de forking but ended up with a 10" dob for almost free, and figured the Meade would be used for special occasions like a big outreach. I had a jmi microfocuser left over from my C11 which fit the Meade, and the hand controller controls it nicely which I enjoyed. The optics are pretty good, but I still miss my C11.

@ericbarnett6771

9 ай бұрын

@@k.h.1587 The scope is the f10 version, for which I am thankful. The primary has a tiny bit of mottling on the bottom edge. I'm not sure exactly what it is as I haven't taken it apart yet although the corrector plate is in need of cleaning. I haven't looked through it yet because it didn't come with a visual back but Amazon will deliver one tomorrow. Clear Skies!

Very interesting review, Ed. The first telescope I bought (in 1999) was an 8-inch Meade LX-10, which was advertised as having the same optical tube as the LX-200, most likely because of Meade's preference for re-using components where possible, but without the fancy electronics and GOTO capability (which I couldn't afford at the time). The optics are indeed superb as you say, and I find it almost never goes out of collimation. It came with an equatorial wedge, and is very easy to mount on the tripod. I can unload it from the car and be observing within 5 minutes. It's great for star parties, as it runs on four AA cells in the base which last for many months. There are a few things about it I find annoying, especially the mirror flop when I reverse direction with the focus knob, but over the years it has given me and hundreds of others great views of many objects, and I would not even consider replacing it with the LX-200.

@peter7624

9 ай бұрын

I've also got an 8" LX10. It did have mirror flop when I bought it, but saw an advert for a modification to fix it. I looked at the items in the kit and it was basically a washer! I got a variety of washers and experimented, fitting them under the focusser knob and tightening it up to remove the play. It's removed about 95% of the mirror flop and it is no longer a problem.

@ceejay0137

9 ай бұрын

@@peter7624 Thanks for the comment. Peter, that's very interesting. There is a little side-to-side play in the focus knob on my LX-10, so I'll see if putting a washer underneath it helps to reduce the mirror flop.

@TheNobbynoonar

8 ай бұрын

@ceejay I also own an LX 10- an excellent performer without any bells and whistles. I got around the annoying mirror shift problem by using an aftermarket focuser. The one on my LX10 is quite old now and is just a basic rack and pinion focuser but works just fine. The most common one’s being sold nowadays seem to be the Crayford type. Although nowhere near as cheap as a washer, i don’t have problems with mirror shift. I picked mine up used on one of the many astro sites out there. Anyway, glad to see that others have an appreciation of this very well made, easy to use telescope. Clear skies and happy viewing.

My buddy bought a 14" LX200R as his first scope. I believe it's basically like the ACF models. We took it up to my parents cabin in Munds Park, 17 miles south of Flagstaff under bortle 2 skies. The views were pretty ridiculous, but so is that telescope. My XT8 looked like a toy next to it.

@gabrielgaby5840

5 ай бұрын

Wicked, show us a Picture, one day, if you have it... Cheers❤l

I had the 12" GPS. Man, I miss that thing. Never should've got rid of it, still kicking myself.

That "coffee grinder" sound helped me several times find my way back to my site at TSP. . . . .BTW, I had the 7" Mak in the LX-100 form (can I say rare?), and it was quite a ride-the optics could be unbelievably sharp, or obviously in cooldown mode for hours. It was crazy. At the time I didn't know there was a big weight right behind the primary. What in the heck was Meade thinking? Apparently the bean-counters were in charge at this point. Now I have the copy (Sky-Watcher 180), and it's a GEM.

Spot on Ed! I bought the 12 inch Classic 2 years ago from a person going through a marriage breakup, and I bought it on a whim as I used to have one as a child. The unit is well known in Western Australia as it was used in a star gazing group for many years. I put the age of the unit at around 20 - 25 years when I bought it and it had a whole bundle of electrical problems. On the advice of a guy in Massachusetts who felt he could fix it, we tried over the course of a year, me shipping all the electronics to him and then eventually coming back, but it didn't work, so I blew $1000 on that exercise. I'm now at the stage of de-forking it and to get a decent mount so that I can do what I want to do and that is astro-photography and deep space photography. So thanks for your video, it has confirmed all I thought, and I will now move on to the next stage of this interesting journey.

@edting

9 ай бұрын

Ouch, sorry to hear about the $1000!

@crispyinasia61

9 ай бұрын

Its a pain Ed, but its also a learning experience and so now I can move forward down a different track. Granted it would have been better if the guy had just said don't try and fix it, defork and get an EQ mount, but these things happen.

I agree Ed and thanks. If I were in the market for older rigs, I'd purchase the Ota only. Can be adapted to many mount s. Electronics don't age well in this hobby, extreme heat and cold. Capacitors dry up do to lack of use. Thanks.

Hello again, just noticed, I need an Equatorial Mount, for LX 200} miss worded as wedge. Thanks for your Great info, on these Meades. Cheers.

@edting

6 ай бұрын

If you're going to defork the optical tube, decide whether you want a Vixen plate or a D Plate. I think the Vixen is fine but go for it if you want the larger plate (remember you need the radius blocks). Make sure your optical tube has holes drilled to accommodate whichever plate you pick. After that, anything in the CG5/AVX class or higher (CGEM/EQ6/GM8/G11/Atlas/etc/etc) should work fine.

My LX 200 had issues that were firmware-related. Meade sold me a new firmware SD card with software that updated the firmware. it works great now.

I have the legacy 12” LX200 and it’s still running strong.

@edting

4 ай бұрын

That's good to hear!

Los teléscopios catadioptricos meade son de muy buena calidad yo tengo un lx10 lo compre hace 20 años y la óptica es muy nítida y no me ha dado ningún problema

Desperately want this Meade 16 Lx600 f/8 maybe one I will buy this beast

@edting

3 ай бұрын

Be careful...those things don't have a great reputation.

@Rationalist_Thinker

3 ай бұрын

@@edting Than could you please suggest me sir which is for me best telescope $ 20k….

I have 12" LX200 EMC I tossed out the electronics (still have them in a box somewhere) and now use a kit that upgraded it to an Autostar 497. It thinks it is a LX90. I have had no trouble with it except the 497 is a bit more time to set up compared to the original electronics. I also installed new encoder boards for both the RA and DEC. All in, about a $600 upgrade. It is heavy, so I do not use it as much as I would like.

Ed explain setting circles would be interesting 👌🇺🇸

Goto was an absolute game changer, in my opinion.

Ed, your videos are great! Have you used any Svbony scopes? If so, I would love to see a review someday!

Have you heard of a Meade SSC-12 ? It is the same LX200 12" OTA but attached to a German Equatorial Mount. It separates into 3 pieces: 1) the 12" OTA, 2) the G.E. GoTo Drive and 3) the Tripod. I've had one for 30 years. It is still working.

I have the 8" ACF and the early version of the 10" ACF; it is labled RC for Ritchey-Chretien, but they were sued over the branding.

They are the sharpest looking telescopes ever. I looked for the 7" Mak forever. Finally got tired of looking and bought a 7" Synta (Celestron) Mak. It's a great scope, but it's not a Meade Mak :) It just doesn't have as much class! Also i have an old LXD650 mount that is the same electronics as the LX200 classic - but in an EQ head format. I run that just fine on 12 volts. They were actually designed for 12 volts. The 18v brick that Meade supplied is the source of much failure and should be deposited in the nearest e-waste bin. Use a real switching power supply or a battery!

I bought a Meade 5" ED two element APO back in '94. It came with the LXD600 EQ mount, analogous to the LX200 for the SCTs. The scope tube is decent (but has no push/pull adjustments), the mount is a POS. Meade's customer service was poor, to put it mildly. Runaway DEC is all too common on both the LX and LXD mounts. And yeah, mine sounds like a coffee grinder too. It seems Meade used slot car motors in the drive systems. I still have it, haven't run it in 20 years. I've debated just tossing the mount. And yeah, it's the 18V version.

Rcx is a shitstorm, but the early lx200R was the same mechanically and electronically to the lx200gps and later lx200acf. Name change only due to rcos lawsuit. However the R versions were mostly usa made and the ACF were after they moved to Mexico. I had an 8 lx200R ota and the optics were outstanding, i initially used it on a losmandy GM8, which i later sold and used it on a CG5 with manual drive motors which was extremely reliable. My big scope was a C11 on a G11, but the 8 on the cg5 got used a lot more often, especially for outreach. Lost most of my possessions in a storage unit theft about 5 years ago, miss this stuff dearly.

Thankyou for this overview of the LX200 Meade`s! I had purchased the 8", a couple of years ago and after using it a few times, did drop it, trying to find "The Bolt", while attempting to set up. Didn't seem to hurt the scope, but am afraid to use, for this reason! I also have a 130mm Stellarvue, which I use, but want to use the Meade also. Was wondering if you have the link for the Peterson top plate, as this will solve my problem! Hope to hear from you. Thanks again!

@edting

4 ай бұрын

Look up the Peterson and/or Starizona landing pad for the LX200. You may get frustrated. This stuff wanders in and out of the catalog. If they don't sell it any more you'll have to try and get one used.

I really enjoy your videos. I have a question about collimating my. Zhumell 130. If the secondary mirror is not perfectly aligned with the focuser does it need to be? I’m frustrated. Thanks!

In the 90's I bought a Celestron Advanced Series (Chinese Junk). It worked great for a few years then it started malfunctioning. I now have a Losmandy G11. I'll find my own way around. Can't rely on electronics.

I owned a 12" for a couple years. It was kind of like the experience Ed noted with his C14. Just too big and heavy, I'm much happier with a 12" Dob instead. If the OTA separated from the fork, it would've been less daunting I think.

Out on a remote mountain range in AZ Observatory on property but telescope has been non functional for years Looking for the most economical way to make observatory functional again Needs to be fully integrable with laptop-tablet If you can provide suggestions and some details would be awesome Thank you in advance if you respond

Hi Ed. Big fan! Which would you choose between cpc 1100 deluxe hd and meade 12" LX200? Looking to upgrade from nextar evolution 8.

Hello Ed, I have a Meade LX 200. And I love it. Read your Program, and understand the failures. But I want to complete the set. Could you direct me to, where to buy a Meade Wedge, ( to get a tighter angle). Also could let me know, the Best Cameras, to suit, the aperture. Planets, Constellations. Thank you, will watch the rest of your Programs.❤.

I had a 12“ LX200 classic for over 10 years that I finally sold a year ago, still working great, caps had been replaced. NOTE you mentioned that if the classic controller is dead, you now just have an optical tube. I disagree. There is a cottage industry around LX200 classic handset repair, as well as a conversion kit that changes the classics electronics to use the newer 12v AutoStar controllers. I now run an 8" LX200 GPS, just because it is easier to be mobile with, than the 12". 😊

You forgot the LX200r which is essentially an ACF telescope that looks like a standard LX200gps but has the much better optical design of the Ritchey-Chrétien secondary mirror. They had to stop using that while the trademark lawsuit took place. The LX200r is the exact same scope, mount, and electronics as the Meade ACF but with traditional (older) Meade paint scheme and LX200 designation.

Great advice! It does seem like the higher the tech on the telescope, the more it depreciates in value, especially if it actually stops working! What was once in high demand and what anyone aspiring to be a serious user had to have becomes a white elephant tough sell on the used market.

@edting

9 ай бұрын

Thanks Alan!

Hey Ed as I mentioned earlier in another comment the electronics are no good in my 12 inch Meade, so I’m going to defork the OTA and mount it on an EQ mount. I have been looking at the skywatcher CQ 350 Pro as an option, but wondered if you had any thoughts on other alternatives. Certainly the Skywatcher has the capabilities in holding the weight with capacity to spare , whilst many of the other options/brands are tight and go close to their maximum load limit. All the best, Andrew

My astronomy club was gifted a 16" LX200 ACP by the University of New Mexico. Needed to build an observatory and that was the big decision, where to put it? They decided to put it within a short driving time to Las Cruces and acquired permission to build a slide-off observatory in a State Park with 24 hour rangers on site. Once a month we do public outreach and the line can get long depending on weather, but how often do you get to look through a 16" telescope? edit; It is in Bortle four sky near Bortle 3. I've gone out there with club members who have access and one cold night we had excellent seeing conditions and many DSOs we looked at were visible quite spectacularly and one kid in the campground who joined us had the experience of his life. He left with an Explore Scientific Planisphere and a pair of Cometron binoculars. I think we got him hooked on astronomy. You are not exaggerating it has very good optics.

I had two 12 lx 200 classic and Acf ,both mount crapped out first time sent back to California, unable to fix ,Meade sold me the Acf 12 for 2200 us funds ,had it about 6 years set maybe 200 times ,and it said ship back to California for recalibration, kept the tube scrapped the fork and put on eq6rpro .

What's your thoughts for LX200 ACF VS LX200R? Is one better for optics over other?

I have a 16” mounted on an electric wheel chair

Any day with a new video from Ed is a good day. As an aside, I've never seen a 7" Mak in person. My, but it looks large. 😉

No mention of the LX200R ?

Actually, the LX200 came out in 1992. I bought a 10" one in 1993 and it was a 12 volt system. They didn't change to 18 volts till 1994 or 1995 and then changed back to 12 volts.

I've always wondered why Meade never designed a version that would allow a Hyperstar to be used on their scopes. When I bought my C11 I was originally looking at a Meade but chose Celestron because of that. Could it have something to do with Meade suing Celestron over the GPS alignment and part of the settlement was that Meade would not make Hyperstar available?

@MrSummitville

7 ай бұрын

Actually, Starizona did design Hyperstar units for the Meade telescopes and for the Celestron telescopes

Ed can you please make a video on Celestron advanced vx mount.

@edting

9 ай бұрын

Regular viewers know I use the AVX for most of my mid sized scopes. Having said that, I own three of them, well...because I have to. These things glitch and fail regularly. Look online and you will see some haters of this product. Is it any worse than any of the other models on the market? I don't think so. They all fail eventually.

@KishorK799

8 ай бұрын

What eyepiece do you recommend for 5 inch telescope which has aperture of 130 mm , focal length of 650 and it is f/5

@KishorK799

8 ай бұрын

​@@edtingI am thinking to buy Celestron luminos 19 mm 2 inch eyepiece for it

Hello Ed, I developed a question while watching this video. Is it beneficial to buy the SCT with included mount or buy the OTA and mount separately? I'm down to selecting an 8" SCT (I'm the 80 year old guy) or the 180 Mak. Both come with mounts but should I buy the scope and mount separately? This is the only telescope I'll probably be buying.

@edting

8 ай бұрын

First of all, don't get the 7" Mak. That is a specialty scope, not a daily driver. For the SCT, it depends on what you are getting. I am pretty secure in recommending a C6 or C8 on an AVX, or the NexStar 6. The AVX mount is not perfect but it is good for the money. For an LX200, buy new to be safe, or have someone check out a used one for you before buying.

@tedbohrer6799

8 ай бұрын

@@edting Since I asked for your advice, I am going to take your advice. My first choice was the 180 Mak because my interest lies in lunar and planetary (note: I have no telescope yet and no viewing experience). But I respect your opinion enough to buy an SCT to start. You did mention a C8 and the NexStar 6? Did you mean NexStar 6 ? (or 8? )

@edting

8 ай бұрын

Before committing 100% to being a lunar/planetary observer, check around to see if your area has conditions steady enough for it. Around here, no way. Anything over 125X results in a wavy, watery mess. But if you are in the southwestern US, you will have a good time with this. Don't get the NexStar 8. The mount isn't strong enough to hold a C8. In a NexStar, get the NexStar 6. For a C8, get it on an AVX or better. I'll pass along the usual caveats that NO electronic mount is perfect.

I have a 5” reflector I’m just learning but am lusting after the next scope already. It would probably have a motorised base, but all this talk (which I’ve seen everywhere) of it not lasting at all is putting me off. How much does a reliable, long life, motorised mount cost?!

This is my second question, about another telescope since I don't handle the subject very well as a beginner. I would like to buy the explora cientific 90/500 with alt mount, will it be worth it? I know I won't see planets in all their splendor but in general Also, if it would work for me in the future for deep sky.

@edting

8 ай бұрын

Too cheap. Is there a reason you're not following the standard recommendations? Look for a 6" - 8" Dob.

I have a 12" Lx200 GPS I bought from a friend in my club for a steal... so low, I still feel bad about it... more like he gifted it to me.. he's getting older and I suppose he passed it on to me.. because of that, I'll never part with it. I absolutely love the scope though, it's a beast and excellent for outreach.. I just wish I had a better way to store and transport it lol

@edting

9 ай бұрын

I'm hearing this a lot lately. Our hobby is aging. We need to get more young people and beginners into the hobby.

@jimpoop

9 ай бұрын

@edting Yeah I've noticed that.. I'm 32 and am one of the youngest in my club.. I think it's a mix between growing light pollution and the access to images from the likes of Hubble, JWST, etc, on the internet.. That's why outreach and even Social media presence is so important.

@jurestormchaser5382

9 ай бұрын

@@edting it's a good thing we're discussing 30 years old or less LX200s and not Cave Astrolas ... ;)

@JP-eu2dc

7 ай бұрын

I'm 27, just started with a 12 inch truss dob

Three other caveats on an old LX200 GPS. The Autostar II controller has a similar "year 2000" bug. The way dates were coded, after 2019, it rolls back to 1989. You must udpate the firmware. Also, the electronic contacts of the controller keys get oxydated with years and the hand controller gets painfull to use. Finally, below -10C, the controller red LED display freezes and below -15C, it simply no longer works. You need a Kendrick's controller heating band.

@edting

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the additional info!

@k.h.1587

9 ай бұрын

Pretty sure on lx200gps, autostar II controller is just a keypad and the brain is in the fork base.

@JulienDompierre

9 ай бұрын

@@k.h.1587 No. There are electronic devices in the hand controller and in the fork mount. This increases the chances of failure !-) I updated the firmware on the old hand controller with a version that fixes the "year 2019" bug. Few months later, I found an old almost unused AutoStar II hand controller with reliable keys. And again, I had to update the firmware on this old almost unused AutoStar II hand controller. So it is more than just a keypad.

@k.h.1587

9 ай бұрын

@@JulienDompierre from my understanding working at a major Meade dealer with an in house repair dept, the main brains are in the fork, and the reason it was called autostar II and not just say an autostar 498 or other model number was because of that main difference. Yes there are electronics in it other than the keys, so I shouldn't have said just a keypad, but it is not like other autostars like etx and LX90 where the software itself is completely contained in the hand controller. As for having to update firmware when you changed to another controller, that is a head scratcher, but then again, I wasn't the Meade repair specialist and some of the info I got may have been incomplete, but I do for sure remember that the gist of it was the autostar II hc is not what contained all of the brains, like on other autostar equipped scopes.

I bought a second hand LX10 EMC optical tube for 850 Euros from an optical store in Britain... LX200s or LX100s were way more expensive. Problem is the European market is not nearly as important as the American market and prices sky-rocket!

Hi ed. Really appreciate your videos. I’m just getting started and was wondering if you could provide contact information for scope wizard or similar service?

would someone know which visual back he used for the 10 inch.

Ahh, the Meade. I own a 14 inch LX200 GPS which is permanently mounted on a pier and wedge. With PHD2 it will track within 2 arc seconds. My lament is the hand controller. They are rare as hen's teeth and my new one is acting up.

Three most popular telescopes are Edge 8, 9.25 and 11. What happened with Meade?

@theoldman2821

9 ай бұрын

They lost their edge.

What ever happen to the LS 6 and 8

I fitted Bobs knobs and haven't had to collimate since. That's about 2 or 3 years ago!. Did the LX200 model keep the crappy plastic sleeves in the declination bearings? Those and the slow motion controls and their gears are seriously crude in the LX10. I find the optics (same as the LX200) to be good but not fantastic! Great video Ed, thanks!

@MikeLikesChannel

9 ай бұрын

I think, on average, *too few* people know how to collimate SCTs in the first place to make those worthwhile. Newtonian, different story.

@peter7624

9 ай бұрын

I find it a quick and easy process and when it's "spot on" look at e-Lyrae (the double double) it looks like 4 eyes shining in the dark, truly beautiful! @@MikeLikesChannel

@mycarolinaskies

9 ай бұрын

SCTs shouldn't need Bob's knobs as a well collimated SCT doesn't lose it's adjustment easily. Those who are chasing 'perfect' collimation for planetary imaging spend hours of time fidling with these knobs and because of the finger method of adjusting can end up scoring the secondary backing plate. Damien Peach doesn't use them on his 14" and yet consistently has excellent performance.

@TheNobbynoonar

8 ай бұрын

@mycarolinaskies I nearly ruined my LX10 secondary adjustment using aftermarket collimating screws. The packaging stated that they can be used on the LX10- they can’t! At least on my scope. I came very close to stripping the threads on my secondary mirror backing plate. After removing the corrector plate and secondary mirror, I found out why. When I compared the original secondary adjustment screws, the aftermarket ones were slightly longer. Most people (including myself) wouldn’t notice this until it’s too late. The difference is small but had a dramatic impact. As I was attempting to collimate the scope, the longer screws hit the back of the secondary mirror. This then pushed the secondary off it’s mounting To cut a long story short, I had to remove the corrector plate and secondary mirror and re tap out the threads on the secondary mirror mounting plate (not for the faint hearted) I dread to think what would happen if the threads were stripped beyond repair. Anyway, double check that any aftermarket screws are EXACTLY the same pitch and length as the originals. As others have pointed out, SCT’s don’t go out of collimation very often. If they do, it normally only needs a very small adjustment to bring everything back to normal. Clear skies.

So seems to me that anything over the 8" sct the focal lenghts are so long they're only good for lunar and planetary use only. Especially like the 12" and up. I would still own one but my Nexstar8 at 2032 fl is good for both lunar and planetary and deep sky.

@MrSummitville

7 ай бұрын

The do make focal reducers.

You said don’t buy the f6.3 because they are inconsistent. What do you mean exactly by that?

@edting

8 ай бұрын

It is much more difficult to produce an f/6.3 SCT than an f/10. That is why you don't see people doing it. The Meade f/6.3 units had a wide variation in quality control. You might have gotten a good one, or you might have gotten a not so good one. The latter had the reputation for having soft (not sharp) optics and varying degrees of edge distortion. If you are thinking of buying one and are new at this, bring along someone with you who can check it out for you.

@digitalblasphemy1100

8 ай бұрын

@@edting I know 0 people in my community to help but I already bought it and have been spending the last 10 months restoring the electronics. I finally have a working telescope but I have no idea what to look for in the optics as I have no experience. I might have to take photos and send to someone. Thank you for your explanation. I sure hope I got a good one.