Meade 16 LX400-ACF Telescope on MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with Alt-Azimuth Pier - Meade...

NOTE: THIS SCOPE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2009 Meade is has engineered and manufactured a 16" LX400-ACF on new MAX MOUNT to create the world's first fully integrated telescope system (telescope, mount, software). For under $30,000, serious astronomers can now have 16" of LX400-ACF optical performance on a giant robotic equatorial mount. A dedicated-amateur could still piece together a lesser system the old fashioned way for 3 times the cost, but why? The MAX is truly the last mount an astronomer will ever need. With a 16" OTA, MAX is larger than Goliath and has a total payload capacity of over 400 lbs! (including counter weights). A few of its features include: 650 gear teeth on the RA and Dec drive (the gears are the same size on the RA and Dec. axes. The worm is 1.1667" in diameter and the worm gear is a massive 13.8" in diameter), 0-90 degree latitude, internal cabling, interchangeable quick-release dovetail plates, local/network control, remote/web control, 3 USB 2.0 ports and a clutchless, fully-enveloped, hard-loaded worm drive. The MAX MOUNT and ALL LX400-ACF telescopes will be manufactured at Meade's state-of-the art design and manufacturing facility in Irvine, California. FEATURES: All LX400 Telescopes come with Meade's Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC), Electronic Front Focusing System, Laser-Aligned, Fixed Oversized Primary Mirror, Electronic Collimation, Computer-Optimized Baffling, Cooling Fan, Multi-port control panels, Carbon Fiber/Kevlar Optical Tube, Built-In Anti-Dew Heater, Sony GPS Receiver, Level North Alignment Technology, Smart Mount, Smart Drive with PPEC (Permanent Periodic Error Correction), Autostar II handbox with 145,000 object library, AutoAlign, 24mm Series 5000 UWA Eyepiece, Includes USB Cable and Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition Software, and 2" Diagonal Mirror w/ UHTC.