Meade 16" / 20" LX400 ACF Advanced Coma-Free Telescopes with UHTC Coatings, Optical Tube Assembly are a huge jump over the traditional Schmidt-Cassegrain as far as sharpness of image, flatness of field, and color. Meade Advanced Coma Free Telescopes deliver the same sharp, flat, coma-free field from edge to edge as a typical Ritchey-Chretien. The use of the corrector plate in the ACF system creates a closed and protected optical tube, reduces astigmatism and eliminates the diffraction spikes inherent in the traditional RC design. ACF optical system perform at the same high level as comparable RC systems costing thousands more.

Imagine you're a seasoned astrophotographer saving up for the fast f-ratio, wide-field, comafree, custom telescope of a lifetime. The telescope that can handle the largest CCD chips. The telescope with state-of-the-art optics and mechanics. The telescope that is praised as "approaching perfection" by industry critics and astronomers alike. Suddenly you find out such telescope is available for one-fifth of what you thought - and you won't have to wait six months for it to be built. What would you do? You'd buy one.

In the hands of the serious astronomer or astrophotographer the new Meade 16in / 20in LX400ACF Advanced Coma Free Telescope OTA Optical Tube Assembly is an instrument that will produce razor sharp star images across the entire field of view on par with the best professional observatories. Meade Advanced Comafree optical design produces a coma-free, flat field of view that rivals traditional RC telescopes at a fraction of the cost. Meade ACF design even eliminates diffraction spikes and improves astigmatism, both of which are inherent in the traditional RC design.

Note: Meade LX400-ACF Optical Tube Assemblies do not contain any accessories such as a MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount, Viewfinder, AutoStar Controller, or Eyepieces. For these Telescope Accessories please visit our Meade Telescope Accessories page.

Meade 16 in. / 20 in. LX 400 ACF Coma Free OTA Optical Tube Assembly Telescopes highlights:

• 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 panel
• Carbon Fiber/Kevlar Optical Tube
• Built-In Anti-Dew Heater
• Dust Cover

Meade 16" & 20" LX200-ACF Advanced Coma-Free UHTC Telescopes OTA Optical Tube Assemblies are available in the following models:

• 1608-40-00: Meade 16in LX400-ACF UHTC Telescope 16" OTA Optical Tube Assembly
• 2008-40-00: Meade 20in LX400-ACF UHTC Telescope 20" OTA Optical Tube Assembly

Specifications for Meade 16/20 inch Advanced Coma-Free LX400-ACF Optical Tube Assembly Telescopes:

Telescope:		16" LX400-ACF OTA		20" LX400-ACF OTA
Optical Design:		Advanced Coma-Free		Advanced Coma-Free
Clear Aperture:		16"		20"
UHTC Coatings Standard:		Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTCT)		Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTCT)
Resolving Power (Dawes Limit):		.285 arc seconds		.228 arc seconds
Focal Length, Focal Ratio:		3251mm, f/8		4064mm, f/8
Telescope Mounting:		MAX Robotic Equatorial Mount (not included)		MAX Robotic Equatorial Mount (not included)
Periodic Error Correction Both axes:		Five (5) arc seconds (raw); Two (2) arc seconds with PECTOOL
Control Panel:		2 multi-function, multi-port panels		2 multi-function, multi-port panels
Focus 4-speed front focusing mechanism:		Included		Included
GPS, North sensors included:		not included		not included
Pointing Precision:		High Precision Mode 1-arc min.		High Precision Mode 1-arc min.
Autostar II Hand Controller:		not included		not included
Alignment:		Equatorial		Equatorial
North electronic sensors:		Included		Included
Temperature Control:		Thermal stabilization fan		Thermal stabilization fan
Power:		120VAC, 5amp power supply required		12VDC, 5amp power supply required
Slew Speeds:		RA and Dec; 0.01x to1.0x sidereal, variable in0.01x increments; 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal; 1°/sec. to 2°/sec., variable in 0.1° increments All models
Tracking Rates:		sidereal, lunar, or custom-selected from 2000 incremental rates All models
Primary, Secondary Mirrors:		Pyrex glass, fine-annealed		Pyrex glass, fine-annealed
Correcting Plate/Lens:		Borofloat		Borofloat
Counterweights:		not included		not included
Accessories:		not included
Total Net Weight:		140 lbs		190 lbs

Package Contents:

• Meade 16" or 20" LX400 ACF Advanced ComaFree OTA Optical Tube Assembly Telescope with UHTC Coatings
• Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
• Multi-port Control Panel
• Oversized Primary Mirror
• Dust Cover
• Universal Sliding Mounting Bracket