For Sale: MEADE LX200 Classic 10" f/10 SCT

[arafura]

MEADE LX200 Classic 10” f/10 SCT
Much loved and used for astrophotography. See www.ningalooskies.com for images taken with this scope.
Telescope fully checked out and serviced in Oct 2006 at telescopeservice.com. Servicing included new keypad for hand controller, new power jack on front panel and DEC and RA motors recalibrated.
Scope includes OTA, finderscope, mount, field tripod, Kendrick 18V power supply, hand controller, 26mm Plossl, diagonal, manual, The Sky ver 5 software.
Modifications include Ezy Focus kit from Peterson Engineering, Bob’s Nobs for easy collimation, Mirror stabilizer/lock.
Also included are the following accessories:
Losmandy 2D counterweight system with weights,
Losmandy rail with piggyback camera adapter,
Kendrick dew remover,
Kendrick Kwik Focus lens cap,
Kendrick dew shield,
Sun Finder,
MEADE 2x Telenegative Amplifier, Model 140,
Kendrick 12-18V portable power pack
12VDC Light box for flat fielding

Sell: AUD $2500 for the lot, incl. shipping domestically!!
Contact: Alan 08 99491472 (wk), 99492427 (h)

[Kat5e]

Hi,

How much would shipping to Melbourne be?

Thanks

[arafura]

I can find out for sure on Monday when business opens but we have a number of couriers in town and I think it would be around $200-300.

[arafura]

Hi Kat,
Yes, a wedge is definitely a must for long exposure astrophotography. For a picture of the Meade LX200 on a Milburn wedge go to my website at www.ningalooskies.com and click on Equipment. Unfortunately I sold my Deluxe Milburn Wedge some time ago.
I can also include two useful books: How to Use a Computerized Telescope by Micheal Covington and The 20 cm Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope by Peter Manly.
With a wedge and good polar alignment, the LX200 becomes an equatorial mount and capable of quite good tracking. Periodic Error Correction can be trained on the LX200 which will sort out some of the bumps in RA caused by backlash and the only other issue is Dec drift due to less than optimal polar alignment. The MAPUG user group is an excellent resource for all things in astrophotography using a Meade SCT (http://www.mapug-astronomy.net/).
You did not mention what type of camera you are intending to use but I have had good success with a digital SLR and a self-guiding CCD camera. The dual chip self-guiding CCD camera has the great advantage of keeping a suitable guide star centred on the secondary chip by continually adjusting the mounts tracking in RA and DEC.
It will only be by trial and error and perseverance that you will determine the maximum exposure time you can obtain to keep stars round according to you set up, and polar alignment. Using a focal reducer helps to maintain good signal to noise with shorter exposure times. 180s - 300s is a good maximum exposure time to aim for and then taking multiple exposures to combine later.
The accessories I list include some useful upgrades like Bob's knobs for easier collimation, The Peterson Engineering Eye Opener for maximum light throughput when using 2" accesories or the wide DSLR imaging chip. The Light Box is very handy for flat field calibrations. The focal reducer brings the instrument down to f/6.3 - pretty essential for wider field imaging. The Scope Buggy speaks for itself for ease of moving the heavy scope on its tripod if it is not permanently set up. Counter weights are essential for balancing; the dew shield and dew remover are essential in humid climates; the Kwik Focus lens cap makes manual focussing on stars easy; the Sky s/w is essential if you intend to control your scope via computer; and the power supply is ideal for field use away from mains supply.
These accessories are by no means mandatory but I have included them as a package as they are specific for this scope and I want this to be as complete a package as I can possibly make it. I spent a small fortune on these accessories (more than the $2500 asking price).
I hope this goes someway in answering your question.
Cheers, Al

[rustem]

pm sent

[arafura]

Shipping costs to Melbourne can be done for $190.
Al

[puds55]

Hi just wondering if you still have the scope for sale and would you know the total weight of the whole outfit as I live in Brisbane and am getting a quote on transport.
Cheers Peter

[arafura]

Hi Peter,
Weight of scope is 30kg and field tripod is 12kg. The scope buggy, Losmandy weights and other accessories would be another 10kg.
Shipping should be under $250.
Thanks, Al

[karlh]

Hi,

Wondering if the telescope has been sold yet?

Cheers

[arafura]

Hi Karl,
Yes, the scope is still for sale. Let me know if you want some more information.
Al