Meade to make big product announcement on 3rd of January.

some are saying that the LX200 is going to be
replaced and that the long awaited LX300 is here.

After all this, I still reckon on the H-alpha scope of some sort, should be interesting.

WOW
Congtatulations, its a RITCHEY CRETIEN !!!!!!

www.meade.com/rcx400/

This is one serious scope !!!
built in anti dew heater, electronic collimation, :shock: !!!!!


But I bet you'll be waiting months for its release, like the 14" LX200.

On further reading of the yahoo groups,

If this scopes performs as well as meade says, its might spell the end of the SCT, at least Meades line of them, and there will be a glut of LX200s on astromart.

On the other hand, there are alot of questions regarding the mount, that fork looks abit small, I wonder ????

still makes for exciting times ahead.

As it's from the 10" upwards, it does seem to conflict with the LX200 series alright. However, the prices of the 10" to 14" scopes are alot dearer than their RC counterparts so it could be a long time before the smaller LXs get phased out. However, one scope that will most likely cease production will be the 16" LX200. As for the remainder, I think they'll co-exist.

I have to say that the mount looks a little on the puny side - I'm assuming its the 16" in the photo - if its the 10" version on that mount then I don't see the 16" sell very well! The tripod looks a real beast though.

It would be a real boost if Meade offered just the OTA - with a focal length of 3251mm for the 16", that's gonna need some mount for astrophotography. I've always assumed Meade only sell the full package (mount, OTA and tripod) - is that correct? If so, I guess removing the scope from the forks would not be a good idea...

It'd look cooler on my new (due in March) Astrophysics 1200GTO than the ETX70 though - due in March

Dave

I agree about the mount looking puny. However the optical aspects look awesome. Those spot diagrams are the stuff of dreams.

Also noticed that the superwedge is 'optional'! Come on its about as un-neccessary as the primary mirror considering the scope is advertised as 'observatory-level
telescope for the serious astronomer and astrophotographer'

Other thing is the cost. Can you imagine what thats gonna cost over here. Dont get me wrong, I'd sell my granny for the 14 inch OTA, if I had a granny left:)

Definitely a lot to drool over! I can imaging tying to explain to 'er indoors' why we've just spend over 10 grand on a scope:) Isnt it funny If I hold her I was spending that on a car she wouldnt bat an eyelid. Oh maybe oneday I'll be experienced enough to fabricate the optics for something like that.

Dave.