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On March 26, 2002 Meade’s engineers set out to design a telescope
with optical performance superior to any sold today. It would feature the
most sophisticated and technologically advanced mechanics and
electronics ever offered. In short, it would be an observatory-level telescope
for the serious astronomer and astrophotographer.

After carefully evaluating the merits of every telescope design, Meade engineers
concluded their Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien was the optimal telescope design. A fast (f/8) RC       
design produces a large, coma-free field of view from edge-to-edge, allowing
astrophotographers to use the latest in imaging technology to capture tack sharp
images over a wider field. Visual observers can view pinpoint stars and extended
objects across the larger field of view. In fact, almost every professional reflector
telescope in the world’s observatories is a Ritchey-Chrétien, even the Hubble
Space Telescope.

Although the Ritchey-Chrétien is a premier optical design, Meade engineers saw
opportunities for further improvement. The RCX400 optical design consists of a
hyperbolic secondary and corrector lens/primary mirror combination that performs
as one hyperbolic element. Further, by utilizing the precision polished and figured
front corrector lens, the engineers were able to eliminate the typical secondary
mirror support structure which causes diffraction spikes that degrade image
contrast and resolution. The corrector lens also minimizes the astigmatism
inherent in the traditional RC design. Performance was further improved
by incorporating computer-optimized baffling and Meade’s
unsurpassed Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC™) for
maximum image contrast and brightness.

 

 
SPOT DIAGRAM
 
Note the extremely small, round star images-even at the edge of the field of view. Only the Advanced RC optical design can produce such on and off-axis performance. Before the new Meade RCX400 the serious astronomer would have to pay more than three times the cost to get a telescope that delivers this level of professional observatory optical performance.
 
Spot Diagram
RCX400 PRICING
(All Prices Include Shipping & Handling in the 50 United States)
RCX400 10"
 
$5149
RCX400 12"
 
$6799
RCX400 14" $9299
RCX400 16"
 
$16,399
CANADIAN RESIDENTS
* Add 20% to the U.S. prices to cover shipping and all Canadian taxes.
* Add $50 processing fee for all Canadian orders.
* Product(s) will be shipped to your door.
* All prices are in U.S.Dollars.
 
MEADE RCX400 PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
 
Advanced f/8 Ritchey-Chrétien Optics:  
Series 5000 24mm 2" O.D.
  New Carbon Graphite & Kevlar Tube:
Advanced f/8 Ritchey-Chrétien Optics: The Ritchey-Chrétien or RC optical design is well known to discerning astrophotographers and is the telescope optical design in many of the leading professional observatories of the world. Meade has taken its f/8 RC optical design to another level by adding a corrector plate to reduce residual astigmatism that is inherent in the traditional optical design. In addition many more design features were added to the RCX400 for the demanding researcher and imaging enthusiast with telescopes available in apertures of 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches, and 16 inches.
 
Series 5000 24mm 2" O.D.
Ultra Wide Angle Eyepiece:

Standard equipment on all RCX400 telescopes, the Series 5000 24mm 2" O.D. Ultra Wide Angle Eyepiece represents the ultimate in eyepiece design and technology delivering extremely high resolution, contrast and full-field sharpness over an astounding 82° apparent field-of-view. Only the highest quality materials were selected to create this extraordinary eyepiece. The designs required several different types of exotic glass in order to achieve the highest level of optical performance.
 
New Carbon Graphite & Kevlar Tube:
The carbon graphite and Kevlar tube is a unique light-weight, high strength material with ultra-low expansion characteristics that will maintain the spacing between the optics, so that focus settings do not change with outside temperature changes. This is a critical feature to astrophotographers. Instead of forcing a perfectly round shaped tube assembly, the tube is shaped around the mechanisms and drive system of the front focus and collimation assembly, giving the RCX400 its unique look and style.
         
New Rear and Front Cell Architecture:   RCX400 Drive Base:   New Ultra-Stable Tripod:
New Rear and Front Cell Architecture:
The front and back cells of the RCX400 are designed to allow the maximum amount of air-flow around the optics, in order to achieve the quickest "cool down" times. To accelerate cool-down time, a built-in fan on the rear cell can be turned on and off through the AutoStar II handbox. The rear cell additionally incorporates a multi-port panel with 3 USB ports, a port for an autoguider, AutoStar II handbox, illuminated reticle, RS232, and one for future "Smart" accessories.
 
RCX400 Drive Base:
The multi-port panel of the RCX400 drive base includes a special single High-Speed USB 2.0 input port allowing simultaneous control over the telescope and either the Meade LPI or Deep Sky Imager camera through Meade's AutoStar Suite software. Additionally there are ports for a power cord input, the AutoStar II handbox, a DB-9 auxiliary port, 12v out power port, and RS-232. Additionally the RCX400 includes the familiar on/off switch and LED power light indicator.
 
New Ultra-Stable Tripod:
Standard equipment for RCX400 10", 12", and 14" telescopes, the patent pending trigger release leg locks of the Ultra-Stable tripod are positioned at the top of the tripod legs for easy access.
 
The RCX Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien Optical System
It is generally accepted that the Ritchey-Chrétien or Classical RC system is the premiere optical design for medium to large aperture astronomical telescopes. The primary benefit of a Classical RC is the fact that it is an aplanatic design which means it is coma-free. Coma is an optical aberration that causes star images to appear comet like with tails that point away from the center of the field of view. The further from the center, the larger the effect. Fast Newtonians suffer from this aberration the most, followed by other reflecting optical systems of various designs. The Schmidt-Cassegrain or Schmidt-Newtonian design typically has ½ the coma of a Newtonian of the same focal length. The Classical RC design uses a hyperbolic primary mirror and a hyperbolic secondary mirror to create an aplanatic optical system which has no coma. This system produces small round star images all the way to the edge of the field of view.

Meade’s engineering team recognized the advantages of the Classical RC design but explored the possibility of using Meade’s unique engineering and manufacturing expertise to improve on the basic design. The result is the RCX optical system which is also an aplanatic, coma-free design with small round star images to the edge of the field. The RCX design is very similar to the Classical RC and achieves the same benefits by using a hyperbolic secondary with a new advanced front corrector plate and primary mirror that together perform as a hyperbolic primary. This design has several advantages over the Classical RC design.
 
  • The RCX eliminates the secondary mirror holder support vanes (spider) that cause diffraction spikes. Because almost all reflecting telescopes produce diffraction spikes, many people are used to seeing them and don’t consider them an aberration. But in reality, they are a large distortion that reduces image contrast, lowers resolution and presents an unrealistic view of the sky to the eye or the astro-imager.
     
  • The RCX design reduces the amount of astigmatism that is inherent in the Classical RC design.
     
  • The RCX, due to the front corrector plate, is a closed tube design. This keeps the primary optical components protected from dust, moisture and other contaminates that might fall on the optical surfaces of the primary and secondary mirrors.
While the RCX optical system is significantly more expensive to manufacture than a Classical RC, it was chosen because of its superior performance (i.e., no diffractions spikes, reduced astigmatism and closed tube). Due to Meade's years of experience in designing and manufacturing sophisticated corrector plates and optical systems, we are in a position that very few, if any, other companies enjoy. Applying this expertise and Meade's resources, we are able to produce this advanced optical system at a fraction of the price that other companies would have to charge, if they could produce it at all.
 
Precision GPS Alignment:
Telescope alignment is accomplished automatically using signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite system that enables extremely precise communication to the telescope of the observer's latitude and longitude, as well as local time. Integrated True-Level and North electronic sensors in combination with a high-sensitivity Sony GPS receiver located in the left-hand fork arm result in accurate telescope alignment to the sky at the touch of a button: Just press the ENTER button on the Autostar II hand controller and watch as the telescope measures level, points North, and slews at 8°/sec. to its first alignment star. Magnetic declination compensation designed into the telescope software automatically engages during the alignment process.

Software Downloads and
Satellite Tracking:

The software included in Meade RCX400 telescopes is under continuous factory review; updates to this software are published at regular intervals on Meade's website. Importantly, the latest software version, as well as custom and updated guided tours, comet and asteroid positions, may be downloaded in minutes from Meade's website. Additionally, current Earth satellite orbital data (including the International Space Station, Space Shuttle, etc.) may be downloaded; the telescope then automatically acquires and tracks the satellite at the correct tracking rate. The telescope's flash memory may be upgraded through one of the RS-232 ports with new software or data as they become available on Meade's website.

Expanded Database and
Larger User Memory:

The RCX400 database has been expanded over the standard library of the LX200GPS to include 180,000 objects. In addition to more stars from the Hipparchos/Tycho catalog, we have added::

• The popular "Lunar 100" with the finest features to see and image on the Moon
• A subset of the finest visual doubles from the Washington Double Star Catalog
• The PK Catalog of Planetary Nebulae
• The Hickson Catalog of Dense Galaxy Clusters
• The Gleason Catalog of Nearby Stars
• The Landolt Catalog of Photometric Standard Stars
• The Sharpless Catalog of HII Regions

Laser Aligned, Fixed Primary Mirror:
The primary mirror is laser aligned to the true optical path, then float bonded in place. It is fixed, but literally floats on a layer of adhesive that results in zero stress to the glass and no distortion to the optics (unlike mirror cells or floating point pads). There is no mirror movement.

Field Operation:
RCX400 scopes operate from eight C-cells neatly stored inside the fork arms. Alternately, telescope powering may be effected from an automobile cigarette lighter plug (using the optional #607 Power Cord) or from a standard home outlet (using the new optional AC Adapter).

#929 2" Diagonal with UHTC:
Standard equipment on all RCX400 telescopes, attaches to the rear cell of and permits the use of wide-field 2" O.D. eyepieces. Each diagonal includes a Meade optical-flat mirror of Pyrex glass, UHTC-coated for maximum reflectivity.

Built-In Dew Heater:
Instead of wrapping a heating element around the telescope's optical tube assembly to send heat through the telescope's front cell to prevent dew from forming on the corrector plate, the RCX400 incorporates a nickel-chromium wire heating element that is in contact with the glass of the corrector plate that quickly, efficiently, and safely sends heat through lens using the lowest power drain possible. With two onboard temperature sensors, one to measure ambient temperature (placed inside the fork arm) and one to measure the temperature of the corrector plate, the RCX400 can be set to have the built-in dew heater keep the corrector plate warmed to a user-defined setting above ambient temperature. By only using the dew heater precisely when needed, battery usage is managed to its optimum. All functions to operate the dew heater are controlled by the AutoStar II handbox.
  Precision Encoder-Measured
Digital Focusing:

With a laser aligned primary mirror fixed in position, focusing is performed electronically and digitally by precisely moving the entire front cell in increments as fine as 1/100 of a millimeter. Digital readout of the focus position can be read on the telescope's AutoStar II handbox. There are 4 different focusing speeds from fine to fast. Since the process is accomplished without moving the primary mirror, the entire assembly is virtually free from image shift.


High-Precision Pointing (HP) Capability:
Meade RCX400 models permit the most accurate pointing capability ever offered in a commercial telescope. Now you can command the telescope to GO TO an object located on the opposite side of the sky (for example, a distance of 120 degrees in sky-angle) and, in conjunction with the telescope's unique SYNC command, the RCX400 locates and centers the desired object. HP capability is accessible in either the altazimuth or equatorial orientations.

Precision Electronic Optical Collimation:
Collimating a Cassegrain telescope has never been easier. RCX400 owners will make precision collimation adjustments to the secondary mirror of the telescope by using the arrow keys of AutoStar II handbox, allowing a single person to simultaneously make adjustments and see the results. In addition, Meade precision collimates the optics at the factory and then sets that position as the default setting. So in the case where one may make a mistake in making a collimation adjustment, the default setting can always be used.

Smart Drive Permanent Periodic
Error Correction (PPEC):

Included as standard equipment, the Smart Drive permits a professional level of drive-rate precision. No longer are large systems required, worm gear when smaller gears coupled to Smart Drive software can achieve periodic errors of 5 arc secs or less-an observatory standard of precision. All worm/worm-gear combinations, no matter how well made, have minor inaccuracies that manifest themselves as periodic errors in the telescope tracking rate, with the period dependent on the worm's rate of rotation. To program the Smart Drive the observer guides on an object visually, making corrections with the handbox controller. The software then remembers these corrections, stores them in memory, and in the future automatically compensates for the periodic errors of the gear system. Smart Drive user programming is stored in the telescope's computer memory forever, independently of any power source, unlike other periodic error correctors that must be reprogrammed each time you use the system. The Smart Drive can be erased, updated, or even averaged with future programming at the user's option. The significant value of the Smart Drive is immediately appreciated during long-exposure astrophotography, where the resulting low periodic error of the system enables relaxed guiding with a minimum of handbox corrections. In CCD imaging, where short exposures of deep-space objects are often all that is required for stunning results, the Smart Drive often permits imaging without any guiding requirements at all.

Heavy-Duty Fork Mounts:
RCX400 fork mounts are the strongest, most rigid mountings ever made available for telescopes of these apertures. Fork arms, are both longer and stronger. This allows the 10", 12" and 14" scopes to go all the way to 90 degrees declination on a wedge, allowing you to reach the horizon. The increased fork size also gives more back clearance to allow imaging all the way to the pole with most cameras. DC-servo-motor-controlled (12v DC) worm gear drives with almost two hundred selectable drive speeds, combined with the Meade Smart Drive on both telescope axes, permit observatory-level precision in tracking, guiding, and slewing. Photo-guide speeds are selectable from 0.01x to 1.0x sidereal, in increments of 0.01x; fast-slew speeds are selectable from 1°/sec. to 8°/sec. in 0.1°/sec. increments. Use the 8°/sec. speed for rapid motion of the telescope across the skies; once near the target, switch instantly to a speed of 1.5°/sec. or 3°/sec. for centering in the viewfinder. Observing in the main telescope, use the 16x or 64x sidereal speed to place the object in the center of the field.
 
  Computer Optimized Internal Baffling: Unlike traditional Schmidt-Cassegrain designs, the primary mirror moves along a baffle tube in order to achieve focus, Meade's RCX400 primary mirror is mounted independent of the baffle tube. This allowed Meade's engineers to take full advantage of the baffle design to create full stray light cut-off performance, in order to produce the maximum contrast. Additionally the secondary baffle, machined of aluminum with its distinctive outer knife-edges further minimizes stray light in the optical path.

RCX400 Balanced Drives:
The drive mechanisms of many telescopes can be compared to the movements of fine chronometer watches. First utilized on the 14" LX200GPS, the RCX worm block design incorporates a unique balanced loading system to the keep worm and worm gear in the optimum contact position, regardless of the load stress that is normally encountered as the telescope is moved from one position of the sky to the next. The result is improved drive performance, with superior centering and slewing characteristics. RCX400 Balanced Drive assemblies are on both the RA and Dec. axes.

Focus Position Presets:
By setting up to 9 focus positions, RCX400 owners can customize perfect focus from observer to observer with different eyesight (similar to the custom settings in luxury cars to change the mirror, seat, and steering wheel settings from one driver to another). The feature is also very useful when using switching to various eyepiece and Barlow lens combinations or from a visual setup to a camera setup.

UHTC Coatings:
Standard on all RCX400 telescopes, the importance of Meade's proprietary UHTC group becomes apparent when comparing total telescope light transmission, or throughput, caused by the multiplier, or compounding, effect of the four optical surfaces. With each optical surface contributing significantly to telescope light throughput, the effect of all four surfaces combined is indeed dramatic. At the H-a wavelength of 656nm., total transmission increases from 76.7% to 88.5%, an increase of 15.4%; at the helium wavelengths of 588nm. and 469nm. - strong emission lines in hot planetary nebulae - total telescope transmission increases by 13.8% and 16.8%, respectively; at the two nitrogen II lines of 655nm. and 658nm. and at the sulfur II line of 673nm., transmission is increased by 16%. Averaged over the entire visible spectrum (450nm. to 700nm.), total light transmission to the telescope focus increases by about 15%.
More Info about UHTC

Smart Mount:
Revolutionary Smart Mount technology is standard equipment on all RCX400 telescopes. Smart Mount improves the pointing accuracy of your RCX400's telescope's "Go To" system with the following features:

• Constantly improved pointing accuracy with every object centered and sync'ed.
• Works with both equatorial and altazimuth configurations.
• Simple routine to refine pointing accuracy for the entire sky with your equipment configuration and alignment.
• Refined pointing data can be saved and reused for permanent and portable setups.

Altazimuth and Equatorial Operation:
For all visual observing applications, for lunar and planetary photography, and for many CCD imaging applications, Meade RCX400 may be set up in the altazimuth mode - just attach the telescope's drive base directly to the tripod, use the GPS alignment procedure, and the telescope's computer actuates 2-axis tracking that keeps objects precisely centered in the field, even at high powers, during the entire observing session. For long-exposure astrophotography altazimuth-induced field rotation requires the new Superwedge or the #1220 (for 10", 12", and 14" models) or the #1222 (for 16" models) Field De-rotator, either of which may be purchased separately.
 
  KEY FEATURES
GPS & Level-North Alignment System
Upgraded AutoStar II Controller
Cooling Fan
Smart Mount™
Smart Drive™ (Permanent Periodic Error Correction)
Oversized Primary Mirror
24mm Series 5000™ Ultra Wide Angle Eyepiece
Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC)
SPECIFICATIONS        
Aperture 10" 12" 14" 16"
Focal Length 2032mm 2438mm 2845mm 3251mm
Focal Ratio f/8 f/8 f/8 f/8
Series 5000™ Eyepiece 24mm UWA 24mm UWA 24mm UWA 24mm UWA
UHTC™ Included Included Included Included
Accessory Kits Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here

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