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Meade Dobsonian Telescopes
The Meade LightBridge Truss-Tube Dobsonian was built for portability and easy set up. Meade optics are well-known for their top-quality components. What's really nice is that it doesn't cost any more than other dobsonians of the same class. The difference is in the quality if its parts and in this case how easy it is to transport this telescope from place to place for dark sky viewing needs. It's large, yes, but can easily fir in the back seat of your car if need be. Consider the following features:
Meade optics built into their telescopes give performance superior to that of similar and even larger apertures. "Meade Optics Inside" means clear, detailed, high-contrast viewing and pictures.
Meade Optical Coatings have aluminum coatings with magnesium fluoride. This allows bright images that are richly detailed;
A 2-inch Crayford-Style machined aluminum focuser with a 1.25-inch adapter gives you precise focusing ability. The focus-tension knob and focus-lock feature allows you to have complete control over focus;
The built-in primary mirror cooling fan allows the telescope to get quickly into thermal equilibrium. The cooling fan is battery-powered so bring an extra set of batteries with you when traveling. The fan is attached to the back of the "vented" primary mirror cell allowing fast cooling;
Steel RA roller bearings make movements smooth.
The four-reticle red dot viewfinder brightness controls allows the finder to adjust to your observing needs;
The series 4000 26 mm QX wide-angle eyepiece gives you a very wide 70-degree apparent field of view;
Did I mention how easy this telescope is to assemble, set up and break down? It really is.
This Meade telescope also has a metal front secondary mirror tube with a 2-inch Crayford Focuser. Talk about fast, accurate focusing. This dobsonian was designed for the serious amateur astronomer. Crayford focuser are generally quite expensive, especially when coupled with a 1.25-inch format eyepiece.
All LightBridge Dobsonian Telescopes are equipped with it. This focuser can accept two-inch and two-inch format 26mm wide-angle eyepieces. Standard models include a 1.25-inch format with a 26 mm eyepiece.
Lightweight aluminum trusses are the key to this dobsonian's portability. If you have ever seen a 10- or 12-inch Dobsonian telescope before, you know how large and unwieldy they can be. The LightBridge telescopes can be put up and broken down very quickly.
The solid laminated base is key to its sturdiness and ruggedness. It was designed to be put up and taken down fast. It is laminated to protect it from night dew and the elements. All in all, this Meade Dobsonian viewing platform is a no-brainer. It's an outstanding telescope and will give anyone using it years of useful and exciting use.
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