Meade now with RC Scopes for Amateurs!

[mikejz]

From<br /><br />http://www.meade.com/rcx400/<br /><br />On March 26, 2002 Meade’s engineers set out to design a telescope<br />with optical performance superior to any sold today. It would feature<br />the most sophisticated and technologically advanced mechanics and<br />electronics ever offered. In short, it would be an observatory-level<br />telescope for the serious astronomer and astrophotographer.<br /><br />After carefully evaulating the merits of every telescope design, Meade engineers<br />concluded the Ritchey-Chrétien was the optimal design. A fast (f/8) RC design<br />produces a large, coma-free field of view from edge-to-edge, allowing astrophotographers<br />to use the latest in imaging technology to capture tack sharp images over a wider field.<br />Visual observers can view pinpoint stars and extended objects across the larger<br />field of view. In fact, almost every professional reflector telescope in the world's<br />observatories is a Ritchey-Chrétien, even the Hubble Space Telescope.<br /><br />Although the Ritchey-Chrétien is a premier optical design, Meade engineers saw<br />opportunities for further improvement. Utilizing a precision polished and figured front<br />corrector lens, the engineers were able to create a superior RC optical system by<br />eliminating the typical secondary mirror support structure which causes diffraction<br />spikes that degrade image contrast and resolution. The corrector lens also<br />minimizes the astigmatism inherent in the traditional RC design. Performance<br />was further improved by incorporating computer- optimized baffling and<br />Meade's unsurpassed Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC™) for<br />maximum image contrast and brightness.<br /><br />In the hands of the serious astronomer or astrophotographer the new<br />Meade RCX400 is an instrument that will produce razor sharp star<br />images across the entire field of view on par with the best professional<br />observatori

 

[mikejz]

From<br /><br />http://www.meade.com/rcx400/<br /><br />On March 26, 2002 Meade’s engineers set out to design a telescope<br />with optical performance superior to any sold today. It would featu