The Meade LXD75 SN-8AT telescope is one of the devices in the Meade LXD75 series. The name is a reference to the 8” aperture of the telescope. Generally, this device has received praise for its low price, steady design, sharp images, and the LXD75 equatorial mount. It can comfortably be used for astrophotography and is suitable for experienced, as well as beginner astronauts. Also, it is developed with a three-star alignment functionality. Users at all levels can use this feature to get accurate images. Even though it is cheaply priced, this telescope is quite large and might require lots of maintenance.
What is the Meade LXD75 SN-8AT Telescope?
Like all other products on the LXD75 series, the SN-8 AT telescope uses a German-type equatorial mount. It is made of stainless steel and has been recognized by many users as one of the best on the market. It comfortably accommodates the weight of this telescope, so you shouldn’t expect any wobbling as you try to take picture or videos. The telescope comes with Super Plossl eyepieces, which have an angle of 26 mm. This is sufficient for the observation of the moon. However, if you need to observe objects that are positioned further away from the earth, you might need extra eyepieces with great magnification and narrower angles. Ideally, you should get 8 mm eyepieces as these will offer sharper images of planets such as Jupiter. Its primary and secondary mirrors are made of Pyrex glass.
Pros and Cons of Using the Meade LXD75 SN-8AT Telescope
Pros:
- Uses a high quality German equatorial mount. This allows easy focus and photography since the telescope does not wobble when in use.
- Has multipurpose optical system that can be used to take photos and videos
- Is fairly-priced
- Uses an Achromatic viewfinder that helps users locate objects in the deep sky
- Is large
- Uses a 2-inch pinion focuser that makes the images clearer
- Allows the use of all common telescope cameras and accessories
Cons:
- The 26 mm eye pieces cannot deliver sharp images of further away planets. That said, you can easily replace them with the Meade Series 4000 eyepiece, which also comes with a filter set.
Where to Find the Meade LXD75 SN-8AT Telescope
You can buy the Meade LXD75 SN-8AT telescope online at most major vendors. Prices may vary, but you can usually expect to pay around $1000 for a new Meade LXD75 SN-8AT telescope. Depending on the seller, you may also have to pay extra for shipping. The accessories listed in our Meade LXD75 SN-8AT telescope review are included in the price.
Telescope Performance
In general, the users of this device appreciate its performance. It can be used by experienced astronauts to watch the deep sky. As we have noted before, the eyepiece it comes with has a very large angle, and this is only suitable for the observation of the moon. Luckily, it can be replaced with eyepieces that have greater magnification power. The telescope is great for astrophotography since it gives sharp images and has a very steady mount. Because of this mount, it is easier to focus the images. In addition, the refractors are quite large, and the f/ratios are reasonable, properties that contribute to the clarity of the images. To set up the telescope for viewing, it is best to use the three-star alignment. It takes a short while and greatly improves accuracy.
Extra Info
Maintenance Advice
Being a modern and large telescope, you should expect to spend quite some money on maintenance. The telescope needs to function optimally throughout the year, and you will, therefore, need to have regular maintenance schedules.
Inevitably, your lens will get dirty every now and then. Cleaning the lens should be done with a light camel hair brush, and it should be done gently. Otherwise, you might end up scratching your telescope lenses with the dirt. In fact, if the dirt is held tightly on the lens, you should consider purchasing solutions to clean it off. Such solutions can also be used to clean fingerprints on the lenses. All you need to do is remove the lenses from the telescope and soak them in the solutions. Avoid rubbing the surface when cleaning as this will lead to further damage.
Beginners often clean their telescope lenses by blowing the dust off. This can easily get your saliva on the surface of the telescope, and the acid will damage the coating and finish. In addition, saliva is very hard to clean if it lands on the lenses. Instead of blowing air out, you should suck air in. That way, you can’t get saliva on the lenses and still get the job done.
When you are not using the device, you should cover it with a soft cloth or even unmount it and store in a case.
With the LXD75, any internal maintenance must be handled by the manufacturing company. If you attempt to realign the reflector, you are very likely to damage the entire product.
Telescope Accessories
The device comes with these accessories:
- Autostar hand controller
- Electronic controller
- Pyrex mirror
- Plate glass mirror
- German equatorial mount
- Stainless steel stand
- Quick release bracket
Warranty and Guarantee Information
All telescopes from Meade come with a one-year warranty on the materials and workmanship. The warranty applies to original buyers only and is not transferable.
Our Recommendation
Meade is based in China. User reviews on their LXD75 SN-8 telescope have been overwhelmingly positive. This is because the product is made to be very high in quality, and is very cheaply priced. The LXD75 mount is, particularly commendable as it is very sturdy. The images produced on this gadget are very sharp, owing to the large refractors and reasonable f/ratios. Its eyepieces have been criticized for lacking in magnifying power. That said, they are sufficient for the observation of the moon. They can also be replaced. We would highly recommend this telescope to anyone on a tight budget.
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