Meade 16" (f/8) RCX 400 Advanced Ritchey-Chretien Telescope, with UHTC Coating, Computerized Altazimuth Fork Mount, Autostar II Computerized Hand Controller, & Permanent Equatorial Pier

The Meade ACF 400 Advanced Coma-Free Telescope features the most sophisticated and technologically advanced mechanics and electronics ever offered. An observatory-level telescope for the serious astronomer and astrophotographer. After carefully evaluating the merits of every telescope design, Meade engineers concluded their Advanced Coma-Free was the optimal telescope design.

A fast (f/8) AC 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 an Advanced Coma-Free, even the Hubble Space Telescope.

The ACF400 further improved 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, it eliminates 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 AC design. Performance is further improved by incorporating computer-optimized baffling and Meade's unsurpassed Ultra High Transmission Coatings (UHTC). In the hands of the serious astronomer or astrophotographer the Meade ACF400 is an instrument that will produce razor sharp star images across the entire field of view on par with the best professional observatories. The ultimate Advanced Coma-Free telescope is available in apertures of 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches, and 16 inches.

Standard equipment on all ACF400 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.

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.

The front and back cells of the ACF400 are designed to allow the maximum amount of air-flow around the optics, in order to achieve the quickest "cool down" times, with a built-in fan. It 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.

The multi-port panel of the ACF400 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.