For Sale: Classic LX200 8" Sold!

[jjones7777]

For sale: Reconditioned Classic Meade LX200 8"
$500 or less

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The Classic Meade LX200 – the telescope series with the legendary handcrafted optics, beefy mechanics, and iffy electronics. This scope is from the time when Meade represented some of the finest equipment an amateur astronomer could purchase – hand-crafted in the USA.

I had the pleasure of acquiring this legendary scope a number of years ago with fried electronics. I installed the George Dudash electronics upgrade: (https://groups.io/g/LX200Astar/topic/th ... r/71655379). He replaced all the questionable electronics and added a wifi component (the white addition Velcro-ed on the bottom). The scope is essentially bullet-proof.

-As noted on the sticker, the optics were hand-figured in the USA. Visually, it is one of the finest 8” SCTs I have ever looked through.

-The mount is incredibly beefy. One small caveat: the aluminum tubing is slightly depressed on one of the legs, making it a bit challenging to extend that leg. It has been caused by the steel piece that is pressed against the leg by the leg-lock screws to hold it in position (however, looking at it again today, I think I know how it can be easily fixed…).

-The scope has fine motion adjustments on both axises, allowing for use without electronics.

-The scope has WORKING SETTING CIRCLES – large and clear enough to actually be used to find stuff! Discover how they did it the 19th Century (equatorial wedge needed, of course)!

-Unlike the Celestron Wifi options available, you can use the wifi AND the Audiostar hand controller at the same time. The hand-controller is used to make the initial alignment, after that a wifi planetarium can be used at anytime.

-The GOTOs are quick and accurate, using either the hand controller or Sky-safari (I’ve only used it with the pro versions of Sky-Safari).

-The electronics have inputs for an illuminated reticle, a motor focuser, and autoguider and 1 aux.

-It has a built in “High-Precision Pointing” which allows the scope to center on a near known object. The hand controller is up to date and has many utilities included.

-the Wifi is rock solid and has a has a wide range. It works perfectly with Sky-safari. I have found it to be less iffy than the new Celestron wifi evolution mounts.

-The hand controller is the new Audiostar (currently available at about $220)

-Has the EMC coatings. As you can see, the corrector plate is a bit dusty, but the mirror is still pristine.

-The motors are digitally controlled with PWM which – since they are sending pulses to the motors, might be considered a bit noisy to some.

-The scope comes with what you see in the photo (excluding the dog in the background), along with a fabric carrying bag which – sort of – works.
It includes a 2" mirror diagonal (w/o a 1.25" adapter), it does not include any eyepieces. I do have an extra dew shield if you are interested.

- A comparable current GOTO would be the Celestron Nexstar Evolution 8 – which sells for about $2,200. Having recently worked with an Evolution 8 at NNSF, the pointing accuracy is similar, but you can’t use the hand controller with the tablet planetarium (sky-safari), which makes controlling the scope beyond the initial GOTO much harder. However, the Evolution mount is MUCH lighter (and is a single arm, meaning it may not be as durable).

-the whole shooting match is powered by a standard 12v battery with a standard cigarette lighter output (not the old Meade 18v power supply)

-I have every confidence that this system will last for years and years – it’s so well built, including the electronics.



The reason why I’m selling the beauty is because it has become too heavy for me to deal with – the fork and OTA are about 45 pounds and needs to be hoisted up to the center screw to attach it to the mount. This was fairly easy to do before it gained weight…

I really have no idea how much this baby is worth. I did find an OTA on a broken fork with fried original electronics (Cloudbreak Optics: (https://cloudbreakoptics.com/products/used-8-lx200-ota)) for $1000. I also found one on Facebook Marketplace (also old electronics) for $800. So, if that is anything to go on, $500 for a working LX200 w/ tripod in excellent shape is a good deal – just how I like it. However, I would much prefer to have someone enjoying it instead of this beauty sitting in my closet. Consequently, while I would prefer to sell it for $500, I am willing to take less, especially from someone just starting out. If you are interested and can only afford less, please contact me. Who knows what I might except…

Clear skies, and thanks for considering!

[rjcegla]

PM sent,

[jjones7777]

Not yet been sold.

[jjones7777]

Sale pending

[Urlme]

Hi Jerry. If that sale falls through, I'll take it!

Nice scope!
Kevin

[jjones7777]

Not yet been sold.

[jjones7777]

Sold!