EP Tray
Eyepiece and Autostar™ Handset holder Tray
 

The eyepiece tray has been designed to place 1.25" eyepieces and your Autostar™ handset conveniently to hand during an observing session. The EP tray provides a useful and safe storage space around the base of the LX90 telescope and offers 360 eyepiece-storage and four handset-hanger cut-outs. The tray simply fits underneath the LX90 between the base and the tripod head, no screws or tools required. Finished in durable black powder coating.

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Autostar Handset Holder (#884)
Autostar Handset Holder (#884)

 

The #884 Handset Holder was, as the name suggests, originally designed for use on the #884 tripod for ETX telescopes. However, we found it was the ideal solution to the problem of where to place the handset on other telescopes as well, especially the LX90. The handset holder has a round "Delrin" plug fitted to the top and it simply fits into the eyepiece holder holes on the LX90 field tripod leg spreader. Supplied with Velcro strip for additional retention. Finished in durable black powder coating.

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LX90 Adaptor Base Plate for Wedges
LX90 Adaptor Base Plate for Wedges
 

A steel adaptor plate that allows the LX90 to be fitted to the Meade and BC&F range of equatorial wedges. Finished in durable black powder coating and supplied with all fastenings.

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LX90 Deluxe Locator and Eyepiece Tray
LX90 Deluxe Locator and Eyepiece Tray
 

All the benefits of the standard eyepiece and handset tray (AC217 above) but with the added feature of fast and safe base registration. No more struggling with the LX90 in the dark - simply bolt the Locator Tray to the top of the tripod with the three screws and key provided, and the LX90 simply slots into place in the special recess, achieving perfect cantering of the main tripod fixing bolt. Finished in durable black powder coating.

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pccable
PC connection cable.
Allows LX90 telescope to be connected to the serial port of a PC.
 

Fitted with 9-way D plug for connection to the serial port of your PC. The cable fits into the 4 way modular port in the base of the #497 Autostar handset to provide full PC connectivity ­ for upgrades and full remote operation by PC planetarium program (check compatibility with software vendor). Cable is available in four standard lengths: 5, 10, 20 and 30m.

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The GPS-Mate
Add the power and precision of Global Positioning System satellite data to your LX90 telescope - at the press of a single button.
The GPS-Mate allows GPS functionality to be added to your Meade LX90 telescope. In seconds the GPS-Mate will receive data from the GPS satellite network, derive the telescope's position anywhere on the Earth's surface to an accuracy of a few metres (a few tens of feet), calculate the time zone offset (based on longitude position) and upload all this data into your telescope, together with the date and time to sub-second accuracy. Simply plug the device into the Autostar handset and press the start button - it really is that simple! Unlike competing products, there is no complicated software to install and you can use it on any number of telescopes without paying an additional licence fee.

The GPS-Mate is so powerful and simple to use you'll wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. The GPS-Mate is super-functional and upgrades all Meade ETX scopes regardless of age. It improves pointing accuracy and makes the telescope a joy to set up and use. Even when using the telescope from a regular position, the GPS-Mate still makes the telescope easier to use by eliminating the need to obtain an accurate time signal and input date and time information by hand. The GPS-Mate updates the time and date precisely with a single button push.

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Just look at these world-beating features:

• Super-sensitive and accurate: 12.5m (41ft) radius position accuracy, sub-second clock update accuracy.

• Easy for all to use - no software required or complicated instructions - just plug-in and play.

• No complicated software 'patches' and licences required for use with additional telescopes.

• No risk of Autostar errors due to low-volts power drain. Our unit has its own 9V power supply for greater reliability and less impact on the host telescope.

The super-sensitive GPS antenna means that the GPS-Mate works in poor conditions and even indoors near a window.

It works with all Meade ETX telescopes fitted with #495 and #497 Autostar handsets (that is, 90EC, 105EC and 125EC). It also provides full GPS functionality with Meade LX90, and all models of LXD55 and LX200 Classic.

The complete GPS-Mate kit comes packaged in a handsome foam-fitted black attaché case, and is supplied with a cable to allow attachment to all Mak-Cass ETXs, LX90 and LXD55, as well as a cable to fit all LX200 Classic and GPS models.

To compare the GPS-Mate with the competition:

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To fit Model

Description

Stock code

Price (GBP)

All ETX telescopes, LX90, LXD55, LX200 Classic & GPS

The GPS-Mate
Global Positioning System telescopes setup aid,
complete kit for all scopes

AC500

189.99

alignpro
Alignmate-Pro - the ultimate set-up and alignment aid
 

The Alignmate-Pro is a compact hand-held electronic unit that enables you to find and adjust the level of your telescope mount and optical tube, as well as point the telescope in the direction of magnetic and TRUE north (after site calibration). All this in seconds - and in total darkness! But if all this is not enough, we thought we’d make the Alignmate-Pro even more useful by including and integral LED torch that can be switched from night vision-saving red light to bright white light. Supplied complete with universal telescope attachment cradle. A PP3 9V battery is required which is not included.

Article on the Alignmate Pro

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Align-Mate Bubble-level and compass eyepiece
Alignmate our classic bubble-level and compass LX90 alignment aid - and now the new Alignmate-Lite
The Alignmate is probably our most popular LX90/ETX accessory with many thousands sold. The Alignmate solves your LX90 alignment hassles and allows you to find due north and get a perfect level of your telescope tube in seconds. Simply pop the Alignmate into the eyepiece holder and rotate the instrument until the north indicator on the compass lines up with the telescope tube, make a small local adjustment for your true north deviation, then lock the azimuth axis and simply flip the Alignmate over to reveal the bubble and level the tube perfectly every time. Lock the axis and it's done - you are ready to hit enter on the Autostar and make a perfect alignment! Not only does the Alignmate take all the fuss out of aligning your LX90 but it makes a stylish and effective dust plug too!

The Alignmate (AC296) comprises a large bubble level screw mounted on one side of a solid precision-turned aluminium barrel, and at the other end is a recessed quality oil-damped compass

The New Alignmate-Lite (AC580) uses exactly the same quality components as the standard Alignmate but has a lightweight black Delrin body. Beware of expensive imitations - we use only quality British made components.

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Alignmate AC296
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Alignmate-Lite AC580
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AC601
The LX90 Orbital Power Station
Unlock the ‘power user’ potential of your Meade LX90 with our unique on-telescope 10Ah battery power supply.
The Meade LX90 is a powerful and sophisticated instrument, but one of its design characteristics is that the control panel moves around with the main tube as the control panel and its associated cable connection points are mounted on one of the fork arms (instead of on the static base unit as in the case of the LX200 series). This is not a limitation of the telescope; it is in fact a clever piece of design economy, and one of the elements that has allowed Meade Instruments to manufacture a simply stunning telescope at a world-beating cost to the user. Up to now, however, the rotating control panel has caused users of the LX90 a problem - namely that when powering the instrument from a separate power source (either DC battery or mains AC) there is the ever-present worry that the telescope will accidentally detach the power supply during a GOTO move, and cause the telescope to power-down causing a loss of alignment, interrupted observations, and perhaps a loss of precious images.

By providing heavy-duty power wirelessly ‘on-telescope’ the Orbital Power Station solves all these worries at a stroke. The specially-shaped assembly fits snugly in between the fork arms, with the battery located in a steel case on the corrector side of the fork arms. On the opposite side to the battery, nearest to the observer, is an eyepiece caddy for five 1.25” eyepieces - or perhaps four eyepieces and the addition of our Autostar handset holder (AC323) available separately.

The Orbital Power Station provides the LX90 power user, who is trying to get the very best out of the LX90, with the heavy-duty power needed to supply the telescope and vital accessories like our anti-dewing equipment - all without any risk of becoming detached or tangled with the telescope as it moves.

Our Orbital Power Station is not an accessory for the average user. It has been designed to meet the demands of the serious astronomer, who is looking to maximise the instrument’s performance. The Orbital Power Station is only suitable for use with the LX90 when used in altazimuth mode. If you are using the telescope mounted on an equatorial wedge, the power station would cause the telescope to be seriously out of balance. However, an extension cable can be used (AC340) to allow the Orbital Power Station to be connected in equatorial mode.

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Here are just some of the great features of the LX90 Orbital Power Station:

• Heavy-duty 12V 10Ah rechargeable battery power supply - power to spare for accessories

• Two power outputs: 1x right-angled LX90 power connection lead; 1x 12V standard cigar lighter socket for accessory connection

• Built-in eyepiece caddy - puts your eyepieces right were they are needed

• On-board power management and battery status display system

• Easy ‘no tools’ attachment

• Recharges from mains AC or automotive cigar lighter output (charger and cable included).

This product has been designed for use exclusively with the Meade LX90 used in altazimuth, mode and will not fit onto any other telescope.

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The Orbital Power Station fitted to a Meade LX90

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The built-in eyepiece caddy

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The 12V cigar lighter accessory socket

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To fit Model

Description

Stock code

Price (GBP)

Meade LX90 used in altazimuth mode

LX90 Orbital Power Station Heavy-duty 12V 10Ah rechargeable battery power supply

AC601

89.99