Thank you. I am so glad I had that JMI Wheeley Bar. It has allowed me to wheel out my 12" telescope and have it lined up and ready to use in five minutes.
@@tsulasbigadventures The avoidance of heavy lifting of delicate telescopes is the key. I have a light mount all set up and a heavy equatorial mount all set up on these wheeley bars. The second mount handles a five inch Stellarvue and an eight inch Vixen reflector depending on the application. Unfortunately, we have serious light pollution issues so I cannot invest more until we move further from town. But if I lived out in the country I would buy a Meade 12 inch ACF and a beefier equatorial mount to handle it, and I would buy the heavy duty JMI/Farpoint wheeley bars to handle the entire rig.
@@JamesAdams-ev6fc Yes, I should have bought the heavy duty version. At that time I didn't own the 12" but so far the medium size has worked well for me.
Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for sharing. Your pluckinest handling those hefty weights is an inspiration. I have to keep remembering your temperatures are in Farenheit too. Enjoy your new acquisition.
My goodness Tsula you are an amazing person taking on the 12" its huge and lifting it into your garage.....far out......I'm now retired and find the 8" a bit of a lump. You certainly live in a gorgeous part of the world.....just love your videos and your enthusiastic advice. Many many thanks Mike
Hi Mike: Thank you. Well, once I got that monster telescope onto the JMI Wheeley Bar I have never had to lug it atop the tripod again. I'm not sure I can as I get older. It's so easy to wheel it out onto the driveway and that allows me to get a lot of use out of it. I just love it. But if I didn't have the Wheeley Bar I think I would have to sell it. It's just too heavy for me.
Fantastic review. Thank you for the details on accessories. About 60lbs is my limit too but you were awesome lifting that beautiful mammoth. This kind of review was exactly what I needed to pull the trigger on getting my own lx90 12”. Thank you!
Tanya thank you! I'm glad you liked it and it helped you. I was scared when I bought it. I kept looking on TH-cam for a video showing someone lifting it so I could get an idea and I couldn't find one. So I'm glad I was able to provide that critical piece of information . After all, if you can't lift your telescope you are not going to use it! Enjoy your new telescope
I love my 12" telescope! It's heavy though and so I keep it on my Wheeley Bar and wheel it out of the garage when I"m ready to use it. I can have it ready to go in 10 minutes.
Some other accessories I ended up adding on top of what you mentioned include: *Micro-focuser knob *focal reducer *counter-balance bar and weights system *2-inch diagonal *binoviewers (best thing ever)
Kambiz: Ever since Orion bought Meade I have had a hard time finding the focal reducer or Meade adapter. Where do you find these accessories? It seems like Orion is not carrying them and everyone else just says no longer available. What 2" diagonal did you get? The diagonal is pathetic.
@@tsulasbigadventuresyou have probably gotten something by now, but note that the f6.3 focal reducers are flavored for SCT not ACF. Also if you get a 2" diagonal, don't get a thread on style, and you also want to to get a 2" visual back that threads onto the larger 3.25" cell on the back of your scope, NOT the 2" sct threads because that obstructs your rear baffle, and stars on the edge of the field will be choked off in wider 2" eyepieces. And get a televue 55mm plossl, you will thank me
@@k.h.1587 Thank you for all the tips. Since this video I have tried several different diagonals on this scope and finally ended up getting a Televue adapter with a BBHS and I love it. I didn't get the Telvue 2" 55 but got a much cheaper 56mm 2" that works reasonably well.
Fantastic review; Your excitement makes me happy here watching you LOL I have the exact same telescope and I remember my reaction which was identical to yours when unboxing it !!
Definitely a heavy thing, even for those who are trained (former martial artist here). Actually, not so heavy (I made a search and found that the tube itself weighs only 14.75 kg, the lightest 12" SC by far, so the mount itself weighs 12.5 kg), but bulky, it is the volume who makes things difficult, most of the times. Really love this telescope, whish I could have it, despite it doesn't have a mirror lock like the LX200. It would be a great pair with a e.g CEM70 or a NYX 101. I believe it would be probably better if you were to use a dew heater (plus the dew shield) instead of the dew shield only.
Meade was made first in costa mesa, then irvine, then mexico, and they have been in mexico since the late 2000s, after 2006. It was celstron that was in torrance, before being bought out by synta. The c14 was still made in USA for a few more years until.everything went to china. The old celestron factory is now warehouse space for celestron and skywatcher products. They are still based in Torrance. And many of my former OPT coworkers work there.
On my Meade field tripod, the center post is captive in the tripod head, so you put the mount head down and hold onto it with one hand while you screw in the post with the other. Once it catches you can breathe more easily. The captivity is caused by a C-clip near the top of the post, so that it doesn't fall out the bottom. The C-clip is far enough down that it doesn't interfere with the threading of the post into the mount head. Ed Ting made a video recently of hefting up a C11 up onto its tripod, and it is even more complicated! At least your scope has handles! :)
I think my tripod was missing the C-clip. That's why I just put a piece of tape there to hold it while I hoisted that beast up and got the post screwed into the mount. Since then I have just decided to keep my Meade assembled and on the Wheelie Bar and in that way it's very easy for me to wheel it out onto the driveway when I want to use it. The Wheelie Bar makes it a little higher than I would prefer but at least it allows me to readily use the telescope without breaking my back each time. and yes, without those handles I don't think I would be able to get it onto the central bar.
Ed ting was doing it wrong. The cpc1100 is way easier to mount than a meade. There is a handle recessed in the bottom of the fork on the other side which makes it way easier to lift than those awkward meade handles. One on the side and another at the bottom on the other side is way easier to lift than the 2 handles on the back of the fork, plus the cpc has a centering pin on the tripod and 3 captive bolts for the scope. Again, Ed was doing it wrong, so all the celestron hating meade fan boys are cheering because of fake news
@@ultrametric9317 I am VERY serious. You must also be doing it wrong. I sold telescopes at a major dealer for 5 years between 2006-2011, and demonstrated putting cpc1100 on the tripod countless times. The meades need a starizona or Peterson landing pads to even come close to the ease of the CPC
Hi Tsula! I just got a 12" MEADE LX200 CLASSIC ...( the older model, it was a gift from someone). It sits on the giant field tripod and the wedge. It has the 2" diagonal for the visual observations... i was wondering if getting a 2" visual treaded visual back would affect the visual experience? ( it sits quite high on the tripod and if i'll use the straight visual back would probably bring the eyepiece a little lower. So ... are diagonals mandatory for sct or not ? And what are your favorite eyepiece to use with a 12" 3048mm FL ? F/10? THANK YOU!
Wow. You lucky devil. What a nice gift. I have tried so many variations on the diagonal including a flip mirror that holds both a diagonal and a camera, a Televue SCT diagonal, a Baader BBHS diagnoal, and a starlight diagonal with built in focuser. I am pretty sure that all of them can be turned to the side so that you can observe through them from a lower position. My Meade is on a field tripod and a Wheelie bar. So, it sits very high and sometimes I cannot avoid getting on a ladder. I have never tried to look through my Meade 12" without a diagonal. I think you can but it's very uncomfortable because then your head would be too low. But I haven't tried to view without a diagonal. Lately most frequently I use a Baader 36mm Hyperion that can be used as 1.25 or 2". And for getting high magnifications I use a Baader Morpheus 9mm or a very expensive Televue 10mm Ethos that is fantastic. I hope that helps.
I have a Celestron CPC11, about the same size. They are much easier to look through with a diagonal. You effectively lower the height if you rotate it sideways. Mine came with Wheely Bars and sits a bit high.a lot of people assemble the Wheely Bars wrong with the wheels the wrong way (upside down) and that puts the assembly up maybe 4 or more inches higher than they should be. Mine came from the previous owner upside down.
@@aagifford My 12" telescope just barely fits on my Wheeley Bar but I'm used to it now at that height. I can turn the diagonal sideways like you said but that changes the orientation and can be disconcerting when you have to move the object to center it but that's a small thing compared to having to drag out a ladder and climb up it. I've had the telescope for two years now and I truly love this telescope.
I agree you get used to it up to a point. I have a new plan altogether now. I have a machine shop in my garage so I am thinking of ditching the tripod on the Wheely bar and building a frame to hold a tool chest for the eyepieces and accessories and a battery box and computer control center. Then make a mount a bit lower than a tripod above this stuff.
Frank: Yes, I did. I finished my undergraduate degree at USC in 1982 and then returned in 1983 and got my JD in 1986. I transferred from USC-Aiken (where I grew up) though in 1981. So, we just missed each other.
@@tsulasbigadventures Small world. I ran the Melton Observatory on Green Street during public night for about a year around '76. They have a 16" classical cassegrain, maybe you looked through it while at USC. Another coincidence, I too earned my JD after leaving USC (Ohio), and just bought my largest scope ever, an 11" Celestron CPC (65lbs). You have a great on-screen persona. I am a new subscriber, hope you get all your observatory issues resolved. I will stay tuned. Frank
Is the ground slippery? Seeing you walk out of frame holding that huge scope made me nervous-and I had no idea you were heading up those stairs :-) Enjoy!
This telescope can be used in alt-az mode or equatorially. To use it equatorially you have to point the telescope straight on the fork toward Polaris and polar align it. I have not done this because it doesn't have a polar scope and so far I have only used it in alt az mode. Also the fork is very susceptible to being wind blown being such a long focal length and large aperture. You would need to auto guide and photograph on a completely calm evening with no wind.
Not recommended on the 12" or.even the 10" lx90. The forks are too thin and light, it is not stable enough unless maybe inside a dome shielded from the wind. Stick with visual and planetary Webcam work, or very short stacked deep space exposures and expect to crop out the field rotation in the final.stack.
I am too old to lift this telescope and put it in a car! I just drag it out into my driveway on a JMI Wheeley Bar when I want to view. It's definitely not a telescope for travel. For travel I take my little 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope.
@@tsulasbigadventuresthey used to be $2999 to $3299 back when I used to sell them, and a cpc1100 was $2799. We sold a ton more cpc1100s than 12" lx90s, and also more CPC than LX200GPS. Before the CPC, the meades greatly outsold the celestrons, but the CPC was a winner and turned the tables. At least from what I witnessed and heard during the 2006-2011 period when I worked at a big dealer
I just re-lived (through your excitement) the day my Meade 10” LX50 arrived. Did you put a Telrad on this scope yet? I enjoyed your video and subscribed to your channel.
I'm glad you enjoyed my video. I still just use the finder scope it came with and when it is off a little I just peer over the top of the tube and get it lined up. I have actually never used a telrad but really like red dot finders.
@@tsulasbigadventures my LX50 came with a Telrad . I had always marveled at them in the magazine ads but never bought one. My first reaction was” This is it?”. Looks underwhelming. BUT out in the field this thing is AMAZING. Nice big window and so easy to dim it makes finding things you cant see really easy. It has three rings that you can use for judging distances (degrees). That coupled with a good finderscope make using my digital setting circles not worth the frustration. I am looking forward to more videos. Clear skies, Chris
@@christopherhamm1574 Thank you, Chris. I think I will get one. I really like the red dot finders except I have to put my glasses on in order to look through it but it sure does make finding the first and second star very easy.
@@tsulasbigadventures I have a red dot on my ETX90. It works well but found the Telrad easier to use and keep aligned. In fact much like the stock 8x50 finder scope. They are 98% aligned when I put them on their mounting bases during set up. Clear skies
Thank you. Thank goodness for that Wheeley Bar which makes it so easy for me to pull my big ole scope out onto the driveway and enjoy the great views there.
My father went to Clemson and he tried to brainwash all his children to love Clemson but every one of us including me, went to USC. I'm sure it's a fine institution if you like to raise cows. Just kidding.
@@rogergriggs4638 Roger: Do you mind if I ask you about that some more? I have mine on that fork mount on top of a JMI Wheeley Bar which makes it very unstable but since it's too heavy for me to dissemble and reassemble every time I want to use it that's how I have left it for now. But my plan is to put it into a home observatory eventually. It is so hard to get contractors to work for you in Montana. So I left it as simple as possible and did not ask them to embed a pier in the concrete. My plan was to order a C82 pier from Primaluce and just bolt it to the concrete with a hammer driver. Was your pier embedded into your observatory's floor or did you try something like I am describing?
Hi everyone this is a dream telescoope so enjoy the sky around you I'd like to the night sky around me is great and my scope is only a 10inch dob but one day it will be a 12 or14 still dreaming
@@Bill_Woods That is funny. At first when I read your comment I thought what on earth is he talking about; that video is about a 12" telescope. Then I remembered my chicken sticker on my car. People in Montana probably think I raise chickens. Ha ha.
My father passed a month ago and left an LX90-12 scope in his Sky Pod. He had an elaborate setup but it's been sitting out there for almost ten years with the last few years having no temperature control. I hope it's all ok. I am so grateful for your series and the couple of videos on your LX90. It's helping me greatly because I was really overwhelmed. Is there such a thing where I could get someone to look it over and update/repair anything that needs it?
I'm sorry about your father. I would start by asking Orion who purchased Meade after Meade declared bankruptcy. I have fortunately never had to repair a telescope but I did have to send in a mount to Orion for repair one time. And since Orion now owns Meade they would be the best place to start a search on having anything serviced. You can email support@telescope.com or you can call their customer service department and talk to someone and ask them about it. That's what I would do. Lucky you to inherit an LX90 12". What a great telescope. My poor Meade sat in my garage this winter which was brutally cold. It was -20F one day (before I purchased the Meade) and barely got above 0 degrees for a whole week. I was so worried about my telescopes that I had a heater installed in my garage. I hope Orion can help you. If not, you should ask around at your local astronomy club or ask on the open forum Cloudy Nights. I hope that helps. Good luck.
I just looked at that telescope on Obsession's web site. Wow, what a nice telescope! Do you own one? I would love to own an Obsession but that particular model costs quite a bit more than my 12" SCT. The 15" Obsession costs $7500 while my Meade 12" was $5000. I really wanted the 16" Meade but it was just too heavy for me. However, I think I could easily handle that 15" Obsession. Hmmm. No. I cannot justify another telescope!
@@tsulasbigadventures Unfortunately, I don’t own one. I do astrophotography. But I will as soon as I retire. There are ultralight 15” and 18” Obsessions. They are even lighter. Yes, Obsession is more expensive. However, they are by far better visually (I looked through your telescope; looked through 15, 18, and 24” Obsessions); they are more comfortable; their resale price is terrific (you can use decade, and still sell for 80-90% of price). You are right 7500>5000, but it is close distance that worth every penny. You could come to Texas Star Party or Oki-Tex Star Party. There are many different scopes to look and get impressions how good they are.
@@anata5127 Thanks. I would love to look through one to see how it performs. Before I bought the Meade 12" I looked at the Obsession web site and it just seemed like they were too big and hard to move around. I put my Meade on that Wheeley Bar and it only takes me five minutes to get it set up and running. I only wish I could sit while viewing which would be much more comfortable but not possible with it on the Wheeley Bar. Oh well. Thanks for letting me know about that 15" Obsession telescope.
Obsession is definitely made in the USA. Mead and Celestron, along with Skywatcher, were brought out by a Taiwanese family own business based in BC, Canada, and parts or whole made in China.
@@PadraicLey56celestron was bought by synta, a chinese not Taiwanese company. Skwywatcher was not bought by anyone as they have always been synta's house brand. Meade was never owned by a chinese company, orion now owns meade, but meade had moved manufacturing to Mexico in the mid late 2000s. Even before the buyout (c) and move to Mexico (m), both companies always had their cheaper telescopes made in china, originally Japan. Meade and celestron have never been owned by the same company, this has been prevented by law for decades now as it would be a monopoly
Well, I love mine. The optics are fantastic, the electronics work great, and it will be staying on the fork mount on its permanent home on my JMI Wheeley Bar which allows me to wheel it out to the driveway and start viewing within five minutes.
Garbage if you are an astrophotographer yes. OK for visual if you don't mind waiting a few seconds for it to settle down after focusing, or in the wind. Some people are more tolerant of this than others. I too would never own an LX90, but it is the cheapest and lightest way to get into a 12", even if a G11 mount has a lighter head than the whole 12" assembly, a 12" OTA and a G11 is much more expensive. Had it been me and I wanted a simple alt az fork goto, I would have gone CPC1100, but the 12" lx90 has its place. I consider it a bobblehead, but it is still useable on calm nights with a light touch
@@k.h.1587 Yes, Im an astrophotographer. Get the ota then a separate mount. Believe me, Meades customer service sucks should those cheap electrics go down. Don't believe me? Check out the numerous astro forums.
@@tsulasbigadventures I guess we're special kind of people! Besides astronomy I also got certified in Scuba Diving, I did skydiving from 18,000 feet ...and none of my friends wanted to join me....I think the world and life is too beautiful to spend it in night clubs or watching TV and eating pizza all the time. God bless you and what's you're doing! Right now I'm planning to get 12" dobsonian as my first telescope.... hopefully one day I'll also have 12" SCT...
@@vitalieBu I could not agree more! I always want to be outside so I don't miss anything. Thank you for your kind words and watching my channel. You are going to love your 12" Dobsonian. You can see so much with an aperture that big. All the best.
Hi, Tsula. Do you have any issues with your telescope(s) in the winter? I live in Wisconsin and am trying to decide whether to buy a new telescope now or wait until spring. Thanks, and I really enjoy your channel.
Thank you. I was very worried about my telescopes because I store them in my garage and one winter it got down to -28F and stayed around -20 for a few days and I was very worried about it. So, the next spring I installed a heater in the garage but it runs off of propane and it devours the propane like a hog on corn because the garage isn't insulated. So, I only run it when it gets very cold. But incredibly I have not had any problems with my telescopes so far.
Congratulations on your new telescope. Enjoy!
Thank you. I love my Meade telescope.
The JMI/Farpoint Wheeley Bars are lifesavers and I think you are all set with the Meade 12" loaded on top of them. Awe inspiring video!
Thank you. I am so glad I had that JMI Wheeley Bar. It has allowed me to wheel out my 12" telescope and have it lined up and ready to use in five minutes.
@@tsulasbigadventures The avoidance of heavy lifting of delicate telescopes is the key. I have a light mount all set up and a heavy equatorial mount all set up on these wheeley bars. The second mount handles a five inch Stellarvue and an eight inch Vixen reflector depending on the application. Unfortunately, we have serious light pollution issues so I cannot invest more until we move further from town. But if I lived out in the country I would buy a Meade 12 inch ACF and a beefier equatorial mount to handle it, and I would buy the heavy duty JMI/Farpoint wheeley bars to handle the entire rig.
@@JamesAdams-ev6fc Yes, I should have bought the heavy duty version. At that time I didn't own the 12" but so far the medium size has worked well for me.
Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for sharing. Your pluckinest handling those hefty weights is an inspiration. I have to keep remembering your temperatures are in Farenheit too. Enjoy your new acquisition.
Hey, Steve! My biceps were very sore the next day. Have to keep hitting the gym in order to continue in this hobby.
My goodness Tsula you are an amazing person taking on the 12" its huge and lifting it into your garage.....far out......I'm now retired and find the 8" a bit of a lump.
You certainly live in a gorgeous part of the world.....just love your videos and your enthusiastic advice.
Many many thanks
Mike
Hi Mike:
Thank you. Well, once I got that monster telescope onto the JMI Wheeley Bar I have never had to lug it atop the tripod again. I'm not sure I can as I get older. It's so easy to wheel it out onto the driveway and that allows me to get a lot of use out of it. I just love it. But if I didn't have the Wheeley Bar I think I would have to sell it. It's just too heavy for me.
@@tsulasbigadventures Hi Tsula
I'll keep watching your videos.....just love them
Thank you
Fantastic review. Thank you for the details on accessories. About 60lbs is my limit too but you were awesome lifting that beautiful mammoth. This kind of review was exactly what I needed to pull the trigger on getting my own lx90 12”. Thank you!
Tanya thank you! I'm glad you liked it and it helped you. I was scared when I bought it. I kept looking on TH-cam for a video showing someone lifting it so I could get an idea and I couldn't find one. So I'm glad I was able to provide that critical piece of information . After all, if you can't lift your telescope you are not going to use it! Enjoy your new telescope
I have the 8" with GPS and love it. Can't wait to see your future videos.
Thanks, Tim.
I want one!! It’s a beautiful thing!
I love my 12" telescope! It's heavy though and so I keep it on my Wheeley Bar and wheel it out of the garage when I"m ready to use it. I can have it ready to go in 10 minutes.
You are amazing. I have an older Meade 12" and as a 6' man over 225 lbs. can testify that it is not easy to set up. Well done and great video!
Thank you! I sure am glad I kept that Wheeley Bar! That telescope is a beast to get on that little peg at waist level.
Unless your meade is also an LX90, it is certainly even heavier than her new 12" lx90
Some other accessories I ended up adding on top of what you mentioned include:
*Micro-focuser knob
*focal reducer
*counter-balance bar and weights system
*2-inch diagonal
*binoviewers (best thing ever)
Kambiz: Ever since Orion bought Meade I have had a hard time finding the focal reducer or Meade adapter. Where do you find these accessories? It seems like Orion is not carrying them and everyone else just says no longer available. What 2" diagonal did you get? The diagonal is pathetic.
@@tsulasbigadventuresyou have probably gotten something by now, but note that the f6.3 focal reducers are flavored for SCT not ACF.
Also if you get a 2" diagonal, don't get a thread on style, and you also want to to get a 2" visual back that threads onto the larger 3.25" cell on the back of your scope, NOT the 2" sct threads because that obstructs your rear baffle, and stars on the edge of the field will be choked off in wider 2" eyepieces. And get a televue 55mm plossl, you will thank me
@@k.h.1587 Thank you for all the tips. Since this video I have tried several different diagonals on this scope and finally ended up getting a Televue adapter with a BBHS and I love it. I didn't get the Telvue 2" 55 but got a much cheaper 56mm 2" that works reasonably well.
Im considering the LX90 8" and your reaction to that was incredible.
I talked my brother into getting the 8" because he is disabled and can't possibly lift a 60 lb telescope and he is very happy with his 8" LX90.
You’re amazing, thanks for sharing and clear skies
Congratulations! I have a LX90 10", it works perfectly.
Cool, thanks!
Fantastic review;
Your excitement makes me happy here watching you LOL
I have the exact same telescope and I remember my reaction which was identical to yours when unboxing it !!
Definitely a heavy thing, even for those who are trained (former martial artist here). Actually, not so heavy (I made a search and found that the tube itself weighs only 14.75 kg, the lightest 12" SC by far, so the mount itself weighs 12.5 kg), but bulky, it is the volume who makes things difficult, most of the times. Really love this telescope, whish I could have it, despite it doesn't have a mirror lock like the LX200. It would be a great pair with a e.g CEM70 or a NYX 101. I believe it would be probably better if you were to use a dew heater (plus the dew shield) instead of the dew shield only.
Meade was made first in costa mesa, then irvine, then mexico, and they have been in mexico since the late 2000s, after 2006.
It was celstron that was in torrance, before being bought out by synta. The c14 was still made in USA for a few more years until.everything went to china. The old celestron factory is now warehouse space for celestron and skywatcher products. They are still based in Torrance. And many of my former OPT coworkers work there.
On my Meade field tripod, the center post is captive in the tripod head, so you put the mount head down and hold onto it with one hand while you screw in the post with the other. Once it catches you can breathe more easily. The captivity is caused by a C-clip near the top of the post, so that it doesn't fall out the bottom. The C-clip is far enough down that it doesn't interfere with the threading of the post into the mount head. Ed Ting made a video recently of hefting up a C11 up onto its tripod, and it is even more complicated! At least your scope has handles! :)
I think my tripod was missing the C-clip. That's why I just put a piece of tape there to hold it while I hoisted that beast up and got the post screwed into the mount. Since then I have just decided to keep my Meade assembled and on the Wheelie Bar and in that way it's very easy for me to wheel it out onto the driveway when I want to use it. The Wheelie Bar makes it a little higher than I would prefer but at least it allows me to readily use the telescope without breaking my back each time. and yes, without those handles I don't think I would be able to get it onto the central bar.
Ed ting was doing it wrong.
The cpc1100 is way easier to mount than a meade. There is a handle recessed in the bottom of the fork on the other side which makes it way easier to lift than those awkward meade handles. One on the side and another at the bottom on the other side is way easier to lift than the 2 handles on the back of the fork, plus the cpc has a centering pin on the tripod and 3 captive bolts for the scope.
Again, Ed was doing it wrong, so all the celestron hating meade fan boys are cheering because of fake news
@@k.h.1587 Good lord man, are you serious? I have both.
@@ultrametric9317 I am VERY serious. You must also be doing it wrong.
I sold telescopes at a major dealer for 5 years between 2006-2011, and demonstrated putting cpc1100 on the tripod countless times. The meades need a starizona or Peterson landing pads to even come close to the ease of the CPC
@@k.h.1587 Why are you telling all this to me? Great, you can handle a telescope!
I came back for the 6:35 mark 😊
Hi Tsula! I just got a 12" MEADE LX200 CLASSIC ...( the older model, it was a gift from someone). It sits on the giant field tripod and the wedge. It has the 2" diagonal for the visual observations... i was wondering if getting a 2" visual treaded visual back would affect the visual experience? ( it sits quite high on the tripod and if i'll use the straight visual back would probably bring the eyepiece a little lower. So ... are diagonals mandatory for sct or not ? And what are your favorite eyepiece to use with a 12" 3048mm FL ? F/10? THANK YOU!
Wow. You lucky devil. What a nice gift. I have tried so many variations on the diagonal including a flip mirror that holds both a diagonal and a camera, a Televue SCT diagonal, a Baader BBHS diagnoal, and a starlight diagonal with built in focuser. I am pretty sure that all of them can be turned to the side so that you can observe through them from a lower position. My Meade is on a field tripod and a Wheelie bar. So, it sits very high and sometimes I cannot avoid getting on a ladder. I have never tried to look through my Meade 12" without a diagonal. I think you can but it's very uncomfortable because then your head would be too low. But I haven't tried to view without a diagonal. Lately most frequently I use a Baader 36mm Hyperion that can be used as 1.25 or 2". And for getting high magnifications I use a Baader Morpheus 9mm or a very expensive Televue 10mm Ethos that is fantastic. I hope that helps.
I have a Celestron CPC11, about the same size. They are much easier to look through with a diagonal. You effectively lower the height if you rotate it sideways. Mine came with Wheely Bars and sits a bit high.a lot of people assemble the Wheely Bars wrong with the wheels the wrong way (upside down) and that puts the assembly up maybe 4 or more inches higher than they should be. Mine came from the previous owner upside down.
@@aagifford My 12" telescope just barely fits on my Wheeley Bar but I'm used to it now at that height. I can turn the diagonal sideways like you said but that changes the orientation and can be disconcerting when you have to move the object to center it but that's a small thing compared to having to drag out a ladder and climb up it. I've had the telescope for two years now and I truly love this telescope.
I agree you get used to it up to a point. I have a new plan altogether now. I have a machine shop in my garage so I am thinking of ditching the tripod on the Wheely bar and building a frame to hold a tool chest for the eyepieces and accessories and a battery box and computer control center. Then make a mount a bit lower than a tripod above this stuff.
@@aagifford I wish I were that handy and make something like that.
I noticed what looks like a USC Gamecock patch on your jacket. I graduated from USC in 1980. Did you go to Carolina too? Frank
Frank: Yes, I did. I finished my undergraduate degree at USC in 1982 and then returned in 1983 and got my JD in 1986. I transferred from USC-Aiken (where I grew up) though in 1981. So, we just missed each other.
@@tsulasbigadventures Small world. I ran the Melton Observatory on Green Street during public night for about a year around '76. They have a 16" classical cassegrain, maybe you looked through it while at USC. Another coincidence, I too earned my JD after leaving USC (Ohio), and just bought my largest scope ever, an 11" Celestron CPC (65lbs). You have a great on-screen persona. I am a new subscriber, hope you get all your observatory issues resolved. I will stay tuned. Frank
Hi! I am wondering. Did the telescope come with a lens cover by chance? Thanks!
Yes they come with a front cap and a little 1.25" plug for the rear, sometimes a 2" thread on cap for the rear cell
Is the ground slippery? Seeing you walk out of frame holding that huge scope made me nervous-and I had no idea you were heading up those stairs :-) Enjoy!
How is field rotation handled with an alt azimuth for long exposures ?
Thank you
This telescope can be used in alt-az mode or equatorially. To use it equatorially you have to point the telescope straight on the fork toward Polaris and polar align it. I have not done this because it doesn't have a polar scope and so far I have only used it in alt az mode. Also the fork is very susceptible to being wind blown being such a long focal length and large aperture. You would need to auto guide and photograph on a completely calm evening with no wind.
@@tsulasbigadventures
Thank you for your reply.
I hope you’re enjoying your new telescope .
@@tsulasbigadventures Just wondering about your answer above. Don't you need to have a Mead equatorial wedge to use the scope in equatorial mode?
@@kennethschroeder2789 Yes, you do and Orion finally now has them available for the Meade line.
Not recommended on the 12" or.even the 10" lx90. The forks are too thin and light, it is not stable enough unless maybe inside a dome shielded from the wind.
Stick with visual and planetary Webcam work, or very short stacked deep space exposures and expect to crop out the field rotation in the final.stack.
How you travel and pack this much big telescope?
I am too old to lift this telescope and put it in a car! I just drag it out into my driveway on a JMI Wheeley Bar when I want to view. It's definitely not a telescope for travel. For travel I take my little 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope.
Sorry for question - what was thew price ?
I paid $4999 US dolloars for it.
@@tsulasbigadventuresthey used to be $2999 to $3299 back when I used to sell them, and a cpc1100 was $2799.
We sold a ton more cpc1100s than 12" lx90s, and also more CPC than LX200GPS. Before the CPC, the meades greatly outsold the celestrons, but the CPC was a winner and turned the tables. At least from what I witnessed and heard during the 2006-2011 period when I worked at a big dealer
Wow you are strong!!!
Thanks!
I just re-lived (through your excitement) the day my Meade 10” LX50 arrived.
Did you put a Telrad on this scope yet?
I enjoyed your video and subscribed to your channel.
I'm glad you enjoyed my video. I still just use the finder scope it came with and when it is off a little I just peer over the top of the tube and get it lined up. I have actually never used a telrad but really like red dot finders.
@@tsulasbigadventures my LX50 came with a Telrad . I had always marveled at them in the magazine ads but never bought one. My first reaction was” This is it?”. Looks underwhelming. BUT out in the field this thing is AMAZING. Nice big window and so easy to dim it makes finding things you cant see really easy. It has three rings that you can use for judging distances (degrees). That coupled with a good finderscope make using my digital setting circles not worth the frustration.
I am looking forward to more videos.
Clear skies,
Chris
@@christopherhamm1574 Thank you, Chris. I think I will get one. I really like the red dot finders except I have to put my glasses on in order to look through it but it sure does make finding the first and second star very easy.
@@tsulasbigadventures I have a red dot on my ETX90. It works well but found the Telrad easier to use and keep aligned. In fact much like the stock 8x50 finder scope. They are 98% aligned when I put them on their mounting bases during set up.
Clear skies
@@christopherhamm1574 Thank you for the tip. I'm going to buy one and try it out.
I'm jealous of the scope and all that land...😅
Thank you. Thank goodness for that Wheeley Bar which makes it so easy for me to pull my big ole scope out onto the driveway and enjoy the great views there.
If I had that I know what I would do with it, look at Mars this winter.
If you live in Northern California, you’re absolutely welcome to join me in my stargazing sessions
And what do you have against my Clemson?
My father went to Clemson and he tried to brainwash all his children to love Clemson but every one of us including me, went to USC. I'm sure it's a fine institution if you like to raise cows. Just kidding.
@@tsulasbigadventures uhhh huhhh
I have the same scope and really like it.mounted it on a pier in a home built observatory. Use a 115mm refractor for portability
@@rogergriggs4638 Roger: Do you mind if I ask you about that some more? I have mine on that fork mount on top of a JMI Wheeley Bar which makes it very unstable but since it's too heavy for me to dissemble and reassemble every time I want to use it that's how I have left it for now. But my plan is to put it into a home observatory eventually. It is so hard to get contractors to work for you in Montana. So I left it as simple as possible and did not ask them to embed a pier in the concrete. My plan was to order a C82 pier from Primaluce and just bolt it to the concrete with a hammer driver. Was your pier embedded into your observatory's floor or did you try something like I am describing?
Hi everyone this is a dream telescoope so enjoy the sky around you I'd like to the night sky around me is great and my scope is only a 10inch dob but one day it will be a 12 or14 still dreaming
Thanks. I dreamed about the 14" but I knew it would be too heavy for me.
@Tsula Great video! Go Gamecocks!!!
Thanks! Did you go to USC too?
@@tsulasbigadventures lol no but I live in SC (not a native)
@@Bill_Woods That is funny. At first when I read your comment I thought what on earth is he talking about; that video is about a 12" telescope. Then I remembered my chicken sticker on my car. People in Montana probably think I raise chickens. Ha ha.
@@tsulasbigadventures Actually in the video you said you hated Clemson....so I knew you were a true Gamecock! Lol
@@Bill_Woods I completely forgot about that! Too funny.
My father passed a month ago and left an LX90-12 scope in his Sky Pod. He had an elaborate setup but it's been sitting out there for almost ten years with the last few years having no temperature control. I hope it's all ok. I am so grateful for your series and the couple of videos on your LX90. It's helping me greatly because I was really overwhelmed. Is there such a thing where I could get someone to look it over and update/repair anything that needs it?
I'm sorry about your father. I would start by asking Orion who purchased Meade after Meade declared bankruptcy. I have fortunately never had to repair a telescope but I did have to send in a mount to Orion for repair one time. And since Orion now owns Meade they would be the best place to start a search on having anything serviced. You can email support@telescope.com or you can call their customer service department and talk to someone and ask them about it. That's what I would do. Lucky you to inherit an LX90 12". What a great telescope. My poor Meade sat in my garage this winter which was brutally cold. It was -20F one day (before I purchased the Meade) and barely got above 0 degrees for a whole week. I was so worried about my telescopes that I had a heater installed in my garage. I hope Orion can help you. If not, you should ask around at your local astronomy club or ask on the open forum Cloudy Nights. I hope that helps. Good luck.
Hi
Do u wanna sale your eq6 equipment ?
No way! I love, love, love my EQ6R Pro. That is an excellent mount.
Perhaps, go to 15” dob from Obsession could have been better for visual. Easier to assemble and weight lesser. Oh, and well better.
I just looked at that telescope on Obsession's web site. Wow, what a nice telescope! Do you own one? I would love to own an Obsession but that particular model costs quite a bit more than my 12" SCT. The 15" Obsession costs $7500 while my Meade 12" was $5000. I really wanted the 16" Meade but it was just too heavy for me. However, I think I could easily handle that 15" Obsession. Hmmm. No. I cannot justify another telescope!
@@tsulasbigadventures Unfortunately, I don’t own one. I do astrophotography. But I will as soon as I retire.
There are ultralight 15” and 18” Obsessions. They are even lighter.
Yes, Obsession is more expensive. However, they are by far better visually (I looked through your telescope; looked through 15, 18, and 24” Obsessions); they are more comfortable; their resale price is terrific (you can use decade, and still sell for 80-90% of price).
You are right 7500>5000, but it is close distance that worth every penny.
You could come to Texas Star Party or Oki-Tex Star Party. There are many different scopes to look and get impressions how good they are.
@@anata5127 Thanks. I would love to look through one to see how it performs. Before I bought the Meade 12" I looked at the Obsession web site and it just seemed like they were too big and hard to move around. I put my Meade on that Wheeley Bar and it only takes me five minutes to get it set up and running. I only wish I could sit while viewing which would be much more comfortable but not possible with it on the Wheeley Bar. Oh well. Thanks for letting me know about that 15" Obsession telescope.
Obsession is definitely made in the USA. Mead and Celestron, along with Skywatcher, were brought out by a Taiwanese family own business based in BC, Canada, and parts or whole made in China.
@@PadraicLey56celestron was bought by synta, a chinese not Taiwanese company. Skwywatcher was not bought by anyone as they have always been synta's house brand. Meade was never owned by a chinese company, orion now owns meade, but meade had moved manufacturing to Mexico in the mid late 2000s. Even before the buyout (c) and move to Mexico (m), both companies always had their cheaper telescopes made in china, originally Japan.
Meade and celestron have never been owned by the same company, this has been prevented by law for decades now as it would be a monopoly
I had this scope back 10 years ago. Decent optics BUT the mount and electrics are garbage. Better to defork it and put it on an EQ mount.
Well, I love mine. The optics are fantastic, the electronics work great, and it will be staying on the fork mount on its permanent home on my JMI Wheeley Bar which allows me to wheel it out to the driveway and start viewing within five minutes.
Garbage if you are an astrophotographer yes. OK for visual if you don't mind waiting a few seconds for it to settle down after focusing, or in the wind. Some people are more tolerant of this than others.
I too would never own an LX90, but it is the cheapest and lightest way to get into a 12", even if a G11 mount has a lighter head than the whole 12" assembly, a 12" OTA and a G11 is much more expensive.
Had it been me and I wanted a simple alt az fork goto, I would have gone CPC1100, but the 12" lx90 has its place. I consider it a bobblehead, but it is still useable on calm nights with a light touch
@@k.h.1587 Yes, Im an astrophotographer. Get the ota then a separate mount. Believe me, Meades customer service sucks should those cheap electrics go down. Don't believe me? Check out the numerous astro forums.
you are cool
Thank you!
I wish we were neighbors!!!
incredibly my neighbors have absolutely no interest in my telescopes. Oh well. I'm glad you liked it.
@@tsulasbigadventures I guess we're special kind of people! Besides astronomy I also got certified in Scuba Diving, I did skydiving from 18,000 feet ...and none of my friends wanted to join me....I think the world and life is too beautiful to spend it in night clubs or watching TV and eating pizza all the time.
God bless you and what's you're doing! Right now I'm planning to get 12" dobsonian as my first telescope.... hopefully one day I'll also have 12" SCT...
@@vitalieBu I could not agree more! I always want to be outside so I don't miss anything. Thank you for your kind words and watching my channel. You are going to love your 12" Dobsonian. You can see so much with an aperture that big. All the best.
Show us planets
Check out my other videos about Jupiter at opposition and Saturn at opposition and Mars when it was really close to earth! Stunning.
Hi, Tsula. Do you have any issues with your telescope(s) in the winter? I live in Wisconsin and am trying to decide whether to buy a new telescope now or wait until spring. Thanks, and I really enjoy your channel.
Thank you. I was very worried about my telescopes because I store them in my garage and one winter it got down to -28F and stayed around -20 for a few days and I was very worried about it. So, the next spring I installed a heater in the garage but it runs off of propane and it devours the propane like a hog on corn because the garage isn't insulated. So, I only run it when it gets very cold. But incredibly I have not had any problems with my telescopes so far.