Meade ETX125 Observer 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope

Building of the success of the smaller 90mm iteration, Meade Instruments upgrades the aperture and focal length to give you a complete GoTo-enabled observation rig with the ability to make detailed observations of the Moon and planets and reach outside the solar system to resolve bright deep-space objects with their ETX125 Observer 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope. The compact and powerful Maksutov design uses a front corrector plate with a convex meniscus lens to correct off-axis aberrations, like comas, and chromatic aberration to produce images with true-color rendition. The nature of the lens results in a smaller secondary mirror—limiting obstruction and increasing contrast, while eliminating the need for periodic collimation. This optical path results in a slower focal ratio and narrower field of view versus a similar Schmidt-Cassegrain variant, but the optical benefits makes this an ideal scope for all types of celestial observations.

For those who want to use it for astrophotography, an internal mirror flips down to direct the light path straight back for prime-focus photography using a DSLR camera body and optional adapters. An equatorial tilt plate is integrated into the tripod, which allows for proper polar alignment and single-axis tracking for smoother and more precise tracking as required by long-exposure photography.

The brain of this system is Meade's revolutionary AudioStar hand controller. Equipped with a 2-line LED display and 20-key red backlit keypad and an integrated speaker, it controls the motorized mount for precise GoTo capabilities. Its internal 30,000+ object database is updatable via the Internet and has the capability to take you on a hands-free guided tour of the night sky above, with four hours of audio commentary on select objects with expanded information. To consult star charts and logs, or to change eyepieces and filters, the controller also has a built-in red LED utility light that won't affect your night-adjusted vision.