Darren Drake
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/02
Posts: 1043
Loc: Illinois
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I was just talking to a Meade rep who says there will be a 20 inch version. It should cost around 30K. I don't see any mention of one of these on the website. Is this common knowledge in this forum yet?
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Astronomy educator
Sidewalk astronomer
18 inch f4.42 dob on eq platform w ST120 f/5 finder
8 inch f/6 dob
8 inch f/8 eq planetkiller
William Optics red 10th Anniversary 80mm FD
24lb eyepiece box
Cernan Space Center astronomer
Member of Northwest Suburban Astronomers
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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It's been discussed. Here are some details:
http://www.optcorp.com/productList.aspx?uid=&pg=0&kw=MAX%20Robotic&st=2
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15790
Loc: Hoover, AL
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Ok who's going to be first to get one 
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
It’s not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. It’s brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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starramus
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 1124
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George Soros
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Ok who's going to be first to get one
That's the question, isn't it? Folks willing to pay that kind of money for a telescope aren't a part of Meade's traditional market. It'll have to perform awfully well to get folks to switch.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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cosmologist
member
Reged: 10/01/05
Posts: 33
Loc: Perth, Australia
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Hi, I was just wondering, have Meade ever made a scope larger than the 16 inch in the past? Because I recall a Meade catalogue I picked up from a shop years back that for some reason I think show cased a Schmidt Cassegrain as large as 20 or 24 inches, I seem to recall the price being around 30 or 40k. Sorry for my fragmented memory, but I could have sworn they’ve made one much bigger than the 16 inch before.
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David
Lightbridge 16" f/4.5
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Hi, I was just wondering, have Meade ever made a scope larger than the 16 inch in the past? Because I recall a Meade catalogue I picked up from a shop years back that for some reason I think show cased a Schmidt Cassegrain as large as 20 or 24 inches, I seem to recall the price being around 30 or 40k. Sorry for my fragmented memory, but I could have sworn they’ve made one much bigger than the 16 inch before.
You may be thinking of Meade's Schmidt Camera, which was quite large due to the required length. It had a 12" corrector and a 16" mirror. It's the largest Cat from Meade with which I'm familiar.
Celestron made a 20" SCT in bygone days but they are at least as scarce as Meade Schmidt cameras.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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cosmologist
member
Reged: 10/01/05
Posts: 33
Loc: Perth, Australia
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Quote:
You may be thinking of Meade's Schmidt Camera, which was quite large due to the required length. It had a 12" corrector and a 16" mirror. It's the largest Cat from Meade with which I'm familiar.
Celestron made a 20" SCT in bygone days but they are at least as scarce as Meade Schmidt cameras.
I was just doing a search through Meade’s site, but didn’t come up with anything resembling what I saw. The Schmidt Camera wasn’t featured in the catalogue I bought, but if the 16 inch is the largest they’ve ever made up until this new RCX 20, then I must be mistaken, it must have been the 16. Would that have sold for 30k about 8 years ago?
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David
Lightbridge 16" f/4.5
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
it must have been the 16. Would that have sold for 30k about 8 years ago?
The 16" LX200 SCT sold for about $15,000 but the 12"/16" LX200 Schmidt camera sold for about $30,000. Of course that included a 7" F/9 APO as a guidescope!
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15790
Loc: Hoover, AL
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Quote:
Quote:
Ok who's going to be first to get one
That's the question, isn't it? Folks willing to pay that kind of money for a telescope aren't a part of Meade's traditional market. It'll have to perform awfully well to get folks to switch.
My guess would be University astronomy departments, its not their own money.
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
It’s not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. It’s brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
My guess would be University astronomy departments, its not their own money.
Good point - and the 16" RCX at $23,000 is probably a much better value than the 16" LX200's they used to buy for $15,000.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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rdjamieson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 1024
Loc: Wisconsin
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I know it's sick, but I've been thinking about buying the 20". Two things are holding me back. First, I haven't used a GEM before, and they are a little intimidating, so I want to try out a smaller one before I get anywhere near a beast. Second, while I have had nothing but good times with my own RCX, the numerous problems experienced by others tells me to wait until the inevitable kinks are worked out in these latest supersized versions. To make me wait, my wife has extracted a promise from me that I won't buy one until I convert my silo into a dedicated observatory. With as busy as I am of late, that's not going to happen any time soon. Ah well, I can daydream for now. 
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Ray Jamieson
RCX400 14" on Scopebuggy
Burgess 127mm
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jclark2
sage
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 340
Loc: Michigan, USA
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There is an ad for the Max Mount 20" in the latest Sky & Telescope (April 2006) on page 14. The ad puts the size in perspective. They have markings for length and width and it is 8'8" tall and 6'4" wide. Now if I could just win the lottery.
Jim
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Jim
WO ZS80FD 10th Anniv
WO ZS110
PST-DS
EQ6
iOptron Mini-Tower
WO EZ-Touch
UA Unistar Light
Celestron SkyScout
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wrather1
AstroBear
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2932
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Quote:
I know it's sick, but I've been thinking about buying the 20". Two things are holding me back. First, I haven't used a GEM before, and they are a little intimidating, so I want to try out a smaller one before I get anywhere near a beast. Second, while I have had nothing but good times with my own RCX, the numerous problems experienced by others tells me to wait until the inevitable kinks are worked out in these latest supersized versions.
Ray,
Why not let someone else be the guinea pig? Not only is the 20" MaxMount a monster in terms of size and weight, it's sure to cost a pretty penny! I know all about aperture fever, having just upgraded to a 12" from a 10" - but, Jeez, I'd definetely have a dedicated rotating observatory and a concrete pier for that beast... 
And speaking of GEM mounts, an easy way to get the flavor of those thangs is to buy a small cheap version (i.e., Orion Astroview) which has all the characteristics and procedural requirements of the big ones. I use mine for portable applications and love to play with it and the ED80.
Cheers,
DW
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"Don't worry about what telescope you own, or its quality. Just get out under the night sky, and enjoy God's wondrous universe." - T. M. Back
Meade RCX400-12 on JMI trolley "Ursa Major"
TMB 130SS on EQ6 PRO "Ursus Polaris"
Orion ED80 "Ursa Minor", WO ZS66ED "grab-'n'-go"
Canon EOS 30D (Hutech), Meade DSI, Philips ToUcam Pro
North Texas Clear Sky Chart
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15790
Loc: Hoover, AL
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Y'all think one of those MAX mounts will fit in the back of my Toyota? 
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
It’s not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. It’s brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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rdjamieson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 1024
Loc: Wisconsin
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Quote:
Quote:
I know it's sick, but I've been thinking about buying the 20". Two things are holding me back. First, I haven't used a GEM before, and they are a little intimidating, so I want to try out a smaller one before I get anywhere near a beast. Second, while I have had nothing but good times with my own RCX, the numerous problems experienced by others tells me to wait until the inevitable kinks are worked out in these latest supersized versions.
Ray,
Why not let someone else be the guinea pig? Not only is the 20" MaxMount a monster in terms of size and weight, it's sure to cost a pretty penny! I know all about aperture fever, having just upgraded to a 12" from a 10" - but, Jeez, I'd definetely have a dedicated rotating observatory and a concrete pier for that beast...
And speaking of GEM mounts, an easy way to get the flavor of those thangs is to buy a small cheap version (i.e., Orion Astroview) which has all the characteristics and procedural requirements of the big ones. I use mine for portable applications and love to play with it and the ED80.
Cheers,
DW
D-Dubs, I heartily agree on waiting. As for getting a GEM, I purchased a Burgess 127mm OTA on supersale last year, and still don't have a mount, so I'll probably get a GEM for it and learn the ropes. Just not right now. I surreptitiously dropped 5 large last month liberating some musical equipment from Guitar Center, and my wife just left me a tender voicemail message about the Amex bill!  Quick, someone lay down a salvo of covering fire while I beat a retreat to the barn!! 
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Ray Jamieson
RCX400 14" on Scopebuggy
Burgess 127mm
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Crims
sage
Reged: 04/04/06
Posts: 287
Loc: ijmuiden/holland
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in holland the 20'' will be a small 30.000 euros :@:@:@
a 20'' dob would be much cheaper then lol..
but i think the people that will buy that 20'' are having too much money and will not know much about the hobby by finding object without a goto system
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Losmandy G-11.
8'' LX90
Stellarvue 102mm ED APO
WO ZS 80 ED II
1D 1+² + 350D 1+² Lenses
LPI
alot of other stuff
www.astro-land.net ( including planetary webcam )
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rdjamieson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 1024
Loc: Wisconsin
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Quote:
in holland the 20'' will be a small 30.000 euros :@:@:@
a 20'' dob would be much cheaper then lol..
but i think the people that will buy that 20'' are having too much money and will not know much about the hobby by finding object without a goto system
Yeah, for that price, you could get two 30" Obsessions from Dave Kriege.  As for who is going to buy it, generally speaking it won't be "people." It will be institutions like universities.
As for having too much money, when it comes to this hobby, I don't think there is such a thing. An 8" TMB on a Paramount ME ( sweeeeeeeeeet! ) would cost the same, and I don't think you'd hear anybody questioning the purchaser's fondness for goto and tracking!
Ray
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Ray Jamieson
RCX400 14" on Scopebuggy
Burgess 127mm
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Crims
sage
Reged: 04/04/06
Posts: 287
Loc: ijmuiden/holland
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i wrote ''i think'' so don't be angry 
An 8" TMB on a Paramount ME *sweet* but i don't have money for it :P
i hope i can sell my LX90 end of this year so i could buy a LX200R 10'' or LX90 gps 12''
i don't know yet i have so many lights here :@
but a 20'' rcx400 would be nice but not for me ( its a dream for every 17 year old guy isn't it? and ''older'' people lol )
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Losmandy G-11.
8'' LX90
Stellarvue 102mm ED APO
WO ZS 80 ED II
1D 1+² + 350D 1+² Lenses
LPI
alot of other stuff
www.astro-land.net ( including planetary webcam )
Edited by Crims (04/12/06 03:16 AM)
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Kiwi Nick
super member
Reged: 09/17/05
Posts: 191
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I'd be more inclined to spend money with RC Optics than Meade if I was going into that price range.
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LX90
LX200GPS 14"
Denk II's and P+S
Sky Scout
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