Unfortunately 2024 was the end of the Meade Telescopes story. This is a brand that we loved. Their characteristic blue optical tubes never failed to delivery extraordinary views. They were good products, and we’re sad to see them go. Fortunately there are some great alternatives, but first, here’s a bit of history on the recently departed telescope manufacturer.
History and Evolution of Meade Telescopes
Meade's journey began with a simple mission: to make quality telescopes more accessible to the general public. At the time, astronomical telescopes were typically expensive and difficult to operate, so Meade sought to create instruments that were both user-friendly and affordable. The company's early models were primarily focused on Newtonian reflectors, a popular telescope design for amateur astronomers due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
One of the earliest breakthrough moments for Meade was the launch of the Meade 2080 Schmidt-Cassegrain in the late 1970s, which became a landmark product. The Schmidt-Cassegrain design offered a compact, powerful alternative to the bulky refractors and reflectors traditionally favored by astronomers. This innovation helped cement Meade's reputation for producing reliable, high-performance instruments at competitive prices.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, Meade expanded its product lineup significantly. Not only did they continue to refine their Schmidt-Cassegrain designs, but they also introduced new technologies that would influence the future of amateur astronomy. The advent of autostar technology, for example, allowed telescopes to be computer-controlled and automated, making it easier for astronomers to locate and track celestial objects without needing to manually adjust the telescope.
Today, Meade is still at the forefront of telescope development, creating cutting-edge products with advanced features, including GPS integration, image processing software, and adaptive optics systems.
Types of Meade Telescopes
Meade offered a complete range of telescopes to cater to all levels of astronomy enthusiasts including refractors, reflectors, and Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, each offering unique benefits. Let's take a closer look at each type.
Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes (SCT)
Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, often abbreviated as SCT, are one of the most popular designs in the Meade product range. Combining the best features of both the Schmidt and Cassegrain optical systems, SCTs offer excellent image quality, a compact form factor, and versatile mounting options.
The Meade LX200 series is one of the most famous Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope lines ever produced by Meade. The LX200 is equipped with Meade's Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optics, which provide sharp and clear images, even at higher magnifications. These telescopes are often equipped with automatic tracking systems, GPS, and other advanced features that make them ideal for both visual observations and astrophotography.
The key advantages of SCTs are their compact design, making them more portable compared to other types of telescopes with similar aperture sizes, and their adaptability for a range of uses, including planetary, deep sky, and lunar observations.
Refractor Telescopes
Refractor telescopes use lenses to bend light and bring it into focus. These telescopes tend to offer sharp, high-contrast images, particularly for lunar and planetary observations. They are often favored for their simplicity and ease of use. The Meade 80mm and 100mm series of refractors are known for their crisp views and reliable performance, making them ideal for both beginner and intermediate astronomers.
One of the most significant benefits of refractors is that they require little maintenance compared to reflectors since they don’t have mirrors that need to be periodically aligned. Additionally, the optics tend to remain stable and maintain their alignment over time, which is advantageous for consistent performance.
Reflector Telescopes
Reflector telescopes use mirrors instead of lenses to gather and focus light. The main advantage of reflectors is their ability to produce large apertures at a relatively low cost. Larger apertures allow for better light-gathering capabilities, which translates into the ability to view fainter objects in the night sky. The Meade LightBridge series of Dobsonian telescopes is a prime example of the company’s commitment to making large-aperture telescopes accessible.
The LightBridge series features a simple yet highly effective design, with large mirrors housed in a portable structure. These telescopes are great for users who want to explore deep sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. They are also known for their ease of use, as they come pre-assembled and are ready for observation right out of the box.
While reflector telescopes generally require regular maintenance and collimation (alignment of the mirrors), they are often considered one of the best choices for amateur astronomers looking for large aperture telescopes without breaking the bank.
Catadioptric Telescopes
Catadioptric telescopes combine both lenses and mirrors to achieve high-quality images and reduce optical aberrations. Meade's ETX series is a good example of a catadioptric telescope, combining the portability of smaller refractors with the light-gathering power of larger reflectors. The ETX125 is an extremely popular model within this series, offering a compact design with impressive optical performance. These telescopes are excellent for both planetary viewing and astrophotography.
So What Should I Look At Instead?
Meade LX200 Series – If you missed out on buying one of the excellent Meade LX200’s, your best alternative is the Celestron CPC series. The Deluxe CPC’s come in 8”, 9.25” and 11” varieties. We use one of the 11’s in the shop for our outreach and livestreaming. They’re great. If you’re looking for a budget friendlier option, the CPC GPS series is fantastic.
Meade ETX Series – The classic ETX series was mostly small Maksutov optical tubes. The Celestron NexStar 4se is the closest analog but the rest of the NexStar series is worth a look too. These are relatively simple to use and care our top recommendation for serious beginners and intermediate visual astronomers. We have a super helpful setup video here.
Meade LightBridge – The Meade LightBridge dobsonians were good quality dobs, just like the current SkyWatcher Classic Dobsonian collection. These are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations here.