Meade MTS-SN8 Schmidt Newtonian (Reduced)

For $250 you get a classic equatorial fork mount and an 8" f/5 Schmidt-Newtonian OTA. I purchased this rig from the daughter of the owner, who passed away recently and the rig was stored in his garage for a few years, or so I was told. When I bought it, the rig was in need of some TLC - dusty mirrors, rusted screws and later, I found out, out of collimation. Nonetheless, I bought it because it has the potential to be a nice rig for astrophotography . . . in the right hands. The right hands being those of someone who knows how to collimate a Schmidt-Newtonian... and has some mechanical aptitude as well.

I performed a quick cleanup - cleaned the primary and secondary mirrors - and the corrector plate. Also tore down and dusted and wiped down the mount and pier, replaced the plastic washers (bearings) on the fork mount and cleaned up the clock drive.

The scope comes with everything pictured, plus the original finder scope mount (not pictured) and finder scope, an a Orion BigEye 8x50 with diagonal, made in Japan.

Everything about this mount and OTA are heavy-duty. I believe the tube is fiberglass. Quite a heavy setup, so I prefer local pickup in Southern California.

Thanks for looking and Clear Skies!