Vintage Meade 2080 LX 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain — Complete Classic Tracking Package w/ Tripod, Cases & Eyepieces

Vintage Meade 2080 LX 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain — COMPLETE PACKAGE -- Currently in St. Augustine, FL

Complete Classic Tracking Package w/ Tripod, Eyepieces, Cases & and custom transport dolly.

$895 OBO — local pickup or meet up preferred.  Telescope and full package are in St. Augustine, FL; we could meet to facilitate.

For the astronomer who still thinks finding the object is half the fun.

This is a classic Meade 2080 LX 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain from the era of star charts, setting circles, substantial cast-metal hardware and a quiet clock drive doing its work in the background. No touchscreen, no app and no telescope deciding where you should look next. You find the target, get things aligned, and the original LX motorized drive follows the sky.

And unlike many vintage SCTs that surface as an optical tube, tripod and a box of mysteries, this is a remarkably complete system: telescope, original fork-mounted tracking drive, equatorial wedge, heavy Meade tripod, large finder, fitted telescope case, separate accessory case, multiple eyepieces and associated observing gear.

Also included is a custom rolling transport dolly, adapted specifically to help move this substantial telescope system. It makes local transport and setup considerably easier and is a useful practical addition given the weight of the complete package.

The original LX tracking drive has been tested and verified operating. During a daytime functional test, the scope showed clear sidereal movement over approximately 10 minutes against a fixed terrestrial reference.

Cosmetically, the system presents very well for its age. The classic blue optical tube retains a strong gloss, the corrector plate is intact, and the major mechanical components are present and complete. The cases show normal vintage wear and patina consistent with age.

Included

• Meade 2080 LX Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
• 8-inch / 203.2 mm aperture
• 2000 mm focal length
• f/10 optical system
• Classic Meade blue optical tube
• Original heavy-duty fork mount
• Original LX Drive System
• Motorized tracking drive tested and verified operating
• Custom rolling transport dolly/cart adapted for the telescope system, making it easier to move the packed telescope and accessories without lifting the full weight.
• 115V / 60Hz drive
• Traditional manual object-finding / non-GoTo operation
• Right ascension and declination setting circles
• Original adjustable equatorial wedge
• Heavy-duty Meade field tripod
• Large auxiliary finder telescope
• Finder mounting hardware
• Main telescope front optical cover
• Rear optical fittings/caps as included
• Large fitted hard telescope transport/storage case
• Heavy-duty protective plastic storage covers/bags used inside the telescope case
• Separate foam-lined eyepiece/accessory case
• Multiple astronomical eyepieces ranging approximately 4 mm through 17 mm
• Orion Superwide 17 mm Lanthanum eyepiece
  • 65° apparent field
  • Multi-coated optics
  • 20 mm eye relief
  • Made in Japan
• Vintage solar filter with case
• Miscellaneous adapters, caps, fittings and observing accessories

The vintage solar filter is included as part of the original accessory collection.

This is a substantial, complete example of Meade's classic SCT era and should appeal to someone who appreciates traditional visual astronomy, manual star-hopping and mechanically driven tracking rather than modern GoTo operation.

The system has been cleaned, photographed and function-tested and will be safely packed in its fitted case for pickup. Photos show the telescope assembled before packing.

$895 OBO. Local pickup strongly preferred due to the size, weight and optical sensitivity of the complete system.