Product Review: Meade DS-80 Telescope

The Meade DS-80 telescope is a refracting design. It is suitable for beginners or intermediate observers. The DS-80 is equipped with a 34-inch long tube with a diameter of 3.25 inches. Completely assembled, it weighs 14 pounds. Let's take a look at some of the other features of the Meade DS-80 telescope.

The DS-80 telescope features a two-element objective lens. The 80mm lens is also multi-coated to provide more protection from scratches. The Meade DS-80 telescope allows you to view deep-space objects such as galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae. You can also view closer objects like the planet Titan and objects surrounding the planet Saturn.

The Meade DS-80 telescope is equipped with a 6mm by 30mm viewfinder. It also comes with two eyepieces measuring 9mm and 25mm. The eyepieces provide the telescope with a resolving power of 1.5 arcseconds and a 275x maximum visual power. The Meade DS-80 telescope also features over-sized bearings on both axes that help you track more precisely.

This telescope is an electronic design controlled with a hand-held electronic controller that powers both axes. With a simple push of a button, you can control the telescope using four different speeds. The electronic Meade DS-80 telescope is also compatible with Meade's Autostar computer controller which allows you to locate and track celestial objects automatically.

The Meade DS-80 telescope is also packaged with Meade's StarNavigator software. This software displays over 10,000 objects in the sky. With the StarNavigator software, you can easily locate objects such as planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae.

As mentioned earlier, the Meade DS-80 telescope weighs approximately 14 pounds. Therefore, you will also appreciate the fact that the Meade DS-80 telescope comes with a full-length tripod. The tripod is adjustable and is made from heavy-duty aluminum. There is also a shelf on the tripod that's ideal for holding various accessories. The telescope comes with a one-year warranty for both labor and parts.