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Meade LightBridge 16" f/4.5 Truss Tube Dobsonian Deluxe Telescope # 1645-05-03

4.0 (4 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand Meade
Part Number 1645-05-03
Availability available

Product Info

Manufacturer Description

New Improved Version - Now with new anti-reflection coatings on trusses and castings, and dual speed Crayford focuser.

It's not just a big telescope. It's a big telescope that goes anywhere. New LightBridge truss-dobs from Meade take down and set up quickly. So you can take one of these massive windows on the universe out to your favorite dark sky locations with ease. LightBridge dobs give you high quality Meade optics, premium components, and ultra portability - all for about the same price as an ordinary tube dob. So get a LightBridge truss-dob. And prepare to cross the universe.

Diffraction Limited Optics
The 16" LightBridge Truss-Tube Dobsonian features a superior Meade quality multi-coated, diffraction limited 16" primary mirror, focal length 1829mm (f/4.5). Meade optics consistently outperform telescopes of similar and larger aperture. Consumers know that Meade Optics Inside means that what they see through our telescopes will be views that are detailed, crisp and full of contrast.

Meade Optical Coatings Aluminum Coatings
Coatings with magnesium fluoride over coat provides bright images full of detail.

Metal Optical Tube with Primary Mirror Cell
The optics of this style of telescope are only as good as their mounting, which is why Meade engineers gave the LightBridge primary mirror a top of the line, fully adjustable, high strength but light weight aluminum stress free floating multi-point cell with built in cooling fan.

2" Crayford-Style 10:1 Dual Speed Machined Aluminum Focuser With 1.25" Adapter
Smooth precise focusing is achieved with this classic design. A unique focus tension knob and focus lock design gives complete control over focus.

Built-In Primary Mirror Cooling Fan
Bring the telescope into thermal equilibrium quickly and efficiently with the battery powered cooling fan. The included battery pack for the fan takes 8 (user supplied) AA batteries and is used to speed the cool down process of the primary mirror, improving image quality. The fan is mounted to the rear of the vented primary mirror cell for fast cool down.

Solid OTA Mount
The sturdy laminated finish wooden Dobsonian mount includes premium features such as roller bearings on the azimuth (side to side) axis and large diameter aluminum altitude (vertical axis) bearings with a hand adjustable variable tension brake for smooth and stable movement.

Steel RA Roller Bearings
Laminated base with roller bearings on the azimuth axis that make movements smooth and effortless.

Lightweight Aluminum Trusses
The open truss design of the LightBridge Dobsonians means portability of the telescope is dramatically improved over a solid tube design. Taking only moments to set up and take apart for travel, the extremely rigid truss frame design ensures a no-compromises view through the telescope. Hand driven Dobsonian style telescopes by their nature need good mounts with smooth and stable movement to be enjoyable, and here again the LightBridge excels.

Advanced Four-Reticle Red Dot Viewfinder
Four reticles and varying brightness controls allow this deluxe finder to adjust to your observing needs.

26mm Meade QX Wide Angle 2" Eyepiece Deluxe Model
This premium eyepiece has a 2" barrel, and boasts a whopping 70° Apparent Field of View.

AutoStar suite software also included.

Product carries full one year Meade factory limited warranty (within US/Canada only).

Reviews

4.0 (Based on 4 Reviews) 100% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

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      User Notes:
      Review by john
      1492510871
      Apr 18, 2017

      4.0 meade 16" lightbridge

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I have been using my 16 inch LB scope for about 6 nights now. 1-3 hours a night.
      Optical quality A- Possibly a litter better.
      Star testing inside/outside of focus the image is close. Been using a 6mm expanse EP with a paracorr as my high power (350x) and the views of Jupiter and Saturn, double stars, deep sky were great, when the sky conditions allow it. this scope is not just for deep sky objects.
      Build quality A+ Professionally done.
      Function B
      Azm moves to freely and counter weights needed if using heavy EP'S, paracorr or magnifying finder. I find the alt movement to be okay.
      Setup time 20 feet from car including laser collimation about 16 minutes. Break down time and put back into car less then 10 minutes.
      Cons: Heavy base.
      Changes made: I cut the ground board smaller, and also cut square shaped the bottom board on rocker box, less weight -13 pounds and it will now fit into my small 4 door car.
      Added 2 felt pads to slow down speed of azm movement.
      Added counter weights 6-7 pounds to balance scope for use with a heavy EP, paracor, magnifing finder scope plus shroud and DSC box.
      So the bottom line is i am very happy with my 16 inch LB scope purchase.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    2. Guest

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      Review by Ptkacik of Charlotte, NC.
      1434326400
      Jun 14, 2015

      4.0 Monster telescope

      Pros:

      Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Heavy

      Comments:

      16" Lightbridge

      I've been using my Lightbridge for a month or two and can comment on a few things. But first let me say that my plan was to just use the optics build a big equatorial Newtonian so some views may be non-standard.

      It seems like Meade has been listening to customers and slowly making changes for a long time. For what it is, (the cheapest 16" scope on the market), there are not many complaints. I was surprised at how smoothly it goes together but a little plastic tensioner knob was broken. I was told that extremely fast dobsonian telescopes (f4.5) are extremely sensitive to collimation so I collimate with a Glatter TuBlug on each object.

      Is it heavy? Oh heck yes. It is a monster. I've only used it in my yard and take it out in big heavy pieces. My plan was to use the optics in a big lightweight carbon fiber tube but the mirror mount is a giant rigid pair of heavy steel castings. Collimation benefits from them and no counterweights are needed even with the steel upper tube assembly. It may not be that great for my big plan (lightweight tube on a big equatorial mount).

      It has a dimmable and highly adjustable red dot finder. It has a (no cost extra) cooling fan that I run continuously.

      And the optics?? Pretty good and bright. Even collimating on each object and running the fan for an hour ahead of time, it does not focus as well as I'd like. I like high power and planets from my light polluted yard. These big light buckets are for "Dim Fuzzies" not high powered views so when I compare it, it is against large scopes on clock drive equatorial mounts. At high power it is not as smooth in altitude as I'd like although azimuth is low friction.

      I've never transported it by car but I bet it would be difficult to load into anything but a good sized SUV. Some day I'll take to a dark sky and look at Dim Fuzzies and then I'm sure it'll walk away from the rest.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    3. Guest

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      Review by Astroweis of Tucson, AZ.
      1277596800
      Jun 26, 2010

      3.0 Good for the price, needs modifications

      Pros:

      Focuser,Price

      Cons:

      Mirror cover,26mm Eyepiece,Heavy,Red dot finder,White

      Comments:

      I am briefly visiting the US to finish my studies. Since I am an experienced visual amateur astronomer who owns an 18" Dobsonian with outstanding Russian optics, it might be a little unfair to compare a 2000 Dollar complete telescope with a 5000 Dollar primary mirror. However, the price is the only reason why I bought this telescope. You don't get more aperture for that less money.
      The purpose of this lightbucket is to observe faint objects - and the engineers from Meade did a pretty good job in constructing most of it in a way that prevents it from fulfilling this purpose.
      - Why is the scope white? There is something called dark adaptation...
      - Why is not an optical finder scope with light gathering power and magnification included instead of an (at least dimmable) red dot finder?
      - Any light from outside finds its way to the eyepiece, so you will need some black cloth.
      - There is no working way to change the resistance of the movement in azimuth - this can be really annoying when it is a little breezier
      - The 26mm eyepiece is absolutely worthless in combination with the f/4.5 scope.
      - If you replace the red dot finder with an optical one, the instrument gets top heavy, so you'll need a counterweight.
      - This 16" scope weighs more than my 18"...

      However, there are some advantages.
      - The focuser is really great. It focuses smoothly and the transmission is nice.
      - The optics are surprisingly good. The mechanics do their job well in maintaining the collimation.
      - The primary comes with a center mark.
      - Even though you have to disassemble it, the adjustment remains pretty stable after another setup.
      - As mentioned earlier: the price makes it.

      So, if you are looking for a low-prized telescope with a big aperture, reasonable optical quality AND are willing to spent some 300 to 400 bucks more for flocking material, cloth, optical finder and some decent eyepieces, you will get a telescope, which will suit you.

      In case you need a sophisticated high-end instrument with outstanding optics and mechanics OR have back trouble you won't get happy.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    4. Guest

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      Review by Starman 3 of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
      1272672000
      Apr 30, 2010

      5.0 A Lightbucket and a half!.....

      Pros:

      Strong Construction,Compact,Accurate,Quality Lenses

      Cons:

      None

      Comments:

      If you are looking to get into Astronomy big time, then don't even think about it, buy this Telescope! Yes, it's as good as they say it is! Yes, it's big! I just put wheelbarrow handles and 10" wheels on mine and now it goes anywhere I want it to! For the price? You can't go wrong with this huge Lightbucket! I had A 5" telescope, before I bought this monster and let me tell you, there is no comparison between the two! Meade's optics, as always, are top notch! With a 2" widefield eyepiece, you feel like you could fall in to the stars! Seriously! You don't just see a few stars, you see hundreds of stars and so much brighter! The moon? Is your playground! And in ultra sharp detail! Nebula? Buy a filter, they are all there waiting to be discovered! I bought a 50mm eyepiece and wow! You can see for miles wide! I won't own another telescope, unless it is a bigger Meade! Yeah, it's that good people! Sign me a very satisfied customer too! This 16 inch meade Dob, has opened up the world of Astronomy, like never before! And I love it!

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Specifications

      Telescope Aperture 16" (406.40mm)
      Manufacturer Meade
      Telescope Aperture 12.1in - 16in
      Telescope Series Meade LightBridge