Meade Lightbridge 12 - Deluxe

This has been an excellent scope for the following reasons:

• 12" is about the biggest aperture that is still very portable
• It travels very well
  • Truss Tube is far easier to transport than a solid tube
  • Easy to assemble/dissemble
  • (includes the JMI travel nose clips to mount the Upper Tube Assembly directly to the Lower Tube Assembly)
  • maintains collimation well
• Computerized! Works with iPad
• Two speed Crayford focuser

I added the following upgrades:

• JMI Digital Encoders - to use with your choice of astro computer
• Rail Balancing System - the stock friction brake only suppress the symptom.  It's better to fix the cause)
• Astrozap Light Shroud
• Bob's Knobs for tool free collimation of the secondary mirror (it's a bad idea to have non-captive tools or fittings anywhere above the primary mirror).
• Heavy-duty collimation springs (the stock springs barely support the mirror)

Here is some information on using Nexus/iPad/SkySafari to guide the scope.

Here is a demo I recorded (amateurishly) using the iPad to Navigate the Sky: