🚀 go-pugleaf

Some years ago Meade sold the "Research Grade Newtons". They featured
rotating tube, 2 inch focuser on heavy-duty highly polished equatorial
mounts.
I had one 10 inch about 12 years ago and sold it when I went to live in the
city. Recently by accident I found the same scope back (!) as a donation
to our public observatory...
We tried it out on Saturn and it was still giving magnificent images of
the planet ( better then a Celestron 10 inch ).
A friend of mine still has a 12 inch Research Grade in his observatory.
We had the mirror tested 3 years ago with the Caustic test and it came
out with 1/20 lambda and a very smooth figure - excellent thus.
The only drawback with these telescopes is that although Meade clames
"heavy duty mount", the mount is good enough for the 8 inch or 10 inch,
but is too flimsy for the 12 inch.
You need to fix the declination motor attachment ( if there is one
on the mount ), because that was the major weak point.
Another drawback is if you plan to do deep-sky photography.
You cannot alternate for visual use and prime focus photography without 
moving the primary mirror cell ( extra holes are pre-drilled). You could however
fix this by buying or making a new low profile focuser for the telescope.

Hope this helps.


Dominique