Supplementary instrument
The Meade 178ED APO EMC is a 178 mm ED apochromatic refractor permanently mounted in parallel with the Newtonian reflector. It is used mainly for visual observations.
At a glance
Optics
The refractor uses a 178 mm air-spaced ED doublet objective with the KF3/FK01 glass combination. With a focal length of 1,600 mm, the system has a focal ratio of f/9.
The objective carries Meade Super Multi-Coatings to reduce reflection losses at the optical surfaces.
Use
The refractor is used mainly for visual observations and provides an alternative to the Newtonian reflector.
Because the instruments are permanently mounted in parallel, the same region of sky can be observed with two optically different telescope systems without changing the observatory's basic configuration.
Focus
The refractor is equipped with a 3.0-inch Starlight Instruments Feather Touch FTF3035B-A. The focuser has a rack-and-pinion mechanism, dual speed, brake and approximately 89 mm of travel.