Meade LX90 8-inch

The Meade LX90 8-inch is a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (SCT), which combines a spherical primary mirror with a corrector lens to produce a long focal length in a compact optical tube. This design is popular among serious amateur astronomers because it is versatile for both visual observation and astrophotography.

Yes, the LX90 features Meade's AutoStar computerized GoTo system, which can automatically slew to over 30,000 celestial objects after a basic two-star alignment. The built-in motorized drive also tracks objects as they move across the sky, compensating for Earth's rotation.

The LX90 is suitable for planetary, lunar, and basic deep-sky astrophotography using its built-in tracking, and many users attach a DSLR or dedicated astronomy camera to the rear port. For extended long-exposure deep-sky imaging, however, most astrophotographers prefer a German equatorial mount like the Celestron CGEM or Sky-Watcher EQ6-R for better tracking precision.

Both are 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes with GoTo tracking, but the LX90 uses a sturdy fork mount while the NexStar 8SE uses a single-arm alt-azimuth mount. The LX90's fork mount is generally more stable for astrophotography, while the NexStar 8SE is lighter, faster to set up, and easier to transport.