How does Meade top this? By engineering and manufacturing a 16” and 20” LX400 on Meade’s new MAX MOUNT to create the world’s first fully integrated telescope system (telescope/mount/software). For under $30,000, serious astronomers can now have 20” of RCX optical performance on a giant robotic equatorial mount. A dedicated-amateur could still piece together a lesser system the old fashioned way for 3 times the cost, but why? The MAX is truly the last mount an astronomer will ever need. With a 20” OTA, MAX is larger than Goliath and has a total payload capacity of over 400 lbs! (including counter weights). One of our beta testers commented on his experience with the MAX MOUNT by saying, “it’s built like a tank made by Swiss watchmakers.” A few of its features include: 650 gear teeth on the RA and Dec drive (the gears are the same size on the RA and Dec. axes. The worm is 1.1667” in diameter and the worm gear is a massive 13.8” in diameter), 0-90 degree latitude, internal cabling, interchangeable quick-release dovetail plates, local/network control, remote/web control, 3 USB2 ports and a clutchless, fully-enveloped, hard-loaded worm drive.