I own a MEADE 16 inch Starfinder with Eq mount and the Magellan 2 computer aided control . The tube is 19 inches in diam. and Just under 6 feet long
the scope is 250 lbs , This telescope can be assembled by one person but a helper will make things go better. I have seen Hale-Bopp and the site was great, As with all
new scope of this size I waited 3 months to get the scope from MEADE and from that day we have had 4 clear nights in the last month. First starlight was on 27th
of JAN. 1997.
After many hours of setting up the scope and Align on polaris Only to find the drive Ran backwards and the computer couldn't find the earth if it was pointing at it . So the scope was trussed out. It is now far more user friendly than it ever was.
Take a look at the all new 16" scope and when I say all new It is the only thing I reused from meade is the main mirror.