Meade Instruments Receives the Popular Science 2005 Best of What's New Award for the RCX400(TM) Telescope.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Meade Instruments Corp. (NASDAQ:MEAD) announced that its new RCX400(TM) Advanced Ritchey-Chretien telescope was awarded Popular Science Magazine's 2005 Best of What's New Award. Popular Science editor Mark Jannot stated, "The Best of What's New Awards honor innovations that not only influence the way we live today, but change the way we think about the future."

According to Ken Baun, Meade's Senior Vice President of Engineering, the classic Richey-Chretien optical design (which the RCX400 shares with the Hubble Space Telescope and most major observatory telescopes built in the last half century) is unsurpassed in its ability to produce razor-sharp, coma-free images across the entire field-of-view. However, the new Meade RCX400 is more that just a classic Richey-Chretien. "Proprietary enhancements to the RCX400's optical system," said Baun, "take the optical design even further, allowing the RCX400 to significantly outperform traditional Richey-Chretien telescopes of similar size."

"For example," said Baun, "unlike its predecessors, the RCX400 incorporates a simple spherical primary mirror and a full-aperture corrector lens. These serve to reduce astigmatism and eliminate diffraction spikes that typically diminish contrast and resolution in the classic Ritchey-Chretien design. In addition, the scope's closed low-expansion carbon-fiber tube and built-in anti-dew heater result in greater optical precision, despite changes in temperature and humidity. These innovations and others make the RCX400 arguably the most advanced telescope ever produced for serious amateur astronomers and astrophotographers." Available in apertures of 10 to 16 inches, with prices starting at $4,999, the RCX400 costs a mere fraction of the price of competing Richey-Chretien designs of comparable aperture. World-renowned astrophotographer Jack Newton calls the RCX400 "a gift to the astronomical community."

"We are delighted to receive the Popular Science Best of What's New Award and the recognition that goes with it," said Meade's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Rich Jorgensen. "With the RCX400, our engineers succeeded in producing an affordable observatory-level telescope for the serious amateur astronomer. This scope is unequaled in its ability to meet the demands of those interested in advanced deep-sky astrophotography, comet and supernova discovery, and other pursuits. In addition to its sophisticated optics, the RCX400 incorporates some of the most advanced electronics and computer-driven mechanical systems (including digital focusing and a computer-controlled collimation system) ever designed into a commercial telescope."

All RCX400 Advanced Ritchey-Chretien telescopes are engineered, designed and manufactured at Meade's state-of-the-art facility located in Irvine, California.

Additional information on the RCX400 may be found at www.meade.com/rcx400.

About the Best of What's New Awards

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 innovations of the year. Winners must be breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners -- 100 new products and technologies in 12 categories -- are announced in the December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since 1987 when the Best of What's New began. Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine.

About Meade Instruments

Meade Instruments is a world-leader in the design and manufacturing of optical products for beginners to the most advanced amateur astronomers. These include the world's best-selling telescopes and accessories in many types and sizes. A premier optical specialist, Meade also offers a complete line of binoculars for everyone from casual observers to the more serious hunter, birder, or sports enthusiast. Likewise, Meade offers a complete line of premium riflescopes under the Simmons(R), Weaver(R) and Redfield(R) brand names. The Company distributes its products worldwide through a network of specialty retailers, mass merchandisers and domestic and foreign distributors. Additional information on Meade is available at www.meade.com

"Safe-Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including but not limited to comments regarding the performance capabilities of the RCX400. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and which may cause future activities and results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: any significant decline in general economic conditions or uncertainties affecting consumer spending; any general decline in demand for the Company's products; the Company's inability to develop and bring to market new and innovative products; any loss of, or failure to replace, any significant portion of the sales made to any significant customer of the Company; the inherent risks associated with international sales, as well as the other risks and uncertainties previously set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The historical results achieved are not necessarily indicative of future prospects of the Company. For additional information, refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.