The ASA RC800 is an 0.8-meter aperture RC optical tube with quartz glass optics. The f/6.85 full carbon fiber truss Richey-Chrétien design includes an absolute encoder secondary mirror focusing unit.

The DDM500 has a load capacity of 500 kg / 1,100 lb. on a custom-built pier. To achieve the excellent tracking and pointing performance, the ASA Direct Drive systems are equipped with high resolution (0.004 arcsec) encoders on each axis.

• Optical Design: Ritchey-Chrétien (RC)
• Linear Central Obstruction: 41%
• Focal Length: 5,480 mm
• Focal Ratio System: f/6.85
• Clear Aperture / Focal Ratio Primary Mirror: 800 mm (31.5 inch) / f/2.5
• Back Focus from Flange: 345.73 mm
• Mirror Material: Fused Silica
• Surface Quality: <94 Strehl
• Micro-roughness: 1nm RMS / <0.7nm Ra
• Coating: Al+SiO2 >96%
• Tube Weight: 246 kg (542 lb.)
• Motor: ASA Direct Drive
• Latitude Range: 0º to 90º
• Max Load Capacity: 500 kg (1,102 lb.)
• Mount Weight (without counterweight): 281 kg (620 lb.)
• Pier: ASA Equatorial Pier (Recommended, Not Included)
• Software: ASA API (application programming interface) available Autumn 2023. ASA Software (Autoslew, Sequence-windows based) with ASCOM-Alpaca.
• Max. Slew Speed: Up to 50 degrees per second
• Pointing Accuracy (20° to 85°): <8” RMS with pointing model and ASA telescope
• Tracking Accuracy (20° to 85°): <0.25” RMS within 5 minutes tracking time over 5 min 0,05” RMS/min
• System Natural Frequency: 10 Hz or greater