The PlaneWave 0.7-Meter Telescope is a complete 0.7-Meter observatory-class telescope featuring a direct drive altitude-azimuth (Alt-Az) mounting system designed and engineered by PlaneWave.

ALT/AZ TECHNOLOGY

An alt/az mount is inherently more stable than an equatorial mount as there is no cantilevered mass, nor are there any large counterweight protruding that are very dangerous in a public observatory. The mass it takes to make a rigid Alt/Az mount is substantially leading to cost savings. There is no dealing with balance changes as you cross the meridian or meridian flips that German Equatorial Mounts have to deal with. You can image from horizon to horizon continuously if desired. Alt/Az is more intuitive to use and there is no polar alignment needed. Besides, it is the way the big boys do it.

BENEFITS OF NASMYTH FOCUS

The Nasmyth Focus is along the altitude axis so there are virtually no balancing issue as you change out equipment. In addition the CDK700 comes standard with a field rotator / field framer.

DIRECT DRIVE MOTORS AND ENCODERS

Direct Drive motors means that there are no gears which cause backlash and periodic error. With the high resolution encoders providing the feedback for the direct drive motors, not only will the telescope track without periodic error or have any backlash at all, but the mount will be able to counter against wind gusts. The direct drive motors can move the telescope at incredible speeds for tracking satellites or just to minimize target acquisition time.

CDK OPTICAL DESIGN

The PlaneWave design produces a flat, coma free and astigmatic free field of view. Since the secondary mirror is spherical, centering is very forgiving, which means it is easy to get the telescope optics aligned for optimum performance, this is not the case for most high-end astrographs. The end result at the image plane of the CDK design is no off-axis coma, no off-axis astigmatism, and a perfectly flat field, all the way out to the edge of a 50mm image circle. All this means, the stars will be pinpoints from the center of the field of view out to the corner of the field of view.

OPTICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Optical Design: Corrected Dall-Kirkham (CDK)
Aperture: 700 mm (27.56 inch)
Focal Length: 4,638 mm
Focal ratio: f/6.6
Central Obstruction: 42% of the Primary Mirror Diameter
Back Focus: 305 mm (12 inch) from Mounting Surface
Weight: 1,200 lb.
Optical Tube: Dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus
Optical Performance: 1.8 micron RMS spots [25 mm on-axis] (400 to 900 nm) 4.4 micron RMS spots [21 mm off-axis] (400 to 900 nm) 6.8 micron RMS spots [35 mm off-axis] (400 to 900 nm)
Usable Field of View: 70 mm (0.86 degrees)
Focus Position: Nasmyth Focus
Fully Baffled Field: 60 mm
Image Scale: 22 microns per arcsecond

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Fork Assembly: Single piece U shaped fork arm assembly for maximum stiffness
Azimuth Bearing: 20 inch diameter thrust bearing
Altitude Bearing: 2 x 8.5 inch OD ball bearings
Optical Tube: Dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus

PRIMARY MIRROR

Radius of Curvature: 4,115 mm
Optical Diameter: 700 mm (27.56 inch)
Outer Diameter: 714.38 mm (28.125 inch)
Core Diameter: 203 mm (8 inch)
Material: Fused Silica
Edge Thickness: 2.25 inch
Cell: 18 point

SECONDARY MIRROR

Radius of curvature: 2,961 mm
Material: Fused Silica
Thickness: 25 mm
Optical Diameter: 270 mm
Outer Diameter: 280 mm
Cell: 3 point RTV

THIRD MIRROR

Optical Major Diameter: 152.4 mm
Material: Fused Silica
Thickness: 25 mm

MOTION CONTROL

Motor Control: Industrial grade Parker brushless motor control system and built in electronics
Azimuth Motor: Direct Drive 3 Phase Axial-Flux Torque Motor
Altitude Motor: Direct Drive 3 Phase Axial-Flux Torque Motor
Encoder – Azimuth and Altitude: 10 inch disk built into the azimuth and altitude axes with stainless steel encoder tape on the circumference with reader yields 16 million counts per revolution of the telescope. This translates to about 0.08 arcsecond resolution.
Motor Torque: Approximately 35 ft-lbs
Drive Electronics: Capable of controlling up to 4 high speed encoders, limit switch inputs, homing switch inputs, controls two additional motors for accessories, two brake outputs and 16 digital and 2 analog inputs
Telescope Control Software: Incorporates PointXP mount modeling software by Dave Rowe. All ASCOM compatible.

SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

Pointing Accuracy: 10 arcsecond RMS with PointXP Model
Pointing Precision: 2 arcsecond
Tracking Accuracy: 1 arcsecond error over 3 minute period
System Natural Frequency: 10 Hz or greater
Field De-Rotator Accuracy: 3 microns of peak to peak error at 35mm off-axis over 1 hour of tracking (18 arc sec)