To fulfill the needs of demanding research, commercial, and defense applications, the PlaneWave 0.7-Meter RC700 Telescope features:

• 0.7-meter f/12 (8,410 mm focal length) Ritchey-Chrétien optical design
• Optimized central obstruction < 30 % for improved image contrast and optical fiber coupling efficiency
• Dual Nasmyth focus ports, each capable of holding over 300 lb., paired with a PlaneWave Interface 4 (PWI4) software controllable tertiary mirror for fast changes between multiple instrumentation packages
• Direct-drive motors on each axis providing up to 50 degrees/second of smooth, fast, and virtually silent slewing of the telescope with zero backlash and zero periodic error
• On-axis 26-bit absolute encoders coupled to each axis for precise pointing and stable LEO satellite tracking
• Optional GPS/PTP encoder synchronization for precise time-stamping and carbon fiber hard-shroud for stray light mitigation
• Secondary mirror focusing for increased instrumentation back focus distance
• Compatible with the Series-5 rotator for de-rotation
• Space-frame design with optional Coudé Path

OPTICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• The optical system is Ritchey-Chrétien
• All mirrors are fused silica
• Primary mirror aperture is 700 mm (27.56″)
• Focal length is 8,410mm and the focal ratio is f/12
• Central obstruction is < 30% of the primary mirror diameter
• Back focus is 317 mm (12.48″) from instrument mounting surface
• Weight is 2,500 lb.
• Optical tube is a dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Fork assembly is a space-frame design for maximum stiffness
• Industrial grade Elmo brushless motor control system and built in electronics
• Azimuth and altitude motors are direct drive 3 phase axial-flux torque
• Altitude motor is a direct drive 3 phase axial-flux torque motor
• Azimuth and altitude 255mm stainless steel encoder ring with read-head yields 67.1 million counts per revolution of the telescope or about 0.019 arc-second resolution
• Approximately 170 ft-lb continuous motor torque on the Azimuth motor

SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

• Pointing accuracy (all-sky RMS) of 10 arcsecond RMS with PointXP Model
• Pointing Precision of 2 arcseconds at sidereal velocity
• Open loop tracking accuracy of < 0.2 arcseconds over a 10 seconds period at sidereal velocity
• Azimuth range of motion of 660 degrees
• Altitude range of motion of 15 – 90 degrees with standard mirror cell and -15 to 90 degrees with the optional core-hole mounted primary mirror cell