24 inch Ritchey-Chrétien Optical Tube Assembly
Category: Catadioptric Telescopes
Shipping on this item will be quoted and billed separately. We will reach out to you to estimate a lead time and make shipping arrangements.
Description
Delta-T Ready – Now the RC24 comes standard with built-in dew heaters for both primary and secondary mirror. A $550 value!
Introducing the PlaneWave Instruments PW24-RC, a 24 inch (0.61 m) telescope with Ritchey-Chrétien optics. PlaneWave’s CDK astrographs have become the telescopes of choice for universities, industry, and astrophotographers around the world, and now PlaneWave offers the PW-RC series to meet the custom needs of the scientific community.
The PW24-RC in its native format (no field flattening lenses) uses only a primary and secondary mirror with reflective coatings. This can be useful when making observations primarily on-axis and wide field imaging is not a concern.
Features:
| Ritchey-Chrétien (RC) Optics | Fused silica RC optics made by PlaneWave for excellent on-axis performance using only a hyperbolic primary and secondary mirror with no refractive optics in the light path. | |
| Carbon Fiber Truss Design | Minimizes thermal expansion to prevent focus shift with changes in temperature. | |
| Dovetail expansion joint | Accommodates the difference in thermal expansion between carbon fiber and aluminum. The expansion joint allows the aluminum dovetail to expand and contract without stressing the carbon fiber lower truss. | |
| Cooling Fans | Three cooling fans blow out the back of the optical tube, pulling air through the telescope and past the primary mirror. This helps the telescope to reach thermal equilibrium quickly. The fans are controlled by a computer if the optional Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA Kit) is purchased. |
Specifications
Optical System
| Optical Design | Ritchey-Chrétien (RC) |
| Aperture | 24 inch (610 mm) |
| Focal Length | 6469 mm (254.68 inch) |
| Focal ratio | F/10.6 |
| Central Obstruction | 30% of the Primary Mirror Diameter |
| Back Focus from Mounting Surface | 10.3 inch (261.6 mm) |
| Back Focus from Racked in Focuser | 7.3 inch (185.4 mm) |
| Weight | 240 lbs (108.9 kg) |
| OTA Length | 56 inch (1,422 mm) |
| Upper Cage | Carbon Fiber Truss |
| Lower Cage | Carbon Fiber Truss with Aluminum Light Shroud |
| OTA Width | 31 inch (787 mm) |
| OTA Height | 35 inch (889 mm) |
Secondary Mirror
| Diameter | 6.89 inch (175 mm) |
| Material | Fused Silica |
| Shape | Hyperbolic |
| Coating | Enhanced Aluminum – 96% |
Primary Mirror
| Optical Diameter | 24 inch (610 mm) |
| Outer Diameter | 24.5 inch (622 mm) |
| Shape | Hyperbolic |
| Material | Fused Silica |
| Coating | Enhanced Aluminum – 96% |
Shipping
| Crated Shipping Weight | 500 lbs (226.8 kg) |
| Crate Width | 40 inch (1,016 mm) |
| Crate Height | 48 inch (1,219 mm) |
| Crate Length | 78 inch (1,981 mm) |
Included Items
| CDK24 Focus Spacer (240343) | This 5.3″ long spacer may be installed between the backplate and the focuser to take up some of the CDK24’s extra backfocus and reduce the torque placed on the focuser mechanism. This spacer is sized such that the backfocus distance behind the focuser will match that of the CDK20. |
| Primary Mirror Cover | The Primary Mirror Cover protects the primary mirror. |
| Planewave thumb drive | Includes instructions for Collimation and Spacing and software. |
| 12VDC Power Supply | Provides power for the fans (Not included for European Orders) |
| Wrench Set (5812A35) | English Hex Wrenches (European Orders Only) |
Before you pay
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When it ships
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Standard Shipping: Handling (business days) 0–1; Transit (business days) 7–15.
Express Shipping: Handling (business days) 0–1; Transit (business days) 7–15.
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Standard Shipping · United States: $0.00
Express Shipping · United States: $3.99
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United States · Return window (days after delivery): 30. Return method: By mail. Return postage: Seller pays.
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