RC1000 (f/12.2) Ritchey-Chrétien Observatory System
Price: $700,000.00
*Price is based on PlaneWave’s Pricing Policy
The RC1000 is designed to meet the high standards of rigorous academic, commercial, and defense applications.
- 1-meter f/12 Ritchey-Chrétien optical design.
- Dual Nasmyth focus ports, 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.
- Secondary mirror focusing for increased instrumentation backfocus distance.
- Space-frame design with optional Coudé Path.
- PointXP mount modeling software.
Description
- Compact Alt/Az design with dual Nasmyth ports allowing multiple instrumentation payloads to be installed on the telescope.
- Integrated direct drive field de-rotator / rotational field framing.
- Integrated direct drive mount with absolute encoders, zero periodic error, zero backlash, and minimal maintenance due to the lack of gears.
- Slew speeds up to 50 degrees/sec for satellite tracking and fast target acquisition.
Features
Light-Weighted Fused Silica Optics
Fused Silica has a coefficient of thermal expansion six times lower than Borosilicate (Pyrex) glass, which means that as it cools down, fused silica preserves its shape to a high degree of accuracy. This translates into consistent optical performance and unchanging focus over temperature changes.
Dual Nasmyth Focus Ports
The Nasmyth focus is along the altitude axis so the telescope does not need to be re-balanced when changing equipment. Eyepieces remain at a constant height, greatly simplifying access to the telescope for public observatories. The computer-controlled M3 mirror allows either Nasmyth port to be selected in just a few seconds, allowing observers to easily transition between imaging and visual use, or other instrumentation.
Rotating Tertiary Mirror
The RC1000 includes an integrated rotator for the tertiary mirror, with magnetic locks to position the mirror precisely at either Nasmyth focus position. The rotator can move from one port to the other in under 10 seconds. Tertiary Mirror Video
Direct drive motors and encoders
Direct Drive motors and absolute on-axis encoders eliminate the need for reduction gears, thereby eliminating backlash and periodic error. With high-resolution encoders providing the feedback for the direct drive motors, not only will the telescope track without periodic error and backlash, the mount will also counter wind gusts with precise servo feedback. The direct drive motors can move the telescope at incredible speeds for tracking satellites or just to minimize target acquisition time.
Automated Primary Shutter
Protects the primary mirror from unwanted dust and moisture with this integrated four-shutter automated system, fully controllable with PlaneWave's PWI software.
Specifications
Specifications
Optical System
| Optical Design | Ritchey-Chrétien |
| Aperture | 1000 mm (39.37inch) |
| Focal Length | 12200mm |
| Focal ratio | f/12.2 |
| Central Obstruction | 27% of the Primary Mirror Diameter |
| Back Focus | 578 mm (22.75 inches) from Mounting Surface of de-rotator
648 mm (25.51 inches) from instrument mounting surface |
| Weight | 2600 lbs |
| Optical Tube | Dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus ports |
| Dimensions | 138″ H x 72″ W x 50″ D |
| Optimal Field of View | 64 mm (0.3 degrees) |
| Focus Position | Dual Nasmyth Focus Ports |
| Image Scale | 59 microns per arcsecond |
Mechanical Structure
| Fork Assembly | Space frame steel truss |
| Fork Base | Welded stainless steel torsion box |
| Azimuth Bearing | Dual 11.125 inch tapered roller bearings |
| Altitude Bearing | Three 9.5 inch 4 way loaded ball bearings (two pre-loaded on motor side and one on non motor side) |
| Optical Tube | Dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus |
| Instrument Payload | 300 lbs (150 ft-lbs) – mounted on the field de-rotator plate |
Motion Control
| Motor Control | Industrial grade Elmo brushless motor control system and built-in electronics |
| Motor – Azimuth and Altitude | Direct Drive 3-Phase Axial-Flux Torque Motor |
| Encoder – Azimuth and Altitude | Absolute encoder with a resolution of 0.005 arcseconds (268 million counts per revolution) |
| Motor Torque | Greater than 200 ft-lbs of peak torque |
| Drive Electronics | Controls the altitude and azimuth motors and encoders, 2 direct drive de-rotators with absolute encoders, 4 fans zones, 3 dew heater zones, two focusers, an array of temperature sensors, M3 port selector, primary mirror covers and magnetic axis deceleration |
| Telescope Control Software | PlaneWave Interface 4 (PWI4) Software. Incorporates PointXP mount modeling software and All Sky PlateSolve, both by Dave Rowe. Also includes automatic focusing, dew heater control, primary mirror cover control, and dome control and provides HTTP and ASCOM control interfaces. Linux and Windows compatible. MaxIm DL is required for camera control when building a pointing model within our PWI4 software. |
System Performance
| Pointing Accuracy | Better than 10 arcsecond RMS with PointXP Model |
| Pointing Precision | 2 arcseconds at sidereal velocity |
| Tracking Accuracy | < 1 arcsecond over a 10-minute period at sidereal velocity |
| 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) |
Primary Mirror
| Radius of Curvature | 5000 mm (196.85 inches) |
| Optical Diameter | 1000 mm (39.4 inch) |
| Outer Diameter | 1020 mm (40.157inch) |
| Core Diameter | 219.9 mm (8.66 inches) |
| Material | Fused Silica |
| Primary Thickness | 85 mm (3.3 inches) |
| Primary Weight | 149 lbs. (47% light weighted) |
| Cell | 18-point |
Secondary Mirror
| Radius of curvature | 1509 mm (59.4 inches) |
| Optical Diameter | 260 mm (10.24 inches) |
| Material | Fused Silica |
| Secondary Weight | 11.1 lbs (5 lbs with optional light weighting) |
Tertiary Mirror
| Optical Major Diameter | 233.4 mm (9.2 inches) |
| Optical Minor Diameter | 165.1 mm (6.5 inches) |
| Material | Fused Silica |
| M3 Thickness | 32 mm (1.25inches) |