DRL500 Telescope System
$82,500.00
The DeltaRho 500 Telescope System from PlaneWave Instruments is crafted for elite astronomers and astrophotographers who demand the best. Created with a passion for excellence, the DeltaRho 500 Telescope System brings groundbreaking features to advanced imaging, offering unmatched versatility across a spectrum of scientific and communicative applications. The DeltaRho 500 Telescope System from PlaneWave Instruments features a 508mm wide-field, f/3 aperture. This premium CDK optical tube combines a DeltaRho 500 with a L-500 direct drive mount.
*Price excludes shipping and crating. See our crating and pricing policy for full details.
DeltaRho 500’s Key Features
Large Aperture and Fast Focal Ratio
The DeltaRho 500 boasts a 508 mm aperture and a fast f/3.03 focal ratio. This powerful combination enhances light-gathering capability and speeds up image capture, which is ideal for detailed SSA/SDA object capture and expansive deep-sky imaging.
Advanced Optical Design
Featuring a state-of-the-art corrected Cassegrain focus optical system, the DeltaRho 500 delivers unparalleled image clarity. Experience sharp, flat fields across the entire field of view without any curvature, enabling stellar images with minimal need for post-processing.
Mechanical Structure
Constructed from lightweight yet durable carbon fiber, the DeltaRho 500 offers superior durability and stability. It minimizes thermal expansion, maintaining optimal image quality under diverse environmental conditions.
High-Performance Coatings
The telescope includes high-quality mirror coatings that can be tailored to meet specific observational needs. It optimizes light transmission and minimizes stray light, enhancing the telescope's performance for specialized tasks such as SSA/SDA.
Collimation Software
The DeltaRho 500 is equipped with user-friendly collimation software designed to ensure optimal alignment of optical elements quickly and accurately. This feature is crucial for maintaining the high resolution and sharpness needed for professional-level imaging and research, allowing users to adjust collimation on the fly.
Dew Control
Integrated dew control systems in the DeltaRho 500 utilize advanced heater technology to prevent condensation on optical surfaces. This system ensures that observations and imaging sessions are not interrupted by dew, providing consistent clarity and performance in a variety of environmental conditions.
Application-Specific Benefits
Astrophotography
With its quick exposure times and large field of view, the DeltaRho 500 allows astrophotographers to capture breathtaking night sky images with extraordinary detail and clarity.
Astronomy Research
The robust construction and superior optics of the DeltaRho 500 make it an invaluable resource for universities and research institutions committed to conducting in-depth astronomical research.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA)
The DeltaRho 500's fast focal ratio and extensive image circle enable shorter exposures and the use of larger sensors, making it exceptionally suited for surveying vast areas of the sky. This capability is critical for efficiently monitoring and cataloging space debris and satellites.
Specifications
DRL500 Telescope System
| Mount Weight | 257 lbs (100 kg) |
| Max. Load Capacity | 200 lbs (91 kg) |
| Latitude Range | 0 to 90 degrees, Northern and Southern hemispheres |
| Cable Management | Equipment cables can be wired through mount |
| Control Electronics | PlaneWave Interface dual axis telescope control |
| Homing Sensors | Home position sensors are included allowing the mount to find its home position on power up |
| Slew Rate | 20 degrees per second (standard); 50 degrees per second (maximum), both axes |
| Power Requirement | Accepts 120 to 240 VAC. Supplied with 120 VAC 15A IEC Type B Regulated Power Adapter. |
| Aperture | 20 in (508 mm) |
| Focal Length | 60.5 in (1537 mm) |
| Focal Ratio | f/3 |
| Central Obstruction | 59% by diameter |
| Backfocus from Mounting Surface | 9.166 in (232.8 mm) from mounting surface; 7.271 inch (184.7 mm) from lens cell |
| Weight | 16 5lbs (75 kg) |
| Optimal Field of View | 70 mm image circle |
| Motor – Azimuth and Altitude | Direct-Drive 3 Phase Axial-Flux Torque Motors |
| Encoder – Azimuth and Altitude | 152 mm stainless steel encoder ring with reader built into the azimuth and altitude axes. 18,880,000 counts per revolution (0.069-arcsecond resolution). |
| Motor Torque | Approximately 20 ft-lbs continuous; 50 ft-lbs peak |
| Drive Electronics | Industrial grade, off-the-shelf brushless motor drives for each axis with custom designed interface card |
| Telescope Control Software | Uses PWI4. Incorporates PointXP mount modeling software by Dave Rowe. All ASCOM compatible. |
| Pointing Accuracy | <10 arcsecond RMS with PointXP Model |
| Pointing Precision | 2 arcseconds at sidereal velocity |
| Tracking Accuracy | 0.3 arcseconds over a 5-minute period at sidereal velocity |
| System Natural Frequency | 10 Hz or greater |
| Included Items | Heating Elements for Dew Prevention - The heating pads on the primary and secondary mirror require the 600195 Delta-T controller sold separately |
| OTA Cover - To protect the primary mirror and inside of the optical tube | |
| Flashdrive - Contains software and instructions for collimation and spacing the primary to secondary mirror | |
| Wrench Set (5812A35) - Standard hex wrenches (European orders only) | |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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| $4,500.00 | |
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 | Series-5 Rotator (Stackable with Series-5 Focuser) |
| $3,500.00 | |
 | Tip-Tilt Adjustment Interfaces | These tip-tilt adapters are designed for securing the 3.5″ Hedrick Focuser and IRF90 and our Series-5 Focusers and Rotators.
| $300.00 – $400.00 | |
 | Piggyback Dovetail Bars |
Please Note- For CDK17 users:
| $400.00 – $650.00 | |
 | Extension Spacer for 7.125" Flange Interface | This spacer is used on optical tube assembly backplates and Series-5 Accessories.
| $370.00 – $410.00 |
