PlaneWave CDK600 Observatory System

The CDK24 (0.61 m) f/6.5 Corrected Dall-Kirkham Astrograph telescope has a dual truss design, with 3 cooling fans for the back of the primary mirror and 4 fans for the front surface of the primary mirror. The CDK24 covers a 70 mm field of view without any field curvature, off-axis coma, or astigmatism. The instrument weight is 240 lbs (109 kg) and comes standard with a back plate retaining ring ready to accept the focuser of your choice.

All CDK24 telescopes come with fused silica primary and secondary mirrors. 

 The L-Series mount combines versatility, simplicity and affordability by combining all the technology of our Observatory class telescopes into a compact stand-alone mount.   In its Alt/Az configuration it is considerably more compact than its German equatorial counterpart, allowing a larger telescope to fit in a smaller enclosure.  Unlike German Equatorial mounts, there are no meridian flips to deal with, and no  large protruding counterweights to create a dangerous hazard in a public observatory. Alt/Az is more intuitive to use and no polar alignment is needed. Besides, it is the way the pros do it!

Enjoy exceptional optical and tracking performance for astrophotography, or research, with the CDK600 package! Includes a CDK24 optical tube and L-600 mount.

• CDK24 optical tube:
  • f/6.5 and 3974mm focal length
  • No coma, no off-axis astigmatism, and no field curvature.
  • Pinpoint stars across a 70mm image circle.
  • Rock solid fused silica mirrors with low thermal expansion.
  • Carbon fiber optical tube assembly for rigidity and fast cooling.
  • Simple secondary mirror collimation thanks to the fixed primary mirror.

• L-600 direct drive mount:
  • 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.
  • Sidereal tracking accuracy of < 0.30 arcseconds RMS over 5 minutes.
  • High resolution optical encoders on both axes for precision feedback.
  • Can be installed in either equatorial, or alt/az configuration.
  • Includes PWI4 software (ASCOM compliant) for mount control.