PlaneWave RC700 (f/12) Ritchey-Chrétien Observatory System

PlaneWave’s RC700 was designed to fulfill the needs of demanding research, commercial, and defense applications. With Direct Drive motors on each axis, a small central obstruction (< 30 %), and optional GPS/PTP encoder synchronization and carbon fiber hard-shroud, the RC700 is an ideal platform for commercial entities within the laser communication and satellite laser ranging sectors. The RC700 is a latest generation laser communication telescope that has been designed to run for decades as the centerpiece of an optical ground station. Under such laser communication ground terminal use, the RC700 is virtually maintenance free, with the only parts in contact with another surface being the altitude and azimuth bearings, both of which are filled with cryogenic grease and sealed to prevent dust entering.

An alt/az mount is inherently more stable than an equatorial mount since there is no cantilevered mass, nor are there any large protruding counterweights to create a dangerous hazard in a public observatory. An alt/az telescope is also considerably more compact than its equatorial counterpart, allowing a larger telescope to fit in a smaller enclosure. The mass it takes to make a rigid alt/az mount is substantially less, leading to cost savings. Unlike German Equatorial mounts, there are no meridian flips to deal with. You can image from horizon to horizon continuously if desired. Alt/Az is more intuitive to use and no polar alignment is needed.