Planewave CDK1000 Telescope System

The CDK1000 Observatory System from PlaneWave Instruments is crafted for elite astronomers and astrophotographers who demand the best. This premium setup combines the massive 1-meter CDK1000 optical tube with a state-of-the-art direct drive mount, creating a powerful platform that excels in sophisticated astronomical research and advanced astrophotography.

Key Features of the CDK1000 Observatory System

CDK1000 Optical Tube Assembly

• Aperture and Focal Length: Boasts a 1-meter aperture and a 6000 mm focal length at an f/6 ratio, optimized for exceptional depth and clarity in deep-sky imaging.
• Advanced Optical Design: Features a Corrected Dall-Kirkham optical design, free of off-axis coma, astigmatism, and field curvature, delivering a perfectly flat field across a 100 mm image circle, ensuring critically sharp images throughout the entire viewing area.
• High-Quality Construction: Constructed with lightweight yet robust materials, including zero-expansion fused silica for the mirrors, ensuring minimal thermal expansion and optimal thermal equilibration, which maintains precise optical alignment under fluctuating temperatures.
• Superior Mirrors and Coatings: Equipped with high-stability fused silica mirrors paired with high-performance coatings that maximize light throughput while minimizing stray light, enhancing imaging quality under a variety of conditions.
• Integrated Dual Nasmyth Focus Ports: Supports heavy instrumentation with over 300 lbs capacity on each focus port, facilitated by a controllable tertiary mirror that allows quick switching between instruments or cameras.

Integrated Direct Drive Mount

• High-Performance Direct Drive System: Utilizes advanced direct-drive motors, ensuring smooth, fast, and silent movement of the telescope with zero backlash and zero periodic error, perfect for precise tracking and swift repositioning of celestial objects.
• High-Resolution Encoders: Features absolute encoders on each axis, providing exceptional precision in movement and positioning, crucial for top-tier astrophotography and detailed astronomical research.
• Innovative Alt/Az Design: Offers a compact and inherently stable alt-azimuth design with no cantilevered mass, reducing overall system weight and cost, and increasing ease of use compared to traditional equatorial mounts.
• Rapid Target Acquisition: Achieves impressive slew speeds up to 50 degrees per second, enabling quick and efficient targeting of celestial bodies and satellites, essential for dynamic observations and responsive astrophotography.

Application-Specific Advantages

Astrophotography

The CDK1000 stands out as a formidable system for astrophotographers, with unmatched tracking accuracy and image stability that facilitate capturing spectacular celestial images with intricate details and vibrant colors.

Astronomy Research

Researchers will value the CDK1000 for its consistent performance and precision, serving as a robust platform for advanced photometry, spectroscopy, and comprehensive celestial studies, providing a solid foundation for significant scientific discoveries.

Visual Observations

For those passionate about visual astronomy, the CDK1000 offers vibrant and detailed views of the universe. Its substantial aperture and high-quality optical components ensure exceptional viewing experiences of planetary, lunar, and deep-sky objects, enriching every observational session.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA)

The CDK1000 system, with its precise direct drive motors and high-resolution encoders, is capable of engaging in SSA and SDA applications, such as tracking satellites and space debris. However, while it offers notable capabilities in these areas, it is not the ideal system for dedicated SSA/SDA operations due to its primary design focus on astrophotography and astronomical research. For those seeking a system optimized for the rigorous demands of SSA/SDA, we recommend considering the T-600 Direct-Drive Gimbal.