USED 14″ CDK f/7.2 OTA on MX+ with SBIG Camera and Accessories Planewave

Ships in one or multiple crates; shipping will be quoted separately.

USED PlaneWave CDK14 on Paramount MX+ and Pyramid Pier with STX 16803 and Accessories

This scope is in like-new condition, with some cosmetic UV fading on the mount’s red anodizing.

Comes with:

• PlaneWave CDK 14
• Paramount MX+ Mount
• Paramount Pyramid Pier
• STX 16803 Camera with AO-X Adaptive Optics
• FW5-STX Filter Wheel
• Astrodon Gen 2 5nm LRGB + Ha Filters
• Adapters

Description

Telescope:

The PlaneWave Instruments CDK14 is a 14 inch (0.36 m) f/7.2 Corrected Dall-Kirkham Astrograph telescope. The CDK14 covers a 70 mm field of view without any field curvature, off-axis coma, or astigmatism. The CDK14 is a lightweight carbon-fiber truss design weighing less than 50lbs, with 3 cooling fans blowing air throughout the back of the telescope. The CDK optical design is the innovative solution for unsurpassed astro-imaging quality at an affordable price.

The CDK (Corrected Dall-Kirkham) Optical Design is an innovative solution for unsurpassed astroimaging quality at an affordable price. The CDK telescope design provides excellent imaging with large format CCD cameras while remaining superb for visual use. The CDK design far exceeds the off-axis performance of most commercial telescope designs including the Ritchey-Chrétien design.

This no-compromise design is unique in making the optical alignment forgiving and collimation very easy. This guarantees the user the best possible performance from the telescope. The end result at the image plane of the CDK design is no off-axis coma, no off-axis astigmatism, perfectly flat field (no off-axis defocus). The CDK design will give you pinpoint stars from the center to the corner of the field of view.

Specifications

OPTICAL SYSTEM

Optical Design	Corrected Dall-Kirkham (CDK)
Aperture	14 inch (356mm)
Focal Length	2563mm (101 inch)
Focal ratio	F/7.2
Central Obstruction	23.5% by surface area; 48.5% by diameter
Back Focus from Mounting Surface	11.09 inch (282 mm)
Weight	48 lbs (22 kg)
OTA Length	35 inch (889 mm)
Optical Performance	3.1 micron RMS at 13mm off-axis; 6.0 micron RMS at 35mm off-axis – Spot Diagram
Upper Cage	Carbon Fiber Truss
Lower Cage	Carbon Fiber Truss and Light Shroud
Optimal Field of View	70mm Image Circle

SECONDARY MIRROR

Diameter	165 mm (6.5 inch)
Material	Precision Annealed Borosilicate
Shape	Spherical
Coating	Enhanced Aluminum – 96%

 

PRIMARY MIRROR

Optical Diameter	14 inches (355.6)
Outer Diameter	14.5 inches (468.3mm)
Shape	Prolate Ellipsoid
Material	Precision Annealed Borosilicate or Fused Silica
Coating	Enhanced Aluminum – 96%

LENS GROUP

Diameter	95mm (3.7 inch)
Number of lenses	Two
Coating	broadband AR Coatings (less than .5% reflected from 400 to 700nm)

STANDARD FEATURES

CDK Optics	The Corrected Dall-Kirkham design yields a perfectly flat field free from off-axis astigmatism, coma and defocus.
Carbon Fiber Truss Design	Minimizes thermal expansion which causes focus shift with changes in temperature
Dovetail Expansion Joint	Allows for the difference in thermal expansion between carbon fiber and aluminum. The expansion joint allows the aluminum dovetail expand and contract without stressing the carbon fiber lower truss
Cooling Fans	Three cooling fans blow air inside the back of the telescope. This helps the telescope to reach thermal equilibrium quickly. The fans are controlled by a computer if the optional Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA Kit) is purchased.
Delta-T Ready	For added dew prevention, the CDK14 is internally wired with polyimide film heater pads and temperature sensor, ready to be controlled with the optional Delta-T controller.

Mount:

• 100 lb (45 kg) instrument capacity; 200lb (90 kg) maximum payload capacity (instruments+counterweights)
• Unibody mount design weighs 50 lb (23 kg)
• Maximum 7 arcseconds peak-to-peak error before correction
• Calibrated polar alignment adjustments
• Fourth-generation control system featuring USB 2.0 computer to mount interface
• Belt-driven gears with spring loaded worm to gear interface results in virtually zero backlash
• Ample space for additional through the mount cabling
• All standard electronics and through the mount wiring are housed inside the mount
• includes a versatile equipment mounting plate (a.k.a. the Vera-Plate) that accepts any telescope Two Port USB 2.0 hub on the Instrument Panel
• Power supply and PC to mount cabling included
• 30 arcsecond all sky pointing accuracy using TPoint telescope modeling software
• Clutchless design maintains the TPoint assisted pointing accuracy
• TheSkyX Pro with Add Ons feature ProTrack™, Direct Guide™ (guider-cable free autoguiding), Super Model™, All Sky Image Link™, Closed Loop Slews, and more!

Description

The Paramount MX has a broad range of exciting features and capabilities that will keep you focused on the stars and not your equipment.  Software Bisque urges you to compare the Paramount MX feature set with every other commercial mount in this price range before buying any mount.

Hardware

• German equatorial mount design.
• Instrument capacity (not including the counterweights): 100 lb (45 kg).  Maximum payload capacity (instruments plus counterweights): 200 lb (90 kg).  Additional counterweights may be required for heavier payloads.
• Weight of the mount (including the Versa-Plate): 50 lb (23 kg)
• Every Paramount MX component is custom machined from 6061 aluminum at Software Bisque’s production facility.  The precision worms are machined from brass.
• Brass worms and aluminum gears that have a maximum seven (7) arcsecond peak-to-peak periodic error before periodic error correction. When periodic error correction is applied, the resulting peak-to-peak periodic error should be approximately one (1) arcsecond or less.
• Both the right ascension and declination axes have a simple three position mechanical “switch” to engage the worm during normal operation, disengage the worm from the gear when balancing the payload, or lock the axis during transit
• GEM design allows the right ascension axis to track past the meridian for up to 2 hours (time).
• All internal harnesses (cables) and motors are encapsulated inside the body of the mount, just like the Paramount ME. 
• Through the mount access holes allow you to add your own internal cables.
• Calibrated polar alignment adjustments that are virtually identical to the Paramount ME.
• Paramount ME-like homing, tracking and pointing performance.
• 7.5-inch right ascension and declination gears (375 teeth).
• 6-inch contact ball bearings in both right ascension and declination.
• Periodic error correction curve fitting included with TheSkyX Professional Edition.
• 45 arcminute bubble level included.
• A Paramount MX-style Versa-Plate for attaching optical tube assemblies is included.
• Power supply included.  Paramount MX power supply specifications: Max Power Output: 80W, Input: 100-240VAC ~47-63 Hz 1.9A, Output: 48V 1.66A max.
• Two (2) 20 lb (9kg) counterweights included.  Note that the Paramount MX and Paramount ME counterweights are identical.
• 16-in. (41 cm) counterweight shaft included.
• Standard Paramount MX wedge can be adjusted to reach latitudes from ten (10) degrees to slightly higher than sixty-five (65) degrees.  A Paramount ME-like Latitude Adjustment Wedge is available for latitudes outside this region.
• Azimuth axis polar axis adjustment range is plus or minus 3.5 degrees from center position (seven degrees total). 
• Altitude and azimuth polar alignment knobs are calibrated, so that making adjustments using the TPoint Polar Alignment Report simple and accurate.

Control System and Electronics

The Paramount MX includes the MKS 5000, Software Bisque’s fourth generation dual axis telescope control system.

• Integrated USB 2.0 computer to mount communication interface can be controlled via TheSkyX Professional Edition on either Mac OS X and Windows (7/Vista/XP, 32- and 64-bit), out of the box.
• Integrated two port USB 2.0 hub at the camera-end of the telescope, right where USB ports are needed most.
• The position of the motors is monitored 3333 times each second to ensure optimal tracking accuracy and smooth, consistent slews at all rates and all times.
• Tracking and “in progress slews” are immediately stopped in the event the mount’s payload encounters a fixed object, such as the side of the pier.
• The single board control system electronics requires the minimum number of components and has a small physical size.
• Hand controller features an integrated mini-joystick controller and configurable rate, a five position switch that allows single-handed mount control, an integrated bright red LED flashlight, sturdy “hang anywhere” cable loop and 15-foot coiled hand paddle to mount cable. 

• Programmable periodic error correction with advanced adperiodic error curve fitting built into TheSkyX Professional Edition.
• Built-in autoguider port on the Instrument Panel.
• Built-in focuser port on the Instrument Panel.
• One 12V and one 5V power port on the Instrument Panel.
• An integrated through the mount generic “power source” port on the Instrument Panel backed with 18-gauge wire to supply power to your observing equipment.
• Configurable software limits (using TheSkyX Professional Edition) to ensure the mount does not encounter the pier.
• Brushless DC servomotors with all moving parts on bearing surfaces. If your mount is used for survey astronomy all night, every clear night, no other type of motor is sufficient. Other commercial mounts use “brushed motors” that don’t have nearly the life expectancy of brushless DC servomotors and are not designed to be operated for long periods at the (relatively slow) sidereal rate.
• The maximum slew and tracking rate is six (6) degrees per second in both right ascension axis and declination (the default slew rate is 5.4 degrees per second)*. The gear-reducer and worm-block design of the Paramount MX are extremely efficient so that little power is lost between the motor and the telescope drive.
  

  *Maximum Slew Speed Disclaimer 

  The factory default of 80% maximum slew rate works well with most payloads over a wide range of temperatures. Paramount mounts can slew at the maximum slew rate with a balanced payload that is approximately 50% or less of the total rated capacity, when the spring plunger pressure adjusted to factory standards at moderate ambient temperatures. 

  As the mass of the payload increases, and/or the ambient temperature decreases, the mount may not be able to maintain maximum slew speeds. When near or above the stated capacity of the mount, or during cold temperature operation, slower maximum slew speeds and lower accelerations will be required.

• AutoHome™ homing capability (to better than one arcsecond resolution) with built-in sensor circuitry on each axis ensure that the mount always knows its orientation (after an initialization process called “homing”), even after power failure.
• Configurable park position.
• Audible feedback that indicates normal operation and error conditions.
• Slew and tracking rates can be configured with 56-bit precision. What does this mean? The right ascension and declination motors can be rotated a 0 to 4000 revolutions per minute and virtually anywhere in between, providing precise tracking and slewing. This gives you the ability to track on comets, asteroids and even fast- or slow-moving objects such as LEO satellites or any object that moves above or below the sidereal rate.
• Single-reduced belt-driven worms mean the Paramount MX has backlash so small it is difficult to measure (typically less than two arcseconds in both axes. Autoguiding calibration is always a snap with this “no-slop” system.  Spur gears and other components the may introduce backlash are not used.
• Temperature compensated internal oscillator with better than 10 parts per million that ensures accurate tracking rates over a wide temperature range.
• Built-in temperature sensor that allows the slew rate to be automatically reduced when the temperature drops.
• Soft “reboot” capability. This means that the control system can be restarted through software and does not have to be manually turned off, then on.

Tripod:

Features and Specifications:

• Tubular design provides outstanding stability on a truly portable platform
• Total tripod weight: 20 lb (9 kg)
• 360 degree azimuth adjustment
• Raised leveling adjustments minimize lower back strain while finding horizontal
• Center tray for holding accessories
• Pier feet swivel to conform to the ground
• 250 lb (113 kg) maximum payload capacity

Pyramid Portable Pier User Guide | SolidWorks eDrawing | Technical Drawing

Camera:

The SBIG STX Series represents the ultimate in astronomical imaging systems. The integrated design allows the user to select either Ethernet or high speed USB 2.0 connection to the control computer. The Model STX-16803 uses Kodak’s KAF-16803 CCD with 16 million pixels at 9 microns. The sensor measures almost 37mm square. The STX series has superior cooling to -50 degrees C below ambient with air only. Water-cooling is also possible. STX cameras have internal voltage regulation and may therefore be operated directly from any unregulated 12VDC power supply.

For guiding, a KAI-340 guide CCD is available in the optional Remote Guide Head, and in the optional STX Guider accessory for the FW7-STX filter wheel.  The STX Guider increases the guider FOV with focal reduction optics.

Optional AO-X Adaptive Optics

All STX models can operate with the AO-X Adaptive Optics accessory.  The AO-X uses a tip-tilt window to quickly and precisely adjust the image position in response to autoguider feedback.  With Adaptive Optics there is no backlash, stiction, or lag, and the movements are precise and accurate.  This allows the AO-X to not only remove the effects of periodic error, drift, and wind gusts, but also reduce the effects of atmospheric seeing.  The AO-X requires the use of an STX Guider or an off-axis guide assembly with the Remote Guide Head.

For more information please see AO-X.