PLANEWAVE CDK12.5 f/8 Optical Tube Assembly Carbon Fiber! NOT for the Faint-Hearted!! (Pre-owned)

CDK12.5’s Key Features

Large Aperture and Extended Focal Ratio

The CDK12.5 features a 318 mm aperture paired with an f/8 focal ratio. This combination provides superb depth of field and excellent resolution, making it highly effective for detailed lunar, planetary, and deep-sky imaging.

Advanced Optical Design

The CDK12.5 has a state-of-the-art Corrected Dall-Kirkham optical system, offering outstanding image clarity. This design eliminates off-axis coma and astigmatism and achieves a perfectly flat field, ensuring images are consistently sharp and detailed across the entire field with minimal post-processing adjustments.

Robust Mechanical Structure

Built with a carbon fiber optical tube, the CDK12.5 is lightweight and highly durable. Its design accounts for minimal thermal expansion, which ensures stable focus across a range of temperatures which is ideal for extended observing sessions in diverse environmental conditions.

High-Performance Mirrors and Coatings

Featuring fused silica mirrors, the CDK12.5 maintains precise optical alignment and surface accuracy under temperature shifts. The superior coatings enhance light transmission and reduce stray light, optimizing the telescope’s performance for demanding observational tasks.

Thermal Management

The CDK12.5 includes cooling fans and a system ready for Delta-T control to reach thermal equilibrium rapidly. This setup minimizes air turbulence inside the tube, reducing image distortion and maintaining consistent imaging quality.

Integrated Dew Control

This telescope integrates sophisticated dew prevention technology with heating pads managed through PlaneWave’s software. This system ensures that optical surfaces remain clear from condensation under varying humidity levels, maintaining clarity and performance during observational sessions.

Application-Specific Benefits

Astrophotography

With its precise optical system and stable performance, the CDK12.5 allows astrophotographers to capture stunning images of the cosmos with remarkable detail and clarity.

Astronomy Research

The reliable and detailed imaging capabilities of the CDK12.5 make it an excellent resource for academic institutions and observatories conducting sophisticated astronomical studies, including stellar photometry and minor planet tracking.

Visual Observations

The CDK12.5 excels in visual observation, offering vibrant and clear views, making it perfect for star parties and serious visual astronomy. Its large aperture and high-quality optical components provide stunning views of planetary, lunar, and deep-sky objects, enriching every visual experience.

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

The CDK12.5 also lends itself to Space Situational Awareness and Space Domain Awareness applications. Its capability to provide detailed observations can be essential for tracking and monitoring satellites and other space debris, contributing valuable data for space traffic management and safety initiatives.