Recently received the larger CDK14 - f/7.2. It was chosen mostly for its much larger and sharper image circle (70mm) which should work very well with the new QHY600 full frame with the IMX471 sensor.
The large circle also allows the use of the dedicated 0.66x Planewave focal reducer which will be bring the system down to f/4.8 with a large 1.5 degree FOV and still maintain a very fine resolution of 0.46 arcseconds/pixel.
I will update this post as I go along.
B: wiring and systems check
C: Mounted on the AP1100 - 110lbs (50kg) of counterweights required. Does fit in the Nexdome but quite a tight fit!
Note the small carbon standoffs on the upper and lower cage rings to keep the spandex shroud out of the light path.
D:Native f/7.2 flat field looks very good with little light drop off
E: Star in corners
F: CCD inspector showing very little curvature on a full frame chip (native f/7.2)
G: Collimation checked with Skywave wavefront analyzer
H: Wavefront Estimation - Pixinsight
I: Bin1 stars at 6.2pixels FWHM - Scale is 0.3"/pixel - FWHM = 1.86"
J: Custom carbon 4 inch standoffs. 8 x used to ensure the shroud stays out of the light path
L: My patented design
The standoffs working well at keeping the shroud away from the light path
M: Carbon stud on lower cage
N: Courtesy of Dr. Gaston from Innovations Foresight and Skywave pro. Optical test report
Strehl Ratio 0.92"SR = 92% @ 645nm, including the CO.rms error = 0.05 wave or 32nmPV error = 0.25 wave or 161nm
The dominant aberration is astigmatism 0.038 wave rms, or 24nm.For comparison the DL limit (SR=0.8) is 0.075 wave or 48nm @ 645nm.
Aberrations and summary (in wave rms @ 645nm, rounded to the nearest 100th of a wave): Astigmatism = 0.04 (3rd order)
Coma = 0.01 (3rd order)
Trefoil = 0.01 (3rd order)1st Spherical = 0.02 (3rd order)"
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