Enjoy exceptional optical and tracking performance for astrophotography, or research, with the CDK350 package! Includes a CDK14 optical tube and L-350 mount.
The PlaneWave Instruments CDK14 is a 14 inch (0.35 m) f/7.2 Corrected Dall-Kirkham Astrograph telescope. The CDK14 has a dual carbon-fiber truss design, with 3 cooling fans ejecting air from the back of the telescope, and 4 fans blowing across the boundary layer of the mirror's surface. The CDK14 covers a 70 mm field of view without any field curvature, off-axis coma, or astigmatism. The instrument weight is 48 lbs (21.8 kg) and comes standard with a backplate retaining ring ready to accept the focuser of your choice.
CDK14 optical tube:
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f/7.2 and 2563mm focal length No coma, no off-axis astigmatism, and no field curvature.
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Pinpoint stars across a 70mm image circle.
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Rock solid fused silica mirrors with low thermal expansion.
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Carbon fiber optical tube assembly for rigidity and fast cooling.
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Simple secondary mirror collimation thanks to the fixed primary mirror.
L-350 direct drive mount:
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Zero periodic error, zero backlash, and minimal maintenance due to the lack of gears.
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Slew speeds up to 50 degrees/sec for satellite tracking and fast target acquisition
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Sidereal tracking accuracy of < 0.30 arcseconds RMS over 5 minutes.
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High resolution optical encoders on both axes for precision feedback. Can be installed in either equatorial, or alt/az configuration.
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Includes PWI4 software (ASCOM compliant) for mount control.
All CDK14 telescopes come with fused silica primary and secondary mirrors.
The L-Series combines versatility, simplicity and affordability by combining all the technology of our Observatory class telescopes into a compact stand-alone mount. In its Alt/Az configuration, it is 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, and no large protruding counterweights to create a dangerous hazard in a public observatory. Alt/Az is more intuitive to use and no polar alignment is needed. Besides, it is the way the pros do it!
