The Celestron RASA 36cm Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph is an incredibly fast f/2.2 optical system designed for professional imaging, space surveillance and scientific applications with modern CMOS cameras. The RASA 36cm provides a flat field free of optical aberrations across a 60mm field of view, making it suitable for medium format sensors.
As the RASA 36cm is a fast f/2.2 system, you can use much shorter exposure times than usual to capture faint objects. This combined with the 790mm focal length means that you don't need to have super-accurate tracking over extended periods, making the RASA 36cm suitable for use on a wide variety of higher capacity equatorial mounts.
The RASA 36cm includes Celestron's Ultra-Stable Focus System which utilizes two sets of precision sealed ball bearings to virtually eliminate lateral movement of the primary mirror when focusing, slewing or tracking. An additional top-mounted CGE dovetail allows you to easily mount accessories such as or guide scopes.
Building on the legacy of Celestron's Schmidt Cameras of the 1970's, the RASA 36cm allows astrophotographers to capture incredible data with minimal exposure times. The 4-element lens group with rare-earth ED glass provide images free from aberrations that are inherent in other types of telescopes.
With an extended spectral range of 400-900nm, the RASA 36cm is designed for use with modern cameras that are sensitive to NIR wavelengths in the 700-900nm range. Unlike many telescopes which are only designed for the visual spectrum up to 700nm, this extended range will be well focused in the RASA 36cm, leading to sharper and brighter images.
The RASA 36cm performs best once its optics have reached thermal equilibrium with the ambient air. To aid this, the telescope is equipped with cooling fans which direct air through the tube and around the primary mirror.
Note: The RASA 36cm is designed for astrophotography and cannot be used visually. The focal plane is at the front of the optical system so it is not possible to use an eyepiece. It is recommended to only use narrowband filters that are optimized for fast systems such as the or .
Specifications
| Optical design | Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph |
|---|---|
| Aperture | 355.6 mm (14") |
| Focal length | 790 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/2.2 |
| Resolving power | 0.36 arc seconds |
| Image circle | 60.1 mm, 4.4° |
| Usable field | 70 mm, 5.1° with only minimal performance loss at edge of FOV |
| Light gathering power | 2581 times the human eye |
| Central obstruction diameter | 158 mm (44% of aperture diameter) |
| Wavelength range | 400 - 900 nm |
| Spot size | < 6.3μm RMS across image circle |
| Optical coatings | StarBright XLT |
| Off-axis illumination | 83% at 30 mm off-axis |
| Optical window diameter | 104 mm |
| Backfocus with included camera adapter | 55 mm |
| Backfocus from top of threaded collar | 77.5 mm |
| Mount attachment | CGE dovetail plate on top and bottom of tube |
| Focuser | Ultra-Stable Focusing System |
| Included connection adapters | M48 x 0.75 |
| Tube length | 1079.5 mm |
| Tube weight | 34.02 kg |
| Tube diameter | 406.4 mm |
| SKU | CE-91077 |
Items included
- RASA 36cm
- 2 x CGE dovetail
- M48 camera adapter
- Fan battery pack
Filter solutions
The RASA 36cm has a much greater backfocus than the smaller 8" version, so it is possible to use standard filter drawers and DSLRs. We recommend the for most applications. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Downloads
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