GSO RC OTA 8" f/8 M-LRS

The GSO RC OTA represents a specialized optical tube designed explicitly for astrophotography. It employs a real Ritchey-Chretien (RC) system, renowned for its ability to correct coma and astigmatism, making it a highly esteemed optical construction within the realm of astronomical telescopes. The RC design utilizes two hyperbolic mirrors to entirely eliminate coma and astigmatism, while the absence of correctors and lenses ensures the absence of chromatic aberration.

Originally devised by American George Ritchey and Frenchman Henri Chrétien, the RC system was primarily tailored for astrophotography. These pioneers successfully engineered an impeccable optical system devoid of coma, a prevalent defect found in nearly all telescopes. By employing hyperbolic mirrors, they eradicated this drawback, creating a mirror-based configuration that does not exhibit the chromatic aberrations commonly associated with catadioptric systems.

Key Features:

• Optimal combination of aperture, quality, weight, and price: The hyperbolic mirror-based optical system offers the advantage of being free from chromatic aberration and coma, all while maintaining high resolution and a relatively lightweight design, all at an affordable price point.

• Swift cooling time: The open design of RC tubes allows for approximately twice as fast cooling compared to closed tubes like Maksutov and SCT systems of the same aperture.

• Resistance to dew formation: While dew often accumulates on the meniscus of catadioptric tubes and refractor lenses, the absence of a meniscus in the RC tube significantly reduces the occurrence of dew condensation on the optics.

• High contrast: The interior of the tube is equipped with numerous baffles (diaphragms) and is coated with a matte black surface, effectively eliminating stray rays and resulting glare.

Technical Specifications:

• Optical system: Ritchey-Chretien

• Mirror diameter: 200 mm

• Focal length: 1600 mm

• Aperture ratio: f/8

• Tube weight: 8405 g

• Extension weight (including 3 pieces): 535 g

• Optical tube length: 46.5 cm without the focuser / 58 cm with the focuser

• Length of optical tube with extensions: 68 cm / 73.5 cm with maximum extension

• Outer tube diameter at the front: 23 cm

Equipment:

• 2x dovetail mounts: 1 x Vixen-style, 1 x Losmandy-style

• Crayford 2" / 1.25" focuser with a 10:1 microfocus, accompanied by a 5 cm extension tube and graduated markings

• Front and back tube caps

• Focuser extensions (2 x 2.5 cm optical length, 1 x 5 cm optical length, 77.5 mm clearance)

• Tube finder adapter: Yes, compatible with SkyWatcher / Vixen standards