ASA600 on ASA Direct Drive mount at La Silla (ESO)

Big ASA RC telescopes for ESO

Big ASA telescopes for ESO

A new national facility at ESO’s La Silla Observatory has successfully made its first observations. The ExTrA (Exoplanets in Transits and their Atmospheres) ASA 0.6m telescopes will search for and study Earth-sized planets orbiting nearby red dwarf stars. ExTrA’s novel design allows for much improved sensitivity compared to previous searches. Astronomers now have a powerful new tool to help in the search for potentially habitable worlds.

Big ASA telescopes for ESO

Impressions of Planet Hunters ExTrA

Imagecredit: ESO, Petr Horálek, Emmanuela Rimbaud

The ExTrA telescopes at La Silla

Products in use

ASA RC600_2

0.6m Ritchey-Chrétien, polar wedge and DDM200 Direct Drive mount

Optical design: Ritchey-Chrétien RC
Linear central obstruction: 40%
Focal length: 4200mm
Focal ratio system: f7
Clear Aperture / Focal Ratio Primary Mirror: 600mm (23.6 inch) / f2.5
Image field: 100mm (1.36 degrees)
Mirror material: Fused silica
Back Focus from flange: 211.85mm
Total weight: 230kg (507lbs)
Motor: ASA Direct Drive
Latitude Range: 0 to 90 degrees
Max. load capacity: 200kg (441lbs)
Weight mount (without counterweight): 138kg (304lbs)
Software: ASA Software package with a platform-independent Ascom Alpaca API (via TCP/IP), compatibility with numerous programs, and many additional API features for:
• Creating and optimizing pointing files
• MLPT (e.g., usable with a N.I.N.A plugin)
• Uploading and tracking TLE and CPF satellite orbits
• Orbit corrections when satellite tracking (autoguiding with external CCD cameras)
• Focus control also via Ascom Alpaca API
• Covers (if installed) via Ascom Alpaca API
Max. slew speeds: Up to 50 degrees per second
Pointing Accuracy (20° to 85°): <8” RMS with pointing model and ASA telescope
Tracking Accuracy (20° to 85° – unguided, with current pointingfile): <0,25” RMS within 5 minutes
System Natural Frequency: 10 Hz or greater