Celestron RASA 36 - 360 mm f/2.2 Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph OTA

Celestron RASA 36 - the fast astrograph for your observatory

The Rowe-Ackermann-Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) was developed by Celestron for space monitoring, for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), for other scientific applications. Now this professional telescope is also available to amateur astronomers for advanced wide-field astrophotography.

RASA delivers the best results with DSLR, system cameras and of course astro cameras. Up to the thickness of the glass in the fully multi-coated optical window or optional filters, every component of the system has been considered and matched.

The RASA version with 36 cm aperture is the largest version manufactured by Celestron; it is the largest and fastest (f/2.2) optical instrument of its kind from series production. Unlike most telescopes that focus only visible light (400-700 nm), the RASA 36 cm offers an extended spectral range (400-900 nm), allowing a brighter signal to be detected by a camera sensor. The RASA 36 cm also has a newly developed focusing system that ensures easy and stable focusing.

The RASA enables you to collect data for professional astrophotography in just one night. With "normal" telescopes you would need several nights for comparable material .


Further important features

XLT coating with improved transmission

Quiet and powerful 12 V MagLev fan with dust protection shortens the cool-down time

Two Losmandy style dovetail bars allow easy mounting of the RASA 36 on suitable mounts and provide space for an additional telescope on the top side

Handles on the back of the RASA 36 allow easy adjustment

A focusing motor especially for the RASA 36 is manufactured by Starlight Instruments (optional accessory)

General information on Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt-Astrograph:

The Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt-Astrograph makes it very easy to create impressive astrophotos with modern DSLR or astronomical CCD cameras. The fast f/2.2 system with a large field of view has two major advantages over classical photography at f/10: much shorter exposure times and thus less susceptibility to tracking errors. So you can get better shots in less time and often even do without an autoguider.

The Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt-Astrograph is the legitimate successor of Celestron´s Schmidt cameras, which were still used with film negatives in the 1970s.

Today, with CCD sensors the same size as or even larger than 35 mm negatives or slides, this Schmidt-Astrograph offers a full 70 mm image circle, so you can get needle-sharp stars even on large sensors. This large illuminated image circle and a focal length of only 790 mm make it the perfect instrument for photographing large regions of the sky and extended objects. Among other things, you can create mosaic images of the entire sky or hunt variable stars, supernovae or comets.

Optical performance:

The Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph has a newly designed optical system with a four-lens corrector with rare earth glasses that suppress chromatic and imaging aberrations such as coma and field curvature. Never before has an astrograph in this price range delivered this optical quality and spot size over the entire field of view. The design also allows for very low vignetting.

Further features:

Other features such as a special linear brass bearing of the focuser and the Feathertouch dual-speed focuser allow you to make the exact settings for the perfect image. A 12 V MagLev fan shortens the cooling-down time and ensures an ideal airflow through the tube and dust-protected vents.

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin