Image sequence:
M27 - M57 - M42

 

(click on number to see full size image)

 

NextGEN WideField 0.50X

Celestron C-11 telescope mounted on a Software Bisque Paramount ME

SBIG ST-10XME with KAF 3200 Class 2 CCD

TCF-S focuser

IFW filter wheel 

Ray Tracing

 

The optical design of the NextGEN 0.50X was done with Zemax and optimized for four field points using wavelengths of 450, 550 and 650 nm. The goal was for the smallest blur diameters for the four field points. The system was modeled using the actual optical prescription for a SCT with the inherit aberrations of this telescope. The resulting lens curvatures of this designed were made without adjusting the radii to the optical lab's tool list. Custom tools were made for all surfaces.

 

Click  here to see spot diagram

 

Click  here to see encircled energy diagram

 

Click here to see ray trace diagram

 

Click  here to see field curvature diagram

 

Click  here  for a glossary of terms used in the diagrams