{"product_id":"orion-optics-uk-odk24tr-optical-tube-assembly","title":"Orion Optics UK ODK24Tr Truss Optical Tube Assembly","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOptimized Dall-Kirkham (ODK) Optical Design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorrected, Coma-Free Flat Field for Imaging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen Truss Tube for Thermal Stability and Rigidity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-Finished Primary and Secondary Mirrors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManufactured by Orion Optics UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n      \u003ch2\u003eOrion Optics UK ODK24Tr Truss Optical Tube Assembly\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe Orion Optics UK ODK24Tr Truss Optical Tube Assembly represents a pinnacle of astrographic design, combining a large-aperture, flat-field Optimized Dall-Kirkham (ODK) optical system with a rigid, thermally stable open truss framework. Engineered for serious imagers, the ODK24Tr leverages Orion Optics UK's renowned expertise in hand-figuring large optics to deliver professional-grade astronomical performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eOptimized Dall-Kirkham: A Coma-Free, Flat-Field Astrograph\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe ODK optical system is an advanced version of the Dall-Kirkham design, featuring an elliptical primary mirror, a spherical secondary, and a built-in corrector lens group. This configuration produces a wide, flat, and fully illuminated field of view that is free from off-axis coma, making the ODK24Tr ideal for use with modern large-format CMOS and CCD cameras.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eOpen Truss Framework: Thermal Stability and Rigidity\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe open truss structure of the ODK24Tr provides exceptional mechanical rigidity while minimizing weight compared to a solid tube. This design allows the primary mirror to acclimate rapidly to ambient nighttime temperatures, reducing tube currents and ensuring the sharpest possible images. While the open frame excels at thermal management, using a light shroud is recommended to block stray light and protect the optics from dew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eOrion Optics UK Hand-Figured Optics: The Path to Wavefront Accuracy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eAt the heart of the ODK24Tr are optics hand-finished by Orion Optics UK's master opticians. Every mirror is subjected to rigorous testing with a Zygo laser interferometer to ensure its surface accuracy meets exacting standards. This commitment to precision is what separates OOUK from mass-produced instruments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eOrion Optics UK offers multiple grades of optical accuracy, from their excellent 1\/4 PV wavefront Standard optics to their near-perfect 1\/10 PV wavefront Ultra grade. This dedication to quantifiable optical quality ensures that the telescope's performance is limited only by the seeing conditions, not by the mirror itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat is an \"Optimized Dall-Kirkham\" (ODK) design on the ODK24Tr?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eOptimized Dall-Kirkham (ODK)\u003c\/strong\u003e is a specialized Cassegrain-style telescope designed for astrophotography. It uses an elliptical primary mirror, a spherical secondary, and a corrector lens system. This combination corrects for optical aberrations like coma and provides a flat focal plane, resulting in sharp, pinpoint stars across a wide, well-illuminated field of view, which is critical for imaging with large sensors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat are the advantages of the ODK24Tr's truss tube design?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe truss design offers two main benefits for a large telescope like the ODK24Tr:\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThermal Stability:\u003c\/strong\u003e The open frame allows air to circulate freely around the primary mirror, letting it cool down to the ambient temperature much faster than a solid tube. This minimizes internal air currents (tube seeing) that can degrade image sharpness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh Rigidity-to-Weight Ratio:\u003c\/strong\u003e The truss structure provides a very stiff platform to maintain optical alignment without the immense weight of a comparable solid tube, making it more manageable on a high-capacity mount.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat does Orion Optics UK's mirror quality mean for the ODK24Tr?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eOrion Optics UK (OOUK) is renowned for its hand-figured and finished mirrors, which are tested on a Zygo interferometer to guarantee a specific level of wavefront accuracy (e.g., 1\/4 PV, 1\/6 PV, or higher). For the ODK24Tr, this means the optics are crafted to an extremely high standard of precision, delivering maximum contrast and sharpness for demanding planetary and deep-sky imaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow would the ODK24Tr perform for imaging a large target like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe ODK24Tr is exceptionally well-suited for large targets like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Its flat-field, coma-corrected optics are designed to illuminate large camera sensors evenly, ensuring that stars are sharp from the galaxy's core to its outermost spiral arms. The large aperture gathers immense amounts of light, revealing faint dust lanes and star-forming regions with shorter exposure times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs the ODK24Tr suitable for planetary viewing, for example, observing the Cassini Division on Saturn?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eAbsolutely. While designed as an astrograph, the high-precision optics of the ODK24Tr make it a superb planetary instrument. The certified wavefront accuracy from Orion Optics UK ensures maximum image contrast, which is essential for resolving fine details like the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings, cloud bands on Jupiter, or surface features on Mars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy is thermal management important for a large telescope like the ODK24Tr?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eFor any large-aperture telescope, thermal management is critical. If the primary mirror is warmer than the surrounding air, it creates a boundary layer of turbulent air directly in the light path, which blurs the image—a phenomenon known as \"mirror seeing.\" The ODK24Tr's open truss design helps prevent this by allowing the mirror to reach thermal equilibrium with the environment quickly, preserving the telescope's high-resolution capabilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n  \u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/orion-optics-uk-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOrion Optics UK 1-Year Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Orion Optics UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52942368932125,"sku":"OOUK-ODK24TR-OPTICAL-TUBE-ASSEMBLY","price":84522.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/Orion-Optics-UK-Logo_f71c6b05-8e6e-4145-9358-b4b28aa1f910.jpg?v=1789606973","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/en-us\/products\/orion-optics-uk-odk24tr-optical-tube-assembly","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}