On October 20, 2025, the results of the successful factory tests of the
new 80-cm ASA800 RC f6.85/f2.5 telescope, intended for Rozhen NAO, were received. The optics of the telescope is excellent and have a Strehl ratio of 0.980 for the primary mirror and 0.994 for the secondary. The Strehl ratio is equal to 1 in the ideal case, and Strehl ratios greater than 0.8 characterize the so-called “diffraction-limited” systems. The telescope was manufactured by ASA Astrosysteme GmbH, Austria, and will be installed in the repaired and renovated tower of the old 60-cm telescope. All activities related to the purchase, installation and commissioning of the telescope are funded by the Ministry of Science and Education within the framework of the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure (2020-2027), the object of which is the Regional
Astronomical Center for Research and Education (RACIO) consortium.
