Davoud:
Now, however, I am in the process of installing a GEM. A GEM ought to
be in the center of the dome, I am told...

William Hamblen:
The only real trouble you would have is when the telescope or
counterweight bumps into the dome. I think you would minimize the
diameter of the dome when the intersection of the polar and
declination axes is near the center of the dome. This is not
necessarily at the center of the pier. The offsets for your two
mounts are likely to be similar.

Thanks. My zerbatory http://www.davidillig.com/observatory14.shtml is
rather tiny, but it's not so tiny (or the Losmandy G-11 counterweight
shaft is not so long -- take your choice) that the counterweight shaft
will bump the wall or dome. I may have to rethink my sitting position
and my laptop position, however.

Even research observatories can have trouble with this. The staff at
one facility was chagrined to discover their new pier was too short
for their new telescope when it was all assembled.

I've just installed the mount, but haven't used it yet. I think it will
be OK, but the pier could be a bit tall. If so, I'll live with it or
order a shorter pier from Le Sueur; I'm not going to cut that beautiful
pier!

Davoud

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