Paramount GEM User Guide
59 | P a g e
Notice that for the both the standard and wide orientations, there are symmetrical mounting holes on
the top of the declination axis that allow the Versa-Plate to be attached 180 degrees apart; either one can
be used, depending on your needs. However, when mounting the OTA, make sure to maintain the relative
orientation between the top of the declination axis and the direction of incoming light described above.
Otherwise, the telescope will not point in the correct direction.
To help make sure the Versa-Plate is mounted properly, early model Paramount mounts had an arrow
machined into the top of the declination axis that represented the direction of incoming light. The top of
the declination axis on later model Paramount ME, Paramount MX mounts, and all Paramount MYT
mounts have an arrow and star machined into the top of the declination axis (Figure 24). The arrow points
at the stars. The optical tube must be mounted parallel to this arrow, with the light gathering end (the
entrance pupil) of the telescope located in the direction the arrow is pointing.
If the optical tube assembly is attached to the Versa-Plate such that the telescope’s
entrance pupil does not align with the direction of incoming light for the declination
axis, homing the mount will result in the optical tube pointing somewhere besides hour
angle 0 and declination 0. Rotate the telescope so that it points to HA 0, Dec 0 in the
home position.
To change the orientation of the Versa-Plate from the standard to the wide configuration:
1. Remove the six 1-inch ¼-20 3/16 socket head cap screws on the top of the Versa-Plate.
2. Rotate the Versa-Plate 90 degrees. The top of the declination axis has “indentations” to
accommodate the Instrument Panel-specific and custom through the mount cabling.
3. Align the mounting holes on the Versa-Plate with the mounting holes at the top of the declination
axis and replace four of the six screws. Only four socket head cap screws are used in the wide
orientation.
4. When mounting the OTA, make sure that the direction of incoming light for the OTA corresponds
with the required direction of incoming light for the declination axis as described above.
Mounting the Versa-Plate in the wide orientation reduces the cross-sectional area for
cabling to pass through on the top of the declination axis by about one-third. While
there is still some space for the standard cables and a few custom cables, be aware that
there is less “wiggle room” compared to the standard orientation.
Software Bisque manufactures and sells an optional Paramount ME Dec Axis to Versa-
Plate Spacer that provides additional room for through the mount cabling. See Versa-
Plate Spacers (Paramount MYT and ME only, Optional Accessory) on page 60 for details.
A simple test to make sure the OTA is mounted properly is to home the mount. Once the homing process
is completed, if the telescope is not pointing at hour angle 0 and declination 0, the OTA mounted
incorrectly. To correct this situation,
1. Remove both the OTA and the Versa-Plate.
2. Double-check the orientation of the Versa-Plate with the top of the declination axis.
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