Paramount GEM User Guide
86 | P a g e
can be used to make absolute elevation adjustments. These vertical lines are 90 degrees apart and
represent increments of fifteen arcminutes in elevation.
The vernier scale also allows the mount’s elevation to be placed at a specific position and is useful for
restoring a specific elevation if the mount is used at multiple observing sites. For example, suppose your
observatory’s elevation is 39 degrees plus “an additional rotation that aligns the vertical B line with the –
4.5 tic mark on the Vernier scale”. You can subsequently use this position to precisely restore the altitude
of the polar axis each time the mount is setup.
The Paramount ME includes a removable Altitude Adjuster Wrench (page 101) to help rotate the Altitude
Adjuster Knob with the heavy payloads.
Figure 42: The Paramount ME altitude adjuster vernier scale.
Counterweight Shaft
Before attaching the counterweight shaft, secure the mount to the pier or tripod. The weight of the
counterweight shaft changes the mount’s center of mass so it may want to tip over. Once the mount is
secure, insert the threaded end into the bottom of the declination assembly and rotate the shaft clockwise
until it is hand tight.
To Next Page
Loading...