[hamishbarker]

Hi Chris,



Our local astro society has a great observatory but it was originally built for a long refractor and now houses a 14" SCT. So the pier is really tall and eyepiece access is always by mobile stairs. I don't like them and am trying to convince others that an observing floor could be built to enhance operations, particularly for little ones (we use it mainly for public nights).



How high is the top of your pier's mounting plate (i.e. what the mount bolts to in lieu of a tripod) above the level of the observing floor? Are you (and your wife) satisfied with the level, and how tall is the shorter of you?


I see that your stairs are pretty narrow. I think our dome is a bit bigger than your 3.6m. Is that 3.6m to the inside edge of the walls or ring, or the outside walls?


Thanks in advance for a response and congrats on an excellent obsy!


Cheers,
hamish Barker
Nelson, NZ.

Cheers,
Hamish