From: AMaroney{at}sptimes.com
To: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: AMaroney{at}sptimes.com


> I noted this a few weeks ago just after my 'First Light' (alas not
kosher Ebony Star but definitely good grade Teflon).
> Looking at Saturn was a joy whilst Jupiter near the zenith became a pain
after a while.

My $0.02...

This was probably due less to the bearing material and more to the weight
of the focuser, eyepiece and finder all being on one side of the bearing
(trunion) axis.  The heavy side of the tube. with all the hardware, is
going to want to drop down.  Ideally the weight of the scope should be
balanced across the trunion axis.  Since this hardware has a similar weight
regardless of the size of the scope it has more of an effect on a smaller
scope.

It seems to make sense that if the trunion were located at the midpoint of
the balance (instead of midpoint of the tube), which would be towards the
side of the focuser that the extra mirror weight opposite of it would make
for a more stable Zenith position.  Has anyone confirmed this?

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