  The New Solar Telescope (NST) is a 1.6-meter off-axis Gregory-type telescope
with an equatorial mount and an open optical support structure. To mitigate the
temperature fluctuations along the exposed optical path, the effects of
local/dome-related seeing have to be minimized. To accomplish this, NST will be
housed in a 5/8-sphere fiberglass dome that is outfitted with 14 active vents
evenly spaced around its perimeter. The 14 vents house louvers that open and
close independently of one another to regulate and direct the passage of air
through the dome. In January 2006, 16 thermal probes were installed throughout
the dome and the temperature distribution was measured. The measurements
confirmed the existence of a strong thermal gradient on the order of 5 degree
Celsius inside the dome. In December 2006, a second set of temperature
measurements were made using different louver configurations. In this study, we
present the results of these measurements along with their integration into the
thermal control system (ThCS) and the overall telescope control system (TCS).
