<html>
<head>
<style>
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt;
font-family:Verdana
}
</style>
</head>
<body class='hmmessage'>
Jim,<BR>
<BR>
Thanks for the reply. I am sure if you have an Observa-dome product it would be far superior to the Observing Pod. <BR>
<BR>
John only paid $1500 for his pod and it was in brand new condition when he purchased it. <BR>
<BR>
Another amazing story. The Observa-dome at the Williams Observatory on the campus of GWU was also hit by a relatively small F-2 tornado, and sustained enough damage that a new dome was necessary. The observatory is about a mile from me and the funnel cloud came within 1/8 of a mile of my house. This is not Oklahoma, but North Carolina...however we do have an occasional tornado. <BR>
<BR>
Observa-dome brought a new dome on a massive truck, removed the damged one and installed a new one. I will send a picture of the observatory again for a size reference, as it is a big dome. I am not sure of the size. <BR>
<BR>
Roger <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR> <BR><FONT face=Verdana><EM><STRONG> </STRONG></EM></FONT><BR>
<HR id=stopSpelling>
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:21:46 -0700<BR>From: Jim.Gianoulakis@swgas.com<BR>To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>Subject: Re: [Lvas] Observing Pod<BR><BR>
<STYLE>
.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P
{padding:0px;}
.ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage
{font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;}
</STYLE>
<DIV>I contemplated the sky-shed pod as well when deciding on a permanent solution to my set up. I eventually went with a product from observa-dome, which is a more traditional dome design. The zenith issue was a part of that decision but also the clam shell design of the product as well. It has it's positives, a more open feeling, you can see the sky better. However those positives were also a negative because you have little protection from the wind or ambient light that a traditional dome does provide. At my location I have plenty of both. No matter how you can accomplish it though having a permanent setup has increased my eyepiece time a 1000% and that is what really matters. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jim Gianoulakis<BR>Manager Application Services Mobile<BR>702-876-7093<BR>702-253-7213 fax<BR><A href="mailto:jim.gianoulakis@swgas.com">jim.gianoulakis@swgas.com</A><BR><BR>>>> roger ivester <drivester@hotmail.com> 4/12/2009 11:34 AM >>><BR><BR>LVAS all,<BR> <BR>Just wanted to share a unique backyard observatory from a lifelong friend and fellow observer, John Elmore. He has a variety of instruments, a 10-inch LX200, 10-inch Meade Schmidt-Newtonian and too many smaller telescopes to list.<BR> <BR>John and I grew up slightly over a mile apart, "as the crow flies". Over a couple of fields and through a patch of woods.<BR> <BR>I have been wanting to take some pictures of John's home observatory for the longest time. He bought it used in Virginia. He said that the assembly was very easy and he had it ready to go in no time.<BR> <BR>This is the type of backyard observatory that I have been wanting for some time.<BR> <BR>John made some adjustments to the base and sent the first three pictures . This allows him to move the entire base when on occasion the roof hampers his visibility at the zenith when imaging.<BR> <BR>It should also be noted that the picture of Johns log house is his second. In May of 1989 his first home was completed destroyed by an F-5 tornado...yes an F-5. This is a rarity in western North Carolina.<BR> <BR>Just another bit of trivia. One day John and I were riding our bicycles during the summer of 1965 (a mutual agreement regarding the date) and we had a bicycle race. This was my first official race. Neither of us can remember who won. At the time I was 12 years old and John was ten. <BR> <BR>Little did I know that I would eventually ride over 100,000 miles and would enter quite a few Pro/AM races with good success. <BR> <BR>Enjoy, and best regards, Roger Ivester <BR> <BR> <BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<HR id=EC_stopSpelling>
</DIV>
<DIV>From: jbcustom@darrcam.com<BR>To: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>Subject: POD<BR>Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:36:39 -0400<BR><BR></DIV>
<STYLE>
</STYLE>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Roger</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here are the pics I told you about. Hope someone can benefit from them.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John</FONT></DIV><BR>
<HR>
Rediscover HotmailŪ: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. <A href="http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009">Check it out.</A>
<TABLE width=600>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<HR>
<FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=1><B>The information in this electronic mail communication contains confidential information which is the property of the sender and may be protected by the attorney-client privilege and/or attorney work product doctrine.</B> It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this e-mail by anyone else is unauthorized by the sender. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of the contents of this e-mail transmission or the taking or omission of any action in reliance thereon or pursuant thereto, is prohibited, and may be unlawful. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately of your receipt of this message by e-mail and destroy this communication, any attachments, and all copies thereof. <I>Thank you for your cooperation.</I><BR></FONT>
<HR>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><br /><hr />Rediscover HotmailŪ: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry <a href='http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009' target='_new'>Check it out.</a></body>
</html>