Vertical Challenge

[SummerRider]

I'll ask this question before I go down this route.


I'm 6' or 2m tall (ish). So the few times I've set up my telescope or binocular tripod, I almost always extend it to max range, then level it "down" from there. When I'm done I'm still having to hunch over the eyepiece. I'm looking at options to raise the viewing location. One option I'm considering is getting sturdy boxes or crates that I would elevate where the tripod starts. I'm assuming others have had this issue and have more experience in that area.

Cons:
- most likely will make the telescope less stable (wobble/vibration added)
- more likely to knock out the base/tripod and damage the telescope.

Pros:
- Won't have to bend over all the time to view the sky.


So, I'm have a feeling this might be a path that others have "lesson's learned" that I can start with.

For those of you that are "vertically challenged" in the tall range how do you solve this issue?

[Bigzmey]

You should get an astronomy chair. Your back will thank you.

[SummerRider]

So do you set up the telescope lower and assume that you will be sitting during the observation session? I hadn't considered "lowering" myself.

[Graeme1858]

You will find your tripod will be at its most stable with the legs extended as little as possible.

I've got one of these:

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/ge ... chair.html

Regards

Graeme

[Bigzmey]

So do you set up the telescope lower and assume that you will be sitting during the observation session? I hadn't considered "lowering" myself.

I set the scope tripod in the way that when I am standing straight I can look at the target near horizon comfortably. Then, I observe in the lower portion of the sky standing and between 30 and 90 deg seating. Astronomy chairs have variable seat position, easy to adjust from extra high to extra low. It is like switching gears on your car, I can move the seat in the dark with one hand without looking to keep the good position at the EP.

[bladekeeper]

I'm 5' 16" and I view comfortably with my 12" dobsonian or any of my 10 refractors whether on an equatorial mount or an alt/az mount. I do have to scrunch a bit my 1200mm fracs on my Twilight II mount, but the discomfort is directly proportional to how much I ate at supper time. Those darn peach milkshakes at Chik-fil-A are hard to bend over.

Anyway, an adjustable observing chair is indeed the answer to your problem. I've got a Vestil CPRO-800LP from Amazon a few years back and have spent many an hour perched on that chair sniping faint galaxies at any altitude with any scope.

Plus, the more relaxed you are at the eyepiece, the better you can concentrate on what you are looking at/for and not worrying about your lower back, neck, or thigh muscles barking at you.

Get thee a chair, young man!

[JayTee]

Get the chair and you'll be thanking us for years to come.

Cheers,
JT

PS, as we get older, the chair seems more and more appropriate. jt

[DeanD]

I agree: a chair is the best accessory I own (and I am 5' 15")! You can make one yourself too: that's what I did. Lots of ideas out there...
eg: http://www.budgetastronomer.ca/index.ph ... ving-chair

Happy (comfortable) observing!

- Dean

[SummerRider]

Thank you for all the replies. I will pick up or make a chair/stool. Probably from one of the suggestions given.

[pakarinen]

You should get an astronomy chair. Your back will thank you.

I bought a Vestil after reading about them on CN. It's one of the best pieces of astro gear that I've bought.

[helicon]

I'm 73 inches tall. I use stacked lawn chairs as my seating arrangement - works OK. However with the Twilight II looking at objects near the zenith I have squnge up a bit (hmmm...is that a word?)

[Don Alvarez]

I envy you all and your short people's problems.