Observing Chair.., yes no or otherwise

[Mike Q]

I definitely dont bend that way lol

[pakarinen]

I always use an adjustable chair with my refractors, even when I'm using a geared column tripod.

[kt4hx]

There are of course some variables at play as to whether one does or does not use an observing chair. Factor into those variables simple personal choice. I actually have two of the Starbound chairs. I keep one at home and one at the dark site property.

For my 10 inch (Z10) the EP is about 48 inches and I will frequently use a chair. For my AD12 the EP is about 57 inches and most of my observing is done standing unless I can use the chair. The reason why I like the chair is mainly because at 70, my back and legs tire easily. So sitting provides me with a comfortable and stable position for observing. I will almost always use the chairs for the refractors and 6 inch newt OTA when I do happen to take them out.

At the dark site, with the 17.5 inch, I do prefer to stand while observing. The eyepiece is over 72 inches in height, so when I get a little higher in the sky I use an extra wide aerobics step for a little boost that is very stable for me to stand on. If I need to go closer to the zenith I have a very sturdy two-step stool with deep steps that I can deploy. While I prefer to keep my feet on the ground for the most part, I will use those aids from time to time. So I try to hit objects before they get upwards to the zenith whenever possible. The Starbound is usually relegated to the accessory table for a comfortable adjustable height seat while I look at the atlas and/or make notes. I have used the big dob to go down low and will use the chair then to keep from bending over so much. My back does tend to rebel if I do too much bending, and fatigue reduces one's observing ability because the brain is more focused on fighting the fatigue than observing.

So all in all, while I do not utilize the chairs 100%, they are a key accessory for me. The adjustable height, ease of deployment and moving them and the comfort they provide for the short periods they are in use at the eyepiece or table, are all positive points for myself. Actually the one at home gets used more as a work chair if I am doing something in the garage I will often utilize it since I can position its height to the task at hand. So I find them more of an all-purpose tool that are useful for other things than astronomy.

[Mike Q]

This is my observing area where i set up my 10 inch dob. There is a four inch concrete slab that my leveling board sits on. It raised the whole scope up about a foot. This puts it at the right height for my to stand and view at apex. The matting material gives us a bit of cushioning. This lets us stand comfortably for as long as we decide to stay out

[OzEclipse]

@Mike Q
Anti Fatigue matting is often used in industrial production areas over concrete. However, I don't understand it's use here? Surely the original grass would provide equal cushioning. I have considered putting down a small slab for my 18" dob but it would only be the size of the base. The other advantage of grass is that its softness allows the feet of the ladder to settle in so that all four feet are securely planted in the ground and the ladder doesn't rock. A ladder on a hard surface invariably rocks a little. The other problem for me is that due to the tube length, I would need a huge area for the ladder, probably a square, 3.5m or 4m on the side.

What was your reason for the anti-fatigue matting?
cheers

[Mike Q]

What you cant see in that image is the base material that is under the mat. Because my yard is far from level i dug out the area around the scope and brought in what we call patio/paver base and leveled the area. That mix all but turns into concrete. The mats are a barrier between us and the base material. The best part is, the mats were free. This is only where i set my 10 inch dob up. The other scopes are on carts and i set them up whereever i want. As to the grass being soft.... Not my yard. My "grass" is technically called grasses, if they were in a field, we would call them weeds. No Kentucky Blue Grass here.

[RitcheyPark]

Observing chairs are great. Especially the adjustable ones. Have a couple styles myself. Standing if fine too if the eyepiece is the proper height. Knees on the ground might be ok for a short while for the young. But not for us older folk. 6 foot ladders are ok if they are of good quality, are on firm level ground, and one does not go above the third step. 8 foot ladders start becoming a little unsafe at times. But those super tall ladders are very questionable. I once saw the Tom Clark 36" f/ 4.5
Yard Scope at the Hidden Hollow star party in Ohio many years ago.The 3 point step ladder being used looked downright scary. A rickety looking wooden thing.
Must have been 16 feet tall or more.
I wouldn't be so much afraid of myself falling, as having one of my guests being seriously hurt trying to climb down in the dark. It would be hard to forgive oneself.
Bushman at Ritchey Park.

[OzEclipse]

Observing chairs are great. Especially the adjustable ones. Have a couple styles myself. Standing if fine too if the eyepiece is the proper height. Knees on the ground might be ok for a short while for the young. But not for us older folk. 6 foot ladders are ok if they are of good quality, are on firm level ground, and one does not go above the third step. 8 foot ladders start becoming a little unsafe at times. But those super tall ladders are very questionable. I once saw the Tom Clark 36" f/ 4.5
Yard Scope at the Hidden Hollow star party in Ohio many years ago.The 3 point step ladder being used looked downright scary. A rickety looking wooden thing.
Must have been 16 feet tall or more.
I wouldn't be so much afraid of myself falling, as having one of my guests being seriously hurt trying to climb down in the dark. It would be hard to forgive oneself.
Bushman at Ritchey Park.

Bushman,
I use a 6ft ladder and the top of the ladder never goes below my rib cage. This ladder was modified by adding some steps from a second identical ladder and now has extra steps narrowly spaced (6 inch spaces) so that an observer can stand comfortably at the right height for the eyepiece. I never go above the 4th step feet about 30 inches off the ground. Some of my vertically challenged friends need to go a step or sometimes two higher. When they do, I am always holding the ladder firmly.
Joe

[JayTee]

It's hard to type I'm laughing so hard.

Thanks Joe,

[RitcheyPark]

That's a great idea Joe. Adding the extra steps. Never thought of that. And I understand holding the ladder too.
The Bushman.

[Caldwell 14]

A good observation chair is probably the most important and yet most underrated piece of astronomy kit, like a good coat, a good chair will keep you comfortable and at the eyepiece a lot longer than you would otherwise if you were standing.

A poor chair, like the old ironing chairs we all used to use can be dangerously unstable. I both fell off and fell onto an ironing chair at 2 pm in a very heavy frost and broke 3 ribs. I was very lucky to get myself off the lawn and into the cottage. Seriously it was freezing, I could have died in my own garden if I hadn’t been able to get up.


I thought investing in a new chair was a good option.

[Mike Q]

The wife asked me to make her an observing chair. She sometimes has balance issues and needs a bit of help. So I ginned this up for her. Fully adjustable and holds my weight. It will work for her

[Nakedgun]

~

When I had my 18" dob I used a 3-legged orchard ladder which, as a tripod, was stable on uneven ground. If the object was lower I stood or used a "Cat's Perch" wooden adjustable chair.

Having sold the Starmaster, my 12.5" & 10" dobs, SCTs and refractors are used with either a Starbound or TeleVue adjustable chairs. Rarely do I stand to observe with a scope.

Binos on a P-mount are always standing.



.

[Ylem]

When I had my 10" Dob I always had a bar stool with me. Of course depending on where the scope was pointed i might not always be able to use it, so I just stood.

With my SCTs and fracs I grab a rocking chair off the porch and that works pretty good for me.

[Mike Q]

I have noticed a couple people have mentioned back issues. One stands and one sits due to these issues. I find that interesting.

Mike,

This is not at all surprising. All back problems are not equal. As one of the back issue crowd, I can understand that depending upon the nature of the back problem, standing or sitting might be better. For me at least, the nature of the pain and limitations are not always the same.

Stooping over is always off the cards. So, an 8" f5 dob is definitely not on my wish list.

My 18" f5.4 is mostly a ladder scope. At altitudes around 40 degrees or less, I can stand on the ground. As you would know with your 16", seeing limits quality viewing at low altitudes

When using a small refractor (up to ED80) for a quick peek at something, I put my Losmandy Starlapse tracker on a Manfrotto 475 tripod. It extends very high and I can stand comfortably.

In general, I prefer to have a scope I can stand upright and look comfortably through the eyepiece. Anything that involves stooping, nebding or contortion, shortens my observing sessions. Then I usually have a comfortable outdoor chair, camp chair, or camp recliner that I can sit in when not looking through the scope.

My scope ladder was made by cannibalising a second identical ladder and installing intermediate steps. There is also a wooden seat that can be hooked into any step from the bottom to the top. Admittedly, I would never sit on the top step

cheers

I was a fire fighter for 22 years and have done some pretty crazy stuff on top of a ladder, so just sitting there looking through an eyepiece is nothing to fret over lol