Seating

[PeterC65]

As someone new to astronomy, one of the surprising things I’ve learned is how important it is to really observe an object, and that this means sitting comfortably at the scope and observing each object for several minutes.

One of the best ‘upgrades’ I’ve made so far is a Kick Stool to sit on while observing. These are meant to be used as small portable steps, but they make great observing seats. Kick Stools are fitted with casters so they can be moved around easily with a kick of the foot. They have a small footprint and no back rest so they don’t get in the way of tripod legs. When you put weight on them the casters retract and they sit very firmly on the floor providing a rock solid seat wherever you need it.

It’s taken me a few sessions to get the right scope height to always observe from a sitting position. I’ve now settled on using the maximum height of the tripod and canting over the diagonal when necessary so that the eyepiece is always almost horizontal. With objects that are directly overhead the height of the eyepiece above the ground is at its lowest, but with the tripod at maximum height I can still comfortable observe from a sitting position. With low elevation objects I cant over the diagonal and the eyepiece height is still low enough to observe from a sitting position (sometimes the eyepiece needs to point downwards slightly). I can then just move the Kick Stool to wherever it needs to be to sit and observe.

[Kimboman]

I agree lower the tripod for greater stability then made an adjustable seat this has made observing much better 

[LukeSkywatcher]

Drum stools are great.

[jjohnson3803]

I use an adjustable height Vestil chair.  It folds down relatively flat which is good when traveling to dark sites.  It's probably the best astro accessory I've purchased so far.  🙂

[Second Time Around]

The problem with many chairs for me is that they don't go nearly low enough for my scopes, especially my 8 and 10 inch Dobs.  I posted my views in depth on the various type of chair on this topic https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/385955-new-model-observing-stool-on-the-market/#comment-4241858

You'll see I prefer the new collapsible stools that recently came on the market; below is one of many.   

Note I also posted though on one type to avoid.  

  

 

Very light (about 1kg/2.2lbs), small footprint, folds up very small indeed, built-in hand and shoulder strap.

Great when standing in a queue.

Good range of heights from 6cms (2.4ins) at the low end - great for Dobs.

Inexpensive - typically around £25 on Amazon.  Search for "telescopic stool".  

[Louis D]

2 hours ago, Second Time Around said:

  

The plastic tabs sheared off on several of the plastic rings on mine when I leaned forward toward the eyepiece and put excess pressure on one side instead of evenly around the whole circumference.  Great idea, poor execution.  It needs to be made from a stronger material that is more shear resistant.

[Second Time Around]

21 minutes ago, Louis D said:

The plastic tabs sheared off on several of the plastic rings on mine when I leaned forward toward the eyepiece and put excess pressure on one side instead of evenly around the whole circumference.  Great idea, poor execution.  It needs to be made from a stronger material that is more shear resistant.

Not had that problem myself on any of the 4 designs (all different) I've bought.  There do seem to be lots of variations from different factories.

Which was your one, Louis, so we can avoid it?

When I've time I'll post links to the 3 of the 4 models I can recommend.

[Spile]

3 hours ago, Louis D said:

The plastic tabs sheared off on several of the plastic rings on mine when I leaned forward toward the eyepiece and put excess pressure on one side instead of evenly around the whole circumference.  Great idea, poor execution.  It needs to be made from a stronger material that is more shear resistant.

I have used mine for a few months now and I have never experienced this. Very happy with the build quality.

[Louis D]

22 hours ago, Second Time Around said:

Which was your one, Louis, so we can avoid it?

It is a Mini-Max 17.7.  Below are pictures of it.  I did a brief write-up 2.5 years ago here:

Open with its box to the side:

 

Open but tilted over after I sat on it (notice newly broken tabs around it):

 

View of the broken rings underneath the top:

 

Sat on it again, and it broke further:

 

 

Completely broken in two now:

 

Box label and broken tabs:

 

Basically, it's a piece of junk.  What a waste of $40.  Worst astro accessory I've ever bought by far.

Edited July 28, 2022 by Louis D

[Zeta Reticulan]

I like a white plastic garden chair.

I can leave it in the garden, and being white it's easier to see in the dark so I don't fall over it so often. 

[Louis D]

12 hours ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

I like a white plastic garden chair.

I can leave it in the garden, and being white it's easier to see in the dark so I don't fall over it so often. 

Me too.  More often than not, it works fine.

[Zeta Reticulan]

2 hours ago, Louis D said:

Me too.  More often than not, it works fine.

The biggest advantage is that I don't have to carry it out with my astro gear. lol

[Spile]

18 hours ago, Louis D said:

It is a Mini-Max 17.7.  Below are pictures of it.  I did a brief write-up 2.5 years ago here:

Open with its box to the side:

 

Open but tilted over after I sat on it (notice newly broken tabs around it):

 

View of the broken rings underneath the top:

 

Sat on it again, and it broke further:

 

 

Completely broken in two now:

 

Box label and broken tabs:

 

Basically, it's a piece of junk.  What a waste of $40.  Worst astro accessory I've ever bought by far.

Clearly an inferior knock off. The proper version is far higher in build quality and you can even tell from the packaging.

[PeterC65]

I recently added a Newtonian to my scope collection and so needed a seat that's considerably taller than the Kick Stool that I use with the diagonal equipped refractor and Mak.

What started out as the standard Geoptik Nadira chair ...

now looks like this ...

It's much heavier but no longer bends under my not inconsiderable weight so I can be confident when using it on the higher settings.

I've also made a foot rest which is similar to the seat but just protrudes by 4".

[Second Time Around]

On 27/07/2022 at 17:59, Second Time Around said:

Not had that problem myself on any of the 4 designs (all different) I've bought.  There do seem to be lots of variations from different factories.

Which was your one, Louis, so we can avoid it?

 

When I've time I'll post links to the 3 of the 4 models I can recommend.

I've now had time to do head-to-head tests between 5 various stools, all of which I bought via Amazon.   As a result there's one stand out design.

I can't recommend the tall slim one from ALEVMOON as I found it unstable in the dark, but my badly disabled brother loved it so he's now got it.

The GMWD didn't always fold completely and build quality seemed suspect.

The Booximhome was fine, but rather stiff at first.

The winners though were the first two I bought, the Fiemach and the Ksera.  These seem identical, and I'd buy whichever is cheaper at the time.  They seem more solid than the others, with better materials.  Go to https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIEMACH-Telescopic-Generation-Lightweight-Gardening/dp/B08C9YCMZL  or  
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ksera-Telescoping-Portable-Lightweight-Bathroom/dp/B085ZVBCQN/ref=asc_df_B085ZVBCQN/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=430958518754&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17349609440630701762&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-919060202041&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=101191291438&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=430958518754&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17349609440630701762&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-919060202041

As for colour, I found that anything with white in it to be best.  The Fiemach and Ksera are available (at least from Amazon UK) in only red, blue and black.  However, you may find similar designs elsewhere - the shape of the telescopic sections is the bit to compare.  They're curved on these models.

The ALEVMOON and, although it didn't say so, the GMWD came (appropriately!) with a clip on cushion in black with white stars that show up in the dark.  These also fit the Fiemach and the Ksera.  Alternatively, you could simply paint the seat white.

Edited August 15, 2022 by Second Time Around