Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3395
Loc: Wisconsin
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Hey folks, for about a year now I've been using my regular observing chair in the dome. I'm limited to the 8 foot round building on my deck so moving around the scope is tight, (no stepout equipment bays). When opened (opens like an inverted V ie "^") the observing chair was awkward to use because it was so wide a lot of times I'd have to use it sideways. I trimmed the folding bar down so it doesn't open as wide and it's been just fine (had to adjust the seat angle though). This has worked out well, the only downside is moving it, I have to get up, reposition it. If I need to walk around the observatory I need to lift it out of the way.
I was thining of a rolling office chair that adjusts in height. I went to an office supply store and got one of those cheap-o ($39 bucks on sale) office chairs with the five roller legs. It has a gas piston to raise and lower but doesn't have near the travel as my observing chair. I haven't tried the office chair with visual yet to see if it comfortably reaches the binoviewers at all scope angles, but it sure beat the regular observing chair for rolling between the guider and the scope.
It got me to thinking... what do you folks use in your observatories?
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5367
Loc: Eastern PA
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I have one of the adjustable observing chairs. The problem is in a 7.5' dome space is at a premium and the chair when folded took up too much space. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought an $8 folding stool.
Best 8 bucks I ever spent. The stool folds flat and has been in the obs for 4 years. Since I have an adjustable pier I don't really need the adjustable chair.
The only good thing about the astronomy chair was I got it from some non-astronomy place. I first saw one in a lab. I paid about half the price of what the astronomy chairs were going for at the time.
I though about selling of but between trying to have it boxed and shipped somewhere it would cost more than what the stupid thing its worth!
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-Marcus
Earth is the solar system's ghetto
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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1965healey
Enginurse
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2546
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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I have one of those WalMart folding stools, I use it in the studio when I paint/sculpt. Works great. I wanted the adjustability for observing and went with one of the adjustable chairs for that space since I have enough room in the obs for one. If I didn't I'd probably make do with the WalMart stool. It has a nice thick padded seat and it's really pretty comfortable. 
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
A little too much money and NO SELF CONTROL!
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Bob Griffiths
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 3740
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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In my 10x10 foot Exploradome I use a Stardust chair without any problem...I also have a small office type chair with a back in the observatory that is used when I sit down at the computer ..
My Eyepiece case is on a rolling base (old mechanics stool with the seat removed).. so It travels arounfd the scope with me
I am toying with buying a second Stardust and store them in opposite corners of the building so lazy me will not have to drag one from one side of the observatory to the other...just grab the closest one ...
Bob G
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
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Scott K
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 719
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Well I can't relate to the limited space, but I use a drum throne in my observatory. They really don't take up much of any room, although the one I use doesn't have wheels, which does mean that repositioning it involves standing up again.
The one I use is a pork-pie, which is a throne for folks with, ahem, large posteriors. It is, however, incredibly comfortable.
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5367
Loc: Eastern PA
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Quote:
It has a nice thick padded seat and it's really pretty comfortable.
Thats the feature I like the best. My big old butt likes to be comfy.
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-Marcus
Earth is the solar system's ghetto
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 20931
Loc: North Texas
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Quote:
I was thining of a rolling office chair that adjusts in height. I went to an office supply store and got one of those cheap-o ($39 bucks on sale) office chairs with the five roller legs. It has a gas piston to raise and lower but doesn't have near the travel as my observing chair. I haven't tried the office chair with visual yet to see if it comfortably reaches the binoviewers at all scope angles, but it sure beat the regular observing chair for rolling between the guider and the scope.
If the office chair works space-wise, look into getting one that's made for drafting tables. I used one of those when I was using my scopes in my driveway, it adjusts higher than normal office chairs since it's used for higher tables than a normal office desk, has both a back rest and a foot rest, and costs about the same as a *good* non-leather office chair (was maybe $90, I think). I got mine at Office Depot.
I haven't moved it to the obs just 'cause I have so much stuff out there right now  and so have the Stardust chair out there.
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Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory 
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
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Chris Schroeder
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 4676
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Hi Jim, I have a cheap office car in the POD and I screwed 2x4s on edge to the bottom of the legs and attached the wheels to the bottom of the 2X4s. That gave me the added height I needed, you could use even wider 2X6s if needed.
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Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M102ED S.V., ZS 80FD 10th Anniv, ZS 66SD, PST
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3395
Loc: Wisconsin
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Thanks for the input everybody.
I did think about a drafting chair, but no clue where you would get one around here in the boonies of Wisconsin.
I was thinking along those lines Chris, about raising up the chair if necessary. The optical train on the telescope is pretty long, I'm not sure I'll need to raise it. Gotta wait until we have a visual night first.
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
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nistel
sage
Reged: 05/07/05
Posts: 240
Loc: lancashire uk
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i have a leather high back office chair,with arms and gas adjustable height, have been known to nod off asleep its that comfy
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tmb 130 f/9 lw tube
80mm f/6 semi-apo (orion express)
eq 6 pro mount
baader maxibright binoviewers
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spsully
newbie
Reged: 11/18/07
Posts: 1
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Hi Chris, I know this isn't about chairs but I'm wondering where you got your circular interlocking floor for your POD. I can only find square ones.
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bluestar
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/06/05
Posts: 734
Loc: Pat Kelly in Maryland
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I use a Televue Air Chair. No wheels...that feature WOULD be nice but maybe one day. For near-zenith looking I use a milk crate! When horizontal needs become more pressing like meteors, casual binocs sweeping, napping...the old Pine Factory sofa is awfully comfy.
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D&G 6" f/15 (and soon to be D&G 8" f/12) classic refractor @ BlueStar Observatory
Previous telescopes A-Z (Astro-Physics to Zeiss)
www.chesapeakecarper.net
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ChipAtNight
member
Reged: 01/09/08
Posts: 28
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Don’t have an observatory but do have a great office chair. Must have been over $100 new, got it for $10 at the local Salvation Army store. Goodwill had some also but on that day the Salvation Army store won!
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Chip -
Meade ETX-125PE Mak
Meade 10" LightBridge DOB
And Other stuff!
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stars_in_my_eyes
sage
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 289
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Quote:
I have one of the adjustable observing chairs. The problem is in a 7.5' dome space is at a premium and the chair when folded took up too much space. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought an $8 folding stool.
Best 8 bucks I ever spent. The stool folds flat and has been in the obs for 4 years. Since I have an adjustable pier I don't really need the adjustable chair.
The only good thing about the astronomy chair was I got it from some non-astronomy place. I first saw one in a lab. I paid about half the price of what the astronomy chairs were going for at the time.
I though about selling of but between trying to have it boxed and shipped somewhere it would cost more than what the stupid thing its worth!
Do you a LINK to that SPECIFIC chair?
Thanks
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Digital Don
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 803
Loc: Manteno
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The answer really depends on what type of scope you're using it with. The ideal chair for a tall refractor probably won't work as well for a short Dobsonian.
I'm using a 'drafting chair' in my observatory with a CPC 1100. It's basically the same as the typical office chair, but has more vertical movement. Got it from a buddy for $8 and it's perfect for the 11.
Don
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5367
Loc: Eastern PA
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Quote:
Do you a LINK to that SPECIFIC chair?
Thanks
No sorry, it was ordered from a lab/office supply catalog about 5 years ago.
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-Marcus
Earth is the solar system's ghetto
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Ozy
Vendor - Starizona
Reged: 06/15/07
Posts: 202
Loc: Goodyear, AZ
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I just picked up a pair of chairs in "Paramount ME" scheme to match the mount when it arrives.
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Webmaster - Starizona - HyperStarImaging
Cuttin' Edge Observatory
Starlight Xpress SXVF-M25C - SXV Autoguider
Celestron C14, C8, Tele Vue NP127is, TV-60is - Paramount ME w/ Pinnacle Pier
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Dan2210
journeyman
Reged: 01/15/08
Posts: 5
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How much travel do you get with the drafting chair?
I just bought a dirt bike lift with 35 inches of travel - I'm still thinking of putting a chair on top of that so I can sit comfortably and view at zenith in my 18" scope. It is heavy but is comes on wheels with wheel locks.
Dan
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Digital Don
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 803
Loc: Manteno
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Hi Dan,
At it's minimum height, the seat is about 23" from the ground, at maximum about 28". This drafting chair is perfect for my setup.
Don
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stars_in_my_eyes
sage
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 289
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For an observatory chair, what are the minimum and maximum heights that it should adjust to?
Thanks
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