“This observing seat folds up, is infinitely adjustable and makes observing much more comfortable.” - Dave Trott
This observing seat folds up, is infinitely adjustable and makes observing much more comfortable. You can find plans for a nicer-looking observing chair based on this idea at Chuck Carlson’s Page on the Denver Astronomical Society Website or in the second edition of Phil Harrington’s book Starware. (The newer editions of the book have have different projects so you may have to dig a little to find the second edition).
After more than twenty years of use, I still have this original version and use it nightly. However, it developed a problem over the years. Sometimes I accidentally kick the chair when I am moving it, or set it down a bit hard. I found that the seat would slip all the way all the way to the bottom very easily. I discovered that you may need to slightly tighten the “gripping bolts” near the top of the seat from time to time. You want to find just the right amount of friction so that the seat does not easily slide down when in the deployed position. As time goes by the main support (2″ by 4″ board) will wear along the back edge. If you find the seat slipping too much, try making that easy adjustment.
