There are lots of different enticing accessories out there for amateur astronomers.

But when you boil things down, there may only be a handful of accessories that you might consider to be essential.

An astronomy chair, also known as an observing chair, definitely fits the bill as “essential” for lots of amateur astronomers.

Below, I will break down everything you need to know about astronomy chairs and also give you a detailed review of the Starbound Astronomy Viewing Chair that has helped me out the most since I entered the hobby.

What is an astronomy chair?

An astronomy chair, or observing chair, is a chair specifically designed to make it more comfortable for you to spend prolonged amounts of time observing through your telescope. They typically have adjustable seats and are relatively light and portable, making them a perfect companion for your telescope.

Why do you need an astronomy chair?

As you start to get serious about observing the night sky one of the first things you may notice is that your body can get uncomfortable pretty quickly behind a telescope.

Everybody is built a little bit different and so they will have different preferences for observing but for the most part, the human body is not designed to be hunched over, peering through a small eyepiece hole for hours on end.

So one of the best ways to combat this discomfort is to get an astronomy chair.

When I first started observing, I went months with just a standard lawn chair and then eventually broke down and decided that I should invest some money into a proper observing chair. The lawn chair just wasn’t cutting it.

It was one of the best decisions that I made and now my observing sessions are light years more comfortable.

This matters a lot to me and not just because I don’t have to deal with so much discomfort…. I believe it has made me a better observer!

For one, because you will be more comfortable you will be able to enjoy longer sessions which means more opportunities for better seeing and just more time to enjoy what you are looking at.

But it also helps to relax your body which in turn can help you relax your eyes and enjoy better image quality, perhaps even seeing more details.

Because of the massive upgrade in comfort and enjoyment, I would say getting a proper observation chair is one of the top priorities for a new astronomer.

You might even want to pick up a good astronomy chair before you start shopping around for new eyepieces and other accessories.

Starbound Chair review

The chair that I went with is called the Starbound Astronomy Viewing Chair.

Made of alloy steel, it has a solid build to it and just feels like a sturdy, high-quality chair as soon as you hold it. It’s just over 18 pounds and has a maximum payload capacity of ~330 pounds.

Lots of amateur astronomers rave about how durable these chairs are so you can expect it to last you a while.

It folds which makes it easy to store or transport in and out of the house or perhaps even in the car. (You just have to get past the fact that it looks like an ironing board stand.)

It also has this nice arch on top that acts as a very convenient handle.

You can get the chair in white or black. I chose to go with white so that it would be easier to see at night which I think is definitely the best choice.

If you have a black version and are struggling to see it you could always put small glow strips somewhere on the chair or just place some white tape that would be easier to see with minimal light.

The biggest thing that I like about it is the adjustable seat.

You can take this thing remarkably low or high depending on your preference.

It’s relatively easy to bring up and down which allows you to get into a proper position quickly. And once you are in a different position, you don’t feel like the chair is going to collapse on you.

When you need to put the telescope up around zenith (or directly overhead) you can position the chair pretty low and get a pretty good vantage point.

You do have to be mindful of tipping your weight too far forward as you will begin to tip the chair but it’s pretty easy to keep it under control.

At the same time if you are aiming for something just above the horizon then you can pull up the chair and have a great view of that as well.

It’s also comfortable.

I was a little bit reluctant about this chair based on how it appeared — it just didn’t look like the most comfortable seat. But once I started to spend hours observing in this padded chair I realized that it’s actually very comfortable.

The chair has rubber feet on the bottom so it can get pretty good grip on slick surfaces.

Just be aware that if you are bringing it out somewhere like the desert, where are you might place it on rocky ground, those rubber covers can get torn up relatively quickly.

The good thing is that you can replace them pretty easily. You could purchase new rubber feet or go with an entirely different material like PVC caps.

The only thing that it doesn’t have that some other chairs might have is some type of storage compartment or fold out desk. It also does not have a foot rest.

At around $250 this is one of the more expensive accessories for beginner astronomers and it seems like an awful lot of money for a chair.

But given how durable the seat is and how much comfort it adds, you’ll probably agree that the price is worth it even if it does feel a bit pricey at the time of purchase.

Another brand for a similar chair could be the Vestil CPRO-800LP. These are similar to the Starbound chairs but a bit cheaper. The catch is the chair is not as durable and the weight capacity is 220 pounds.

If you’re someone into artwork then consider the beautiful wooden Catsperch Chairs made exclusively at Wood Wonders. With a seat cushion you are looking at around $400 but these come in a few different varieties, including some with 3-D designs.

You can also just purchase the plans and make it yourself — perhaps putting your own touch on it.

If you don’t want to go with a proper astronomy chair then I think you could probably get by with any kind of adjustable chair. I know people who have used office chairs to observe and even bar stools.

I would try to avoid fixed chairs although they can certainly work if that is all you have to work with.

Final word

I can’t say enough good things about getting a quality astronomy chair. I certainly would do them as an essential accessory that should be picked up early in your amateur astronomer journey. That way, you won’t be turned off to the hobby by one of the common issues faced by lots of backyard astronomers: discomfort.