At a glance

We develop and manufacture chairs to scan the skies with binoculars. Our binochairs (actually, we name them Neowise) rock back and forth by shifting the weight or pushing lightly with the feet and rotate with arm/leg action. They break down into three compact pieces (arm, seat, and base) to fit in the trunk of a car.

With their quick and portable setup that does not require any tools, you're ready to start observing in minutes. Track birds, BASE jumpers, skydivers, airplanes and satellites, or immerse yourself in starry nights at your favorite dark sky location!

The arm holds the binoculars and the headrest firmly. It is attached to the back of the seat and can be adjusted to the desired height.

The seat is the master piece. Its sides have the shape of a half-wheel so that it can rock back and forth. Like a racing car, the seat has a low profile for great stability.

The base supports the seat and consists of two slewing rings. The upper ring has guiding rollers, a mechanism to prevent derailment, and a lock to keep the seat in an upright position. The lower ring has leveling feet to adapt to uneven and sloping grounds.

3D exploded view of two Neowise chairs facing each other - the arm, the seat and the base break down to fit in the trunk of a car.

Bungee cords connect the seat to the base and provide resistance when rocking backward / assistance when rocking forward.

Choose the right cord diameter to find the perfect balance - the larger the diameter, the higher the resistance/assistance!

Any binoculars can be attached to the arm using a standard tripod adapter. Cell clamps allow fast and precise setup.

Further insight

We design our Neowise chairs so that they are ready to be assembled and can be delivered in flat packs. Here are more technical features:

• The wooden parts are CNC machined in the Geneva metropolitan area, Switzerland, from 9- and 18-mm thick bakelite plywood panels.
  
• The arms are made of two bent stainless-steel tubes held together with cell clamps.
  
• The bases include a solid aluminum turntable bearing with a maximum load capacity of 260 kg.
  
• The sides of the seats are reinforced with two small-section stainless-steel tubes.
  
• The bungee cords are held in place by acetal sheaves fixed under the seats and on the bases.

Neowise booster

Neowise booster is an optional module that raises the Neowise chairs to the height of a conventional chair. The module fits under the base and can be assembled and disassembled in a minute without tools.

With the Neowise booster, anyone can scan the skies without having to bend down!

3D view of the Neowise chair on its booster and the Neowise booster alone - the module raises the Neowise chairs to the height of a conventional chair.

Why Neowise?

This project was born from the desire to offer enthusiasts, in particular amateur astronomers, a convenient solution to scan the skies with binoculars. In April 2020, as we sketched the first plans, we had no idea that a majestic object would soon appear in the summer sky.  

The first seed we planted germinated in the summer of 2020 when Comet Neowise made its closest approach to the Sun.

Prototype testing on July 9, 2020 at dawn - A. Roth observes Comet Neowise, Venus and the Pleiades with 7x50 binoculars.

To our delight, we had the chance to test the first prototype while following the journey of Comet Neowise in the morning skies, just above the north-eastern horizon. Was this a sign? In any case, we decided to name our binochairs after it.

About us

We are childhood friends.

Antoine Roth (Dr. sc. ETH Zurich) is passionate about the sky and astronomy. For more than ten years, he conducted scientific research in isotope geo- and cosmochemistry on the origins of the Earth, the solar system and meteorites. Today, he helps university scientists transfer their technologies from the laboratory toward the marketplace.

Jean Stämpfli is a carpenter. In 2021, he co-founded the company dbs charpente associés SA.

FAQ

We are happy to answer all your questions by email. Here are the answers to the questions you most frequently ask us:

• How do I purchase my first Neowise chair?
  We make to order in a short time. Please email us to place your order.
• Can you assemble the chair for me?
  Yes, we can do that. Please tell us when ordering.
• Which binoculars should I use?
  It depends on what you want to observe. We recommend that you ask a specialist for advice. Binoculars with long eye reliefs offer more comfort.
• Can I attach accessories other than binoculars,  such as a camera?
  Yes, in principle you can attach any accessory. Cell clamps have mounting holes with a diameter of 10.5 mm.

Copyright © 2021 A. Roth & J. Stämpfli, all rights reserved