SkyScout by Celestron

Quite a buzz was created one year ago when the a new gadget, the SkyScout from Celestron came on the market.
What exactly is this new gizmo , this so-called “personal planetarium”? Is it just a toy or does it offer something of value to the more serious stargazer? What are it’s main features and is it really worth the investment?

This review will touch on these questions as well as provide a simple “pros and cons” view of the Celestron SkyScout.

This device, about the size of your handheld camcorder, can identify over 6,000 stars, planets, galaxies and other heavenly bodies. You can point it directly at a star, for example, and it will identify that star using its lit up display. If you wish to find a particular star or planet or perhaps even the International Space Station, just select it from a list and it will guide you to it. If you want to take your learning a step further, there are audio information files available for 200 objects by use of headphones.

How does it accomplish all this? I’ll go into it more in my next post.

Here are a few features that I like:

• Very lightweight and easy to use. About the size of a handheld camcorder.
• It can identify over 6000 heavenly bodies, 88 constellations (only 200 celestial objects have audio files)
• It is equipped with audio controls and you can control adjustment of brightness in the viewfinder.
• Rugged feel to it, nice rubberized coating.

Here are some shortcomings:

• Goes through batteries (uses 2 AA) very quickly.
• GPS may take awhile to start working and its will be thrown off if the user is near metal.
• PC only. Not Mac compatible.

Anyone who has ever tried to use a star chart at night with a flashlight is probably going to appreciate and enjoy this intruguing new product.

Celestron is a well known and respected company and leader in the field of optics and a leader manufacturer of telescopes. Though the SkyScout personal planetarium may be used and appreciated even by children, the SkyScout is definately no toy.