Mark Stephenson
newbie
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 3
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We got a Sky Scout for Christmas. I found it to have pros and cons. On the pro side, it is very easy to use, almost addictive in that it is so satisfying exploring the sky that I keep at it for quite some time, and most important, it provides immediate feedback for you as you are learning the sky. Immediate feedback really helps me learn to use star charts. Without it, I could not be sure what I thought I was viewing was actually what I had in my scope.It also helps me find many objects I have never found all on my own-- nebula, clusters, etc...
On the con, there is no way to update the database for new objects, like comets. Also, if you are in the Southern hemisphere, not even the brightest objects (e.g., Omega Centauri) are in the database. When I asked Celestron about this, I was told there were no plans to include Southern objects.I suspect, because it has a computer connection, there may be the possibility of third party software someday that would allow upgrades. or celestron could do this since they already provide a way to update the software from their website. --Carol (Mark's wife) :-)
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Mark Stephenson
16" f/4.3 Dob w/ Sky Commander & Dual-Axis Tracking (Optics by Dick Wessling)
12.5" f/4 Dob (Optics by Dick Wessling)
10" f/8 Dob (Optics by Dick Wessling)
5" f/7 refractor
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 4374
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Humm... I read in a recent mag review that the database -could- be updated, and in fact a new update demoted Pluto from planetary status... Perhaps there are two models out???
Hubert
Oh, and I like gadgets. This one is high on my "toy want" list, but not if it can't be updated!
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Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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azsrr
sage
Reged: 11/06/05
Posts: 435
Loc: Paradise Valley, Arizona
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Quote:
Humm... I read in a recent mag review that the database -could- be updated, and in fact a new update demoted Pluto from planetary status... Perhaps there are two models out???
There is a patch and it does indeed change Pluto's status. The patch also is supposed to make "large metal" errors less likely, and also deals with some units that have been turning off by themselves at random moments, adds asterisms, fixes an annoying "click" in the audio, made a bunch of corrections in the database, and changes the power off so you have 5 seconds to abort the shutdown if you accidentally hit the power button.
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Steve
N1NM
Celestron CPC-800 XLT / Hyperstar
TeleVue NP101 APO
Orion SkyQuest XT12i
Nikon D4
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Covey32
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 1065
Loc: Georgia
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I would hazard to predict that, within a year, lots of these will be for sale.
It is the type of gadget that will just fade away.
Like the hula hoop.......
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Meade SN6 Schmidt Newtonian
Homebuilt 8 inch F5 Newtonian
Skywatcher 6" F8 Achro Refractor
Antares/Vixen 120mm F8.3 Achro Refractor
Intes 6" Mak
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
25 pounds of eyepieces
Ioptron Mini-Tower
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 2709
Loc: AR
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Not worth much IMO.
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Mr. Bill
Postmaster
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 5219
Loc: Northeastern Cal
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Shouldn't this be in the Telescope Specific forum....
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The night sky is the palette....
My optics are the brushes....
The Milky Way is the masterpiece
Member IDA
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jclark2
sage
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 340
Loc: Michigan, USA
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The SkyScout sure seems to be a device you either love or hate from the majority of posts. I happen to be very happy with mine and it has served my purposes well. I think there is value in the ability it has to get people interested in this hobby. Not everyone starting off is willing to spend hours with a star chart and binoculars and I think anything that gets people interested in astronomy has merit. Like anything else we all have choices and if you don't think it adds any value you don't have to spend your hard earned money on it. Just the fact that my kids have enjoyed using it is enough justification for me. At our New Years party some of my neighbors actually noticed my telescopes on the EZTouch and we ended talking about astronomy and next thing you know they were in my yard using the SkyScout. It is certainly not perfect but I have been very happy with mine and hope they continue building on the educational capabilities through the SD slot. Your opinion may vary from mine but I am keeping my SkyScout. Now if I could only get some clear skies.
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Jim
WO ZS80FD 10th Anniv
WO ZS110
PST-DS
EQ6
iOptron Mini-Tower
WO EZ-Touch
UA Unistar Light
Celestron SkyScout
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RichardHK
sage
Reged: 11/25/06
Posts: 396
Loc: Hong Kong
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Sounds like the SkyScout is a valuable tool/gadget for sidewalk astronomers. Wonder what John Dobson would have to say about this? Anyone spending their time sharing astronomy with others like the sidewalk guys should be given a SkyScout free of charge!
Jim. No need to worry about clouds surely. You can still point the SkyScout to 'something' up there and learn all about it.  I'm gonna buy one to share with kids in particular.
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Richard Entwistle, Hong Kong
ETX-125, SV90TBV, & PST scopes
Canon 15x50-IS & Fujinon 7x50 bins
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Mike28
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/21/03
Posts: 3069
Loc: Morris County,NJ
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Quote:
Quote:
Humm... I read in a recent mag review that the database -could- be updated, and in fact a new update demoted Pluto from planetary status... Perhaps there are two models out???
There is a patch and it does indeed change Pluto's status. The patch also is supposed to make "large metal" errors less likely, and also deals with some units that have been turning off by themselves at random moments, adds asterisms, fixes an annoying "click" in the audio, made a bunch of corrections in the database, and changes the power off so you have 5 seconds to abort the shutdown if you accidentally hit the power button.
If I was to purchase the Skyscout, I would leave Pluto alone. I still disagree as to Pluto's new status so I there! Seriously the Skyscout would be useful to a group of people with no knowledge of the sky to identify local stars. but it's still just a toy/gimmick that any map or planetsphere can do equally or better. I was told it uses power pretty fast so re-chargable batteries might be in-order. Would I order one now? No. Besides after aquiring the TOA-150 I wont be spending much until 2010 when I get called for the AP 160..... 
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Mike
'The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” Albert Einstein
NS11GPS/Sky align
Orion SkyQuest XX14g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope
Celestron 80ED
TV Pronto
Coronado Ha PST
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firestar
Born to be Mild
Reged: 10/18/06
Posts: 3942
Loc: Cleveland Ohio USA
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Over priced worthless gadget.
Bad marketing idea,big money loser.
maybe a talking dob is next?
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Eastlake Ohio
Lots of cheap Asian glass  
Antares 12" Dob,Antares 8" Dob
Meade 8" SCT, Celestron C8 SCT
Zhumell 152 mm F8,Antares 127 mm f9.4
Orion short tube 90 F5.6,Celestron 80 ED F7.5
Imaging Source DMK 21AU04 ccd camera
Stellarvue bv3's with 32,26,23,21,9 mm pairs
Olivon 42,35,28mm,siebert 21,12.5,7mm,GSO superview 20mm,Meade swa 13.8mm,Hyperion 13mm
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Joe Osborn
sage
Reged: 09/11/05
Posts: 491
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I think of it as a toy, certainly unnecessary, nothing a Star chart, and a good book couldn't provide and in the end would be more usefull.
Something to throw disposable income at, so each to their own I guess.
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Discovery 10" F 4.5
Celestron C6R-GT
Oberwerks 9X60
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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azsrr is right. It has a great wow factor for the first hour or two... maybe even five. It rekindled my love for astronomy, which had been lying dormant since middle school. (I'm 49.) However, the lack of precision bothered me more and more as time went on. Also, for *my* part, I couldn't really ever make out much through the *viewing* screen. (It wasn't that I couldn't see the *text*; it was that I couldn't see the *stars* through the viewer.) Though my eyes aren't that great, perhaps -- I admit I'm color blind. But I reasoned that a CPC800 would be like a *giant* sky-scout . . . and to me the CPC800 has been very much a fulfillment of that. So like azsrr said, it depends on one's application.
Either way, I'm here in this forum today directly as a result of a SkyScout, which I sold to be able to afford a used CPC800.
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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Todd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 1674
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As someone with knowledge of the night sky, I don't find it all that exciting of a product.
However, it does what it advertises to do for people who don't know the night sky.
Is it for me? No.
***edited to add: After using it a while, I was left wondering "Ok...what now?..." But there would be a huge amount of people that would be amazed by this little gadget and find it exciting to use all night.
IMO, anything that gets people looking up is a good thing.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 33846
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With respect I think you guys that are poo-pooing this aren't the target audience.
The SkyScout is targeted towards newbies, gadget lovers and people who would like to add some technical pizzaz to their outreach.
It does what it advertises, and it works well.
The best point was brought up by Todd - *anything* that brings people into this hobby is a good thing. But they need a support structure if they are going to go further. Not everyone has the luxury of a local astronomy club, thus the reason for the creation of this forum. With 17,000 of these things sold, we're hoping this forum will provide some support, encouragement and enable the interested newcomers to continue in astronomy.
Astronomy is an aging hobby - SOMETHING needs to be done to bring newcomers in otherwise things look kinda bleak for us down the road. Like it or not, the SkyScout is a valid approach and I applaud Celestrons thinking. Frankly, astronomy could use far more gadgets like this that appeal to the non-astronomer (and far fewer poorly constructed, poorly operating inexpensive scopes).
And incidentally, I understand there are things in the works for the SkyScout as well. Those of you who are looking for more, keep your ears open and we'll see what Celestron has for us in the next few months.
Tom T.
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You do not need a parachute to skydive, you only need a parachute to skydive twice...
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Mr. Bill
Postmaster
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 5219
Loc: Northeastern Cal
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Quote:
As someone with knowledge of the night sky, I don't find it all that exciting of a product.
However, it does what it advertises to do for people who don't know the night sky.
Is it for me---no. But, IMO, anything that gets people looking up is a good thing.
Also, it might get more people to appreciate the pernicious
effect of light pollution....
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The night sky is the palette....
My optics are the brushes....
The Milky Way is the masterpiece
Member IDA
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Astronomics
Vendor if you must, AKA The Mighty Kong.
Reged: 06/07/04
Posts: 4300
Loc: Right Here
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I guess everyone is looking at the product in the wrong light. The hobby that everyone in this forum enjoys is starting to die. Young kids, on a whole, are getting their timed pulled to other things, X-Box, Super Duper Cable TV, and the internet (Oh the irony.) The SkyScout is not intended for seasoned astronomers that know their way around. It is intended to introduce new people to the hobby. Is it expensive, yes. It is cheaper then a Playstation 3 and gets people outside looking up. Does it work? It works very well. It is not marketing hype, and the SkyScout made Celestron's year. Without the product who knows what might have happened.
Everyone has to start somewhere, and I guarantee nobody in this hobby came home after being born looked up in the sky and said, "Look, Polaris." If you don't like the product fine, but for many this will introduce them to a wonderful hobby most of you have been enjoying for decades.
On a side note, can we please keep comments about true worth or not to people that have used the product? It would be more productive to people actually looking for hands on information about the product. Thanks.
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Michael Bieler
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me."
John Lennon
Father and Husband
Owner
www.astronomics.com
www.astronomytechnologies.com
www.cloudynights.com
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azsrr
sage
Reged: 11/06/05
Posts: 435
Loc: Paradise Valley, Arizona
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After borrowing my SkyScout for a week, my 8 year old nephew proudly pointed out Orion to me last night. Maybe he would have done that had I handed him a copy of Burnham's instead, but I sort of doubt it.
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Steve
N1NM
Celestron CPC-800 XLT / Hyperstar
TeleVue NP101 APO
Orion SkyQuest XT12i
Nikon D4
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Mike28
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/21/03
Posts: 3069
Loc: Morris County,NJ
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Quote:
It does what it advertises, and it works well.
My upcoming birthday is May 28 Tom. As a gift I could say give it a nice review.
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Mike
'The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” Albert Einstein
NS11GPS/Sky align
Orion SkyQuest XX14g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope
Celestron 80ED
TV Pronto
Coronado Ha PST
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Astronomics
Vendor if you must, AKA The Mighty Kong.
Reged: 06/07/04
Posts: 4300
Loc: Right Here
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Very bizarre, my birthday is the 28th of May as well.
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Michael Bieler
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me."
John Lennon
Father and Husband
Owner
www.astronomics.com
www.astronomytechnologies.com
www.cloudynights.com
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 31037
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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Quote:
After borrowing my SkyScout for a week, my 8 year old nephew proudly pointed out Orion to me last night. Maybe he would have done that had I handed him a copy of Burnham's instead, but I sort of doubt it.
Perhaps H. A. Rey's "The Stars" or "Find the Constellations" would have been appropriate for that young'uns in days past. I wonder what my 7 year old would do with a SkyScout...or my 15 year old?
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Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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