lira
super member
Reged: 12/26/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Northeast, USA
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A few years ago we purchased a condo on the top floor of a converted factory with a balcony off the bedroom that offers a great view of the night sky. I've spent two years on that balcony, fumbling with charts, books, red-bulbed flashlights and laptops, with limited success in making sense of that night sky. I became very familiar with Orion, which has been exciting, but I needed more.
My husband happened upon the SkyScout and suprised me with it as a gift. For us, this was quite a splurge, and it struck me as a gift for "that someone who already has everything." However, what a blast! At the end of stressful, frustrating, exhausting days, I unwind on the balcony and get pulled into the fascinating histories, mythologies and scientific facts of the night sky (with ease). I am reading the sky, finally. Fuzzy blobs of light are no longer fuzzy blobs of light, but galaxies with stories! Yes, I just point, click, look, listen and learn. That works for me.
Clearly, I fall under one of the targeted categories of consumers of this product: a relative beginner who has not had great success thus far with charts, and who has little energy at the end of a work day but still has curiosity. The SkyScout is one of the most exciting gifts I've received as an adult. The novelty has not worn. 
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Celestron 6" f/8 Dob Star Hopper
10x50 Nikon binoculars
Astro Chair
Edited by lira (12/26/07 04:27 PM)
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jrw11
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/07
Posts: 550
Loc: unknown
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Your post has proved your question on is it worth it. I have the Skyscout and like it very much!
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Celestron C6n -HD Reflector
dual axis drive motors added
Orion 80mm Short tube refractor
Skyscout
Early 70's Pentax 7x50
Garrett Optical 12x60
Garrett Optical 15x70
Oberwerk 20x80 Standards
Canon Rebel Ti (film)
6 Minolta Srt cameras
Mamiya RB67 Pro-s
Mamiya Universal Press
Mamiya Twin Lens
Mamiya M645 Pro
Cambo SCII 4x5 view camera
over 50 other film cameras
several eyepieces
too much stuff
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Downward Bound
Adrenaline Junkie
Reged: 03/29/06
Posts: 3106
Loc: Seattle
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Congratulations Lira! Welcome to CN and to a new wonderous journey.
I think many people have looked at this tool from the perspective of someone well-involved in the hobby already. I think there are many others out there like Lira and those who have posted (as evidenced by the many sub-200 posters) who have found this to be an item that has brought them closer to understanding the skies - for that, it is a very good thing. Heck - we might attract some new folks to the hobby as Mike and TT said. Skyscout customer today.....on the Astro Physics wait list tomorrow! 
For me, I won't be getting anytime soon. I prefer to read, chart, etc. - - but there was a time not too long ago when I standing outside trying to figure out which dot was Deneb - I coulda used one of these things!
The biggest question I have is how the heck do you know which dot in the sky to point at?
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Bill
'flectors: R200SS, Webster/Kennedy 22" f/3.6
'fractors: PST, AT-66, TV-85, FS-102, APM/TMB-152
'bins: 15x63, 10x50, 10x52, 22x85
410+028B, Sphinx, Telepod, EZ Touch, G-11
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lira
super member
Reged: 12/26/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Northeast, USA
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Bill,
For two years, I have been using charts (and still do) with binoculars. Orion, because it is so obvious and distinctive, oriented me somewhat. I was also already certain about Mars, because of location and color, and Sirius because of location and size. But I've been looking at so many other stars and blobs of light and dots, wondering, "Is that part of Orion, or is it part of Taurus? Or Eridanus? How do you say Eridanus? Is that star part of the Pegasus square? IS that 'the square?'" And so on. So, when I got the SkyScout, there were specific dots I immediately needed to identify. I still use my favorite glow-in-the-dark dial chart in conjunction with the SkyScout. I also randomly point at dots. Of course, the SkyScout can also lead you to stellar objects, which is how I finally located and identified M31 and other deepspace highlights.
I teach reading to middle school students. An important metacognitive strategy we practice is making connections as we read to more deeply understand the text. I was struck by how the SkyScout taps into this idea. The machine not only identifies objects, but also connects facts, anecdotes and histories to the dots, creating background knowledge and enhancing one's understanding of the night sky. Of course, the accompanying text is brief, but it's engaging and it's a start.
I sound like an advertisement. I'm sorry. I just think this thing is remarkable.
Thanks for asking,
Lira
Edited by lira (12/27/07 12:07 PM)
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Kiwi Nick
sage
Reged: 09/17/05
Posts: 222
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Quote:
Is this handle held thinga ma bob worth it all? I really don't understnad how it'll work.
I haven't used a Mysky but the Celestron skyscout is a wicked toy and has managed to help me get my wife and the neighbourhood kids interested in looking at the stars.
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LX90 8"
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Downward Bound
Adrenaline Junkie
Reged: 03/29/06
Posts: 3106
Loc: Seattle
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Wow Lira - thanks for explaining - that makes a lot of sense to me. When I first saw these units (Meade too) I honestly thought they'd have limited appeal. I've enjoyed reading this thread and from hearing from yourself and others and I'm pleased that these have been useful tools!!
So Lira - inquiring minds want to know, will you be getting a 'scope soon?
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Bill
'flectors: R200SS, Webster/Kennedy 22" f/3.6
'fractors: PST, AT-66, TV-85, FS-102, APM/TMB-152
'bins: 15x63, 10x50, 10x52, 22x85
410+028B, Sphinx, Telepod, EZ Touch, G-11
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Rich Prior
super member
Reged: 06/30/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Greenville, SC
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Thanks for your thoughtful, heartfelt post! Both you and Bill have made some good points in this thread. And, by the way, as one teacher to another, intellectual pursuits such as this keep the mind alive. I believe you know what I mean. 
Rich.
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Celestron NexStar 8SE
Orion Vista 10x50
SkyScout
EyeBalls™
Border Collies rule!
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lira
super member
Reged: 12/26/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Northeast, USA
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Why yes, Bill, I am buying a 'scope! Actually, it is en route and is supposed to arrive on 1/7. I tapped into the wisdom of Cloudy Nights members through an inquiry on the "beginners" forum (decent telescope for $300 or under), and after considering all of the generous advice, I purchased a 6" StarHopper. Apparently, this is a pretty standard beginner scope. It's just not possible to stop at a pair of binoculars and a SkyScout. I'm in too deep.
I just reread my SkyScout entries, and it really does sound like I have stock in the company. Moderators, it isn't so! No affiliation!
Rich, I think I know what you mean. Personal endeavors such as astronomy are critical to one's intellectual health, yes.
Sue
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Matildakt
member
Reged: 01/26/07
Posts: 27
Loc: Somewhere, North Carolina
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I like that...learning intensity! I will have to remember that!
I must say, though, I have enjoyed my SkyScout; while it's kind of a "point and click" device, it does give me the independence and confidence to explore the night sky myself, by myself. Actually, the more I used it, the more familiar I became with the night sky, and at one point, I was starting to name things in the sky without the SkyScout on---stuff besides the moon and the sun.  My repetitions with SkyScout were basically like learning labs that I performed until I started to identify major objects and sky patterns own my own--without a "computer" guide.
I find that even now, I use the SkyScout in conjunction with other device such as binoculars, scopes, and even printed star charts.
So, I think some tech tools teach us to explore.
The 21st century trick for humanity is to NOT become tech's willing-sheep slave...but be tech's thinking / reasoning master...
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"It is what it is." --Lao Tzu
_______________________________
Naked Eye, well almost naked: eyeglasses! LOL
Orion Short Tube 80; Orion StarBlast Astro
Orion Mini Giant 8 x 56 Binocular
Celestron Skymasters 15 x 70
Celestron SkyScout
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rseven
super member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 145
Loc: Central New Jersey
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I have seen the SkyScout on many advertisements and web pages, but I had always thought it was just a way to identify what you were looking at in the sky. Only yesterday, I'm a bit slow, I realized that it could direct you to objects. Attached to a scope it would make a nice push to object finder. Not only that, but you can remove it from one scope and use it in another or a pair of binoculars. When I think of the extra money the push to system costs on the Orion Intellescope series, it seems as if this idea is the same only more versatile. I can't say I'm ready to plunk down $400,(after Xmas I don't have it lying around anymore) but I can see why a lot of people have and will continue to do so.
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10" Zhumell Dob
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I joined AA and when I can't make the meetings I just send in my empties.
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jrw11
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/07
Posts: 550
Loc: unknown
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I tried to Polar align my scope one night in the usual light poluted skies. I didn't use the SS. The next time I did, and I found out that the star I used as Polaris the other time wasn't!  
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Celestron C6n -HD Reflector
dual axis drive motors added
Orion 80mm Short tube refractor
Skyscout
Early 70's Pentax 7x50
Garrett Optical 12x60
Garrett Optical 15x70
Oberwerk 20x80 Standards
Canon Rebel Ti (film)
6 Minolta Srt cameras
Mamiya RB67 Pro-s
Mamiya Universal Press
Mamiya Twin Lens
Mamiya M645 Pro
Cambo SCII 4x5 view camera
over 50 other film cameras
several eyepieces
too much stuff
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rseven
super member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 145
Loc: Central New Jersey
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The sky was a lot easier to navigate when I was a kid. (1950's) Light pollutions has just killed the view of the stars making constellations the new endangered species. It's no wonder that some people need a SkyScout to find things. It's amazing how bright it is outside when it's cloudy as all of the light is reflected back down. When I go camping in a remote area and really see the sky it is so magnificent and it's so sad that I can no longer see it here in a rural part of NJ.
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10" Zhumell Dob
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I joined AA and when I can't make the meetings I just send in my empties.
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Paul_C
member
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 65
Loc: Ireland
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Its a handy piece of kit to have. It eliminates the margin or error that comes with star hopping.
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http://profile.imageshack.us/user/pj30something/
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WirelessDude
sage
Reged: 01/02/08
Posts: 461
Loc: San Tan Valley, AZ, USA
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Just got a MySky and the optional goto cable to connect to my 12" RCX400. It came free with the RCX400. Yes. I see this device as a nice tekky-geeky way to learn the night sky. I also use either Autostar or Starry Night Pro Plus software directly connected to the scope to enhance the tekky-geeky factor... Software star charts controlling a scope and vice-versa. It's the most enjoyable way to do astronomy! Coming from a tekky-geeky guy like myself!
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Space Photons Observatory
8' ExploraDome/AstroMC/AP1200GTO3
14" LX200R/3"Pyxis/PDF/STL-11000M+FW8-STL+AO-L/Astrodon LRGB+3nmHaO3S2N2
NP127is/ST-8300M/2"Pyxis/3"IFW/Astronomik LRGB+12nmHaHb/Astrodon 5nmHaO3S2
TV60is/QSI583wsg/Astrodon LRGB+3&5nmHa
Mach1GTO3
12" LX200R
AT6RC
Meade 5000 80EDT
LS80THa/PT/B1800/FT
Grasshopper2 5MP GigE
SG-4
Denk II Prem/D14/D21
TV E3.7-21/26+31T5s/3-6+8-24CZs
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Paul_C
member
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 65
Loc: Ireland
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You can hook the MySky up to a GoTo system?
Thats one feature the SkyScout does not offer.
But i ask..............(IGNORANTLY).......if your scope is GoTo.........why would you need to hook the MySky up to it if they both do the same job?
*This question is from a guy with a 90mmEQ firstscope refractor*
I can attach my SkyScout on top of my scope and it allows me to have a primitive GoTo system.
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http://profile.imageshack.us/user/pj30something/
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WirelessDude
sage
Reged: 01/02/08
Posts: 461
Loc: San Tan Valley, AZ, USA
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With the Meade GoTo scopes being hot-swappable with the Autostar units, one can unplug the Autostar and replace it with the MySky and have an alternative way to point your scope...
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Space Photons Observatory
8' ExploraDome/AstroMC/AP1200GTO3
14" LX200R/3"Pyxis/PDF/STL-11000M+FW8-STL+AO-L/Astrodon LRGB+3nmHaO3S2N2
NP127is/ST-8300M/2"Pyxis/3"IFW/Astronomik LRGB+12nmHaHb/Astrodon 5nmHaO3S2
TV60is/QSI583wsg/Astrodon LRGB+3&5nmHa
Mach1GTO3
12" LX200R
AT6RC
Meade 5000 80EDT
LS80THa/PT/B1800/FT
Grasshopper2 5MP GigE
SG-4
Denk II Prem/D14/D21
TV E3.7-21/26+31T5s/3-6+8-24CZs
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Paul_C
member
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 65
Loc: Ireland
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The more the merrier i guess.
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http://profile.imageshack.us/user/pj30something/
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Al Canarelli
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 3339
Loc: Central New Jersey
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This sounds much like the GOTO vs. Non GOTO arguments that were going strong about 10 years ago. In spite of those seemingly strong arguments, GOTO is here to stay. BTW, I wonder if those people who are against this device are also against GPS systems in cars, boats and airplanes?
Finally, my wife and I gave a Sky Scout to one of the children in our family, a very bright 8 year old girl. It's only been weeks and she already can point out most of the M objects above the horizon. I think it's a super learning tool.
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Kchula-Rrit
super member
Reged: 10/17/07
Posts: 137
Loc: The Matriarchy of Kzin
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Quote:
Maybe if they offer a few car commercials they could lower the price.
Be careful, someone may be listening! We have to endure too many commercials already.
K-R.
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slow2run
member
Reged: 03/14/06
Posts: 40
Loc: lufkin tx 75904
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I think sky-scout's future is mounted on a telescope. When it's configure for that purpose it will be to Celestron, what the ipod and iphone is to Apple .
Edited by slow2run (08/11/08 04:18 PM)
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