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slow2run
member
Reged: 03/14/06
Posts: 40
Loc: lufkin tx 75904
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I thank 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 . 
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blackjackdavey
journeyman
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 7
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i have owned the SkyScout for about a year now, and i love it.
its great when you have bunch of people around you that point left and right and ask "whats this", "whats that". great educational tool. its great for beginners who don't know much of the sky.
i haven't tried the new firmware yet, they supposedly updated catalogs now more options not just Messier objects. its great to find something in the sky with SS first, then point your binoculars or telescope.
one fault i found is that rubbery 'Target' button cracked along the edges so it does not rebound back as it should. Tech support told me to send it in since its still under warranty, not sure if they will fix it or replace it. I hope they just replace the button, because i had not any other issues with the device itself.
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Gordon Rayner
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 506
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There is discussion, on the SkyScout website, of magnetic interference when SkyScout is used near"metal". If a large binocular,made of mostly aluminum, with a few magnetic fasteners( in one case, and all-non-magnetic stainless steel in another), is mounted on an aluminum /magnesium mount which uses 18-8 stainless steel non-magnetic fasteners, are problems likely? Could one use wires and currents to "de-Gauss" the binocular or mount, if necessary, following Navy practice to protect ships against magnetic mines?
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arpruss
sage
Reged: 05/23/08
Posts: 214
Loc: Waco, TX
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Quote:
3. Best: a computer program like TheSky which allows zooming in on an object, orienting it like what you would see through the scope and a print out to take with you outside with a red light flashlight. I've found many objects, especially galaxies, this way. This is cheaper if you already own a computer for other uses.
A PDA or phone with appropriate software will also do the trick, and you can keep it with you while observing.
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Coulter Odyssey 8"
Skymaster 15x70
BPTs4 8x30
25(?)mm Rini, 27mm Kellner, Owl 10mm Plossl, 6mm TMB/BO Planetary, Owl 2X Barlow
Palm TX with AstroInfo and RescoViewer
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Kiwi Nick
super member
Reged: 09/17/05
Posts: 191
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Quote:
I say no.
Here are other options that are cheaper:I suppose if you just have $400 lying around this may be a choice but...
Try $169 if you know where to shop and that is with the vastly larger data base of updated star charts.
Quote:
1. Planisphere: some even shine in the dark when charged by a flashlight right before you go out.
A Planisphere?
Hey don't get me wrong, I like them but they came out with the Ark. !!
The instrument was first described in the early 11th century by the Persian astronomer, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni.
The first star chart to have the name "planisphere" was made in 1624 by the son-in-law of Johannes Kepler, Jacob Bartsch. It was Kepler who discovered those orbit laws of the planets.
I'm sorry but you cannot compare the awesomeness of the sky scout, with it's instant gratification ability that totally impresses newbies, with the dullness of a planisphere.
Not when it comes to bringing new people into the hobby.
Newbies percieve planispheres and star charts as too much hard work. Information overload.
They look at it and say things like..."Ok, thats kinda cool..." and then they forget about in the next thought.
Free update version 1.3 locates over 50,000 stars, planets and constellations from built-in celestial database and provides scientific information for each object.
No offence to the planisphere but it's just never going to compete with that.
With a sky scout you can go to a BBQ/cookout where there might be 20-40 people of all ages from 4 years old to 84 years old.
Within 2 minutes any of those little kids or older folk will be finding the stars on their own, listening to the earphone descriptions and using the simple menu's.
Planisphere?
Sorry bud, leave them in the history museum.
The basic original Sky Scout (without the new data base) is a handheld, portable celestial viewing device that can instantly identify and/or locate over 6,000 celestial objects, transforming the night sky into a personal planetarium .
It can be used anywhere in the world and it is incredibly light and portable. I know, I've taken mine around the world and people everywhere have been impressed by it's simplicity and ease of use.
Both hemispheres, no problem.
Quote:
2. Maps like Orion's Deep Map 600.
I love maps, but I know the sky and that makes the maps easy to me because I have the experience to understand what they represent.
Newbies have little or no idea about their night sky and the maps don't interest them.
The maps don't stimulate them.
A Sky scout (or My Sky) personal planetarium interests them because they can pick it up and use it straight away, they are in control of the machine and they are learning as part of the process of interacting with it, and then you have their interest.
Quote:
3. Best: a computer program like TheSky which allows zooming in on an object, orienting it like what you would see through the scope and a print out to take with you outside with a red light flashlight. I've found many objects, especially galaxies, this way. This is cheaper if you already own a computer for other uses.
Best?
This is the best you can come up with?
It's completely non transportable, and if you do use a link to a PDA then the screen is too small to be useful, or you can't get a signal ina dark sky site etc.
Guys, at this time you just cannot beat a sky scout for showing new people the night sky on their own terms with the kind of autonomy they get straight away because of the ease/simplicity of use.
Nothing can touch it, nothing even gets close, and with the new 'night sky tour cards' available now with new ones coming out for them they are going to a new level.
Quote:
I can think of more efficient ways of learning the sky. I know the sky forwards and backwards having studied charts in my youth. I believe very much in good old fashioned charts.
It's kind of sad to see that some of our fraternity cannot see how effective the 'sky scout' and 'my sky' technology is when it comes to bringing greater interest into our hobby.
Nothing touches them.
But fortunately they touch everyone from 4 years old to 84 years old.
Ok, so folk aren't learning by the same methods we did, with dusty old maps and lots of math, but hey, they don't need to know all that dull stuff anymore with 'Go To' scopes and sky scouts etc, that way of learning is still there for the uber enthusiast but it is no longer necessary for regular folk to learn that if they want to become amateur astronomers, take astro- photographs, gaze at the heavens...
... and I think thats great because the skies are for everyone, not a few astronomy snobs.
Bring on more advances that make it easier for people to know their night skies I say.
The more people we get looking up... the better.
There hasn't been an invention with the ability to have such a massive impact on bringing more newcomers into our hobby since the development of the 'Go To' scopes.
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LX90
LX200GPS 14"
Denk II's and P+S
Sky Scout
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johnfdean
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 569
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I picked my SkyScout up for 200. For me, it is worth every penny. Yes, I do have a good atlas (paper)...I do have another good atlas on my computer (infact...3 atlases). I also have argo navis on my 14". And yes, I have over and actively used a scope for 44 years.
I doubt if would have paid more for it, but I find the devise amazing. I bought it as an assist when working with the public, but I find myself using its data every night I have it out...which has been every night since I bought it.
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Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10 GEM
Sky Scout
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prestonrich
sage
Reged: 12/01/07
Posts: 381
Loc: Washington DC Mayland suburbs
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I use my SkyScout mounted on a Miyauchi Saturn III binos as a COL (computerized object locator) GOTO.
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Preston
Montgomery Village, MD
Binos: Leica Trinovid 7x35 | Miyauchi Saturn III | Canon 18x50is | all on 475/501
Scopes: Questar 3.5 Duplex | C8/ST120/ASGT | LB 16" w/SC & JMI Track
EPs: Denk II PxS/FS | Hyperions, Brandons, filters
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bigbeck
member
Reged: 08/13/08
Posts: 58
Loc: Trenton, NJ
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Quote:
... and I think thats great because the skies are for everyone, not a few astronomy snobs.
Bring on more advances that make it easier for people to know their night skies I say.
The more people we get looking up... the better.
There hasn't been an invention with the ability to have such a massive impact on bringing more newcomers into our hobby since the development of the 'Go To' scopes.
You work for Celestron? Maybe a new salesman bucking for a raise? 
Just kidding. I have to agree with you 100%. Go-to is the most important advancement ever! I'm new to astronomy (10 months). I came very close to quitting after the first two months,and I started with a nice 8" dob! My observing time was limited to usually 2hours or less. Many times I've tried to find things using star charts and found nothing. All this hard work and no reward. That gets old real fast. A hobby is supposed to be fun! Right? I'd rather be working,at least I'd get compensated for it.
As a last ditch effort, I bought a cheap 400.00 Celestron 130 SLT Go-To. Punched in M13,bingo! it's there,M17,M6,M11. Four objects in 10 minutes - unheard of! Yeah, get binos first and spend a year or so learning the sky before you get a scope.  Worse bit of astronomy info I ever got. Some people just do not have a grip on reality.  They mean well,but are behind the times. The only words that need be uttered are "GO-To Scope" or "Push To Scope" and "Star Party" 
This is only my opinion. But I am a newbie,an "expert newbie". I know of what you speak. I lived it!  
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Kiwi Nick
super member
Reged: 09/17/05
Posts: 191
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Couldn't agree more.
I'm perfectly happy for my old mates who star party once a year to come along and talk to me about 45 minute alignments etc. but it's not for me.
I want to maximise the fun and eradicate the boring down time.
Go To, Sky scout whatever, I'll use any techno whizz-ardry if it increases my limited viewing experiences in a life full of work and obligations.
Currently I get my 14" GoTo out about 3 times a year if I'm lucky.
The 8 inch GoTo comes out about once a month.
The skyscout comes out on average once per week.
If it wasn't for the sky scout I wouldn't know the sky.
--------------------
LX90
LX200GPS 14"
Denk II's and P+S
Sky Scout
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