43 replies to this topic

[KBP]

Just got my SkyScout and its terrific! I only was outside about ten minutes in 0 degree temperature and it identified 10 stars and Saturn without a problem! Can't wait for the weather to warm up a little so I can team it up with my telescope.(keeping them seperate) Downloading the new software was easy and no problem. Thinking about getting the SkyScout telescope to mate it with. Initial reports indicate the Celestron SkyScout Telescope is a quality 90mm scope. KBP

[CarolG]

Isn't the Sky Scout fun? It's particularly useful in light polluted skies where it's hard to make out constellations or other landmarks in the sky. If you do get the new Celestron scope, let us know how you like it.

[New Mexico Craig]

Boy, this is confusing! I've read so many people's comments saying that the Sky Scout stinks and just as many people say that it's terrific.

I finally realized that I have to get my hands on one to find out for myself. I just ordered it from Astronomics.

My friends and neighbors enjoy looking through my scope but are intimidated about actually operating it. The whole concept of 'what star or planet is where and how do you know?' kinda freaks them out (they're not dumb, of course - just inexperienced at astronomy). And I don't seem to be very good at explaining it to them!

I'm hoping that the Sky Scout will make it easier for them to understand what's where in the sky and that it's not all that difficult to learn.

[KBP]

Look at it this way, many people say they love Ford trucks, others say Ford trucks stink. Some people say they like Chevys, others say Chevys stink... So you do have to check it out yourself. I picked Celestron because I like Celestron products and if I am out at night observing, I don't want to be mistaken for a prowler with a gun!!! Also, most of the negative things I heard about the SkyScout are either operator correctable(get away from metal objects) or due to software.(new download fixes most of these problems) Again, this is just my 2 cents. So far, MyScout offers the most promise to me. I am not throwing away my star charts just yet!

[phil piburn]

Well I have had mine for about 4 days now. I downloaded the
latest ver. No trouble with locking on to GPS or no interfence at all. It even works indoors. The problem is you had better know a little about the sky. When you tell it
to find M42 or M45 it will miss it by about a hands width
If you didn't know what M42 or 45 looks like, you would miss
it. Saturn same way. It keeps telling me Saturn is Leo. It
did put Sirus right in the middle. And Mars too. Also put
North Star right on.It is helpful I just don't know how much. I put the green laser on mine, I like it better without. I might sell mine, I don't know right now. Will have to use it more. If I sell it, I think I can get say 275. With Orion Laser bracket. I'm going to use it a little
more then make up my mind.

[Starlighter]

It told me Mars was in the middle of my garden.

[KBP]

Starlighter! You must have a really big garden! Although last fall I did manage to fit the moon between my corn and potatoes!

[Starlighter]

Mars was right by a red rose bush so at least it got the color correct.

[phil piburn]

Please read my other post. Well the Batt. bar was showing
about 1/4. I thought this was good enough. Well it's not!
Tonight I put new copper tops in and it was right on the
money. Saturn and everything else was right in the middle
of the rings. So I think it is voltage senstive. So when it
gets much under 1/2 on the Battery bar, it's time to change

[Starlighter]

Mine drained the batteries using it for only forty minutes. In that time it showed much of the power was gone so I slipped in a brand new pair of expensive lithium batteries. Didn't make much of a difference.

[KBP]

Hi Phil! I think you are right! I read a review about the SkyScout and it was noted that when the batteries get low, the accuracy drops. I haven't had the chance to see this for myself, but I will give it a real workout this spring. I think I am going to try Lithiums and rechargables to see if they make a difference. Ken

[Starlighter]

That's one thing about My Sky that was superior. It kept on working right up till the batteries went dead.

[New Mexico Craig]

Finally got my SkyScout from Astronomics ($20 discount for CN members). Took only one day to ship here!

Funny thing - it's been cloudy here ever since I got it. But just sitting here in my living room I turn it on, get a quick GPS fix, then use the 'locate' function to find some planets and stars. Once it points me to a specific spot in the sky (though all I actually see is my living room ceiling), I consult a star chart to see if it's correct. So far it's been right - or at least close as far as I can tell - every time.

Can't wait to get outside and actually see something now.

[jrw11]

Great! It will also tell you what the object is,pointing at the floor!

[New Mexico Craig]

Omigosh! You're right!

I just told it to locate the moon and some planets that are currently visible on the other side of Earth and, sure enough, it pointed me to various spots on the floor.

That's hilarious!

[Starlighter]

It pointed me towards my rose bush only problem was Mars was overhead at the time.

[darticus]

How do you hook the skyscout to the tele? What does it do if connected to the tele? I have the Celestron C8SGT. Thanks Ron

[darticus]

My Sky Scout is cool! How can the Sky Scout be use to work or help with telescope astronomy?
I heard 30% of the My Sky's are bad and the dealer, near me, just exchanges them until you get a good one.

[New Mexico Craig]

Ron - I have used my SkyScout as an excellent aid for telescope astronomy.

I look at a star chart to figure out what star is where and then use the SkyScout to check my accuracy. I then align my scope with much more confidence than I used to have. In the short time I've had it, the SkyScout has radically improved my ability to use star charts (ironic, eh?)

And, besides that, it's been an easy way to show my non-astronomy friends what's where up in the sky. They get a kick out of it as much as I do. Sunday night they were spotting stars - and Saturn and Mars - with it (after I showed them how) and then I showed them how to slew my scope in for a closer look.

That's a shame that some of these things apparently don't work well. Mine is dead-on accurate and has been an awesome educational tool.

[kiwisailor]

Another affirmative vote for the SkyScout from this part of the world- got mine yesterday, had a clear night to first light it, and it seems to work fine in all modes.

[Texas]

Mine arrived two days ago and it's some of the best money I've spent on this hobby. Works like a champ, and serves to confirm my suspicions of where I am and what I'm looking at. I know the purists probably don't like this device, but everyone else who tries it will probably fall in love with it. If it were possible to integrate this as the finder for a scope, that would be icing on the cake.

[kiwisailor]

Hey Texas

Welcome to Cloudy Nights.

If it were possible to integrate this as the finder for a scope, that would be icing on the cake.

can do, take a look here SkyScout Scope Bracket The magnetic disrupter shield might be worth looking at too.

Steve

[New Mexico Craig]

I agree, Texas. The SkyScout is amazing and just plain fun, too.

But the "purists" are right about The Big Picture : it's important to be able to look up at the night sky and identify stars, constellations, etc with one's own eyes. And that's what makes the SkyScout so great - it literally teaches a person about how to do that.

I wish there was some way to get this thing into every high school science class. It's educational value is huge!

craig

[phil piburn]

Well I did it. Sold the Skyscout about a hour ago. Going to
order a Mysky tommorrow morning. I just like the looks of it.Hope this is a smart move for me. Probably not. Hope I
get a good one. Will let you all know how it works. The
Skyscout worked OK. No complants.

[KBP]

Hi Phil! Just be careful that everyone in your vicinity knows what you have in the dark is not a gun!