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SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Revolutionary gadget locates and IDs 6,000 stars, planets, and more instantly!
SkyScout Personal Planetarium
#07060
$249.95
Expected Ship Date 05/01/10

Features

SkyScout Personal Planetarium
  • This camcorder-sized digital planetarium identifies over 6,000 stars, planets, constellations and deep-sky objects
  • Easy to use - just aim at the celestial object and press "target"
  • 3" wide LCD screen displays the name and description of the object
  • SkyScout's GPS system will direct you to any object you select to view

Now anyone can quickly identify thousands of celestial objects in the night sky! The Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium is a camcorder-size digital planetarium that uses GPS to locate and identify over 6,000 stars, planets, constellations, and deep-sky objects.

It's easy to use; you just turn it on and you're ready for adventure. You sight through the SkyScout, aiming at any visible object in the sky, then press the "Target" button. Voila! — the name and a fascinating description of the target object are displayed instantly on the illuminated, 3"-wide LCD screen! You can also listen to an audio narrative describing the history, mythology, and other entertaining facts about more than 200 of the most popular objects, using the included earbud headphones.

The "Locate" feature allows you to select an object to view — Mars, for example — and then find it in seconds with the help of the Celestron SkyScout's pinpoint GPS system. Illuminated arrows in the viewfinder direct you right to the object, then the arrows flash when it's centered in the field of view. Another excellent feature, called "Tonight's Highlights," directs you to the 20 best objects to view from your specific location on that night.

The Celestron SkyScout's extensive database contains 6,000 stars, all 88 constellations, 200 galaxies, 100 nebulas, 40 star clusters, 20 comets, 10 asteroids, and extra space for custom user objects. The USB SkyLink interface allows you to download new firmware upgrades from your computer to the SkyScout as well as updates to the object database as they become available, keeping you up to date with the latest astronomical discoveries. The device has an SD card slot that accepts SkyTour cards (sold separately), which feature audio presentations on a variety of topics.

The Celestron SkyScout weighs less than 16 oz. and is wonderfully portable. Its rugged design makes it ideal for taking on camping trips or in carry-on luggage. It requires two 1.5-volt AA batteries (not included), which provide about 10 hours of continuous operation. Dimensions: 7.4" L x 4.0" H x 2.5" W.

Included with the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium are a USB cable, a pair of earbud headphones, a hand strap, and a carrying case. Two-year limited warranty.

SkyScout Features

  • Identifies celestial objects instantly with the click of a button Locates over 6,000 stars, planets, constellations, and deep-sky objects from built-in celestial database and provides scientific information for each object
  • Provides comprehensive text and audio descriptions relating history, mythology, and other entertaining information for the most popular objects
  • Tonight's Highlights: A customized list of the 20 best objects to view for your exact date, time, and location anywhere in the world
  • Constellation Lessons: if the star you identify or locate is part of a constellation like the Big Dipper, you can actually take a guided tour through all the stars in that constellation and even see an onscreen map of the constellation

Built-in Field Guide Includes

  • Introduction to Astronomy: a six-part audio lesson on the origin and history of astronomy
  • Glossary of Terms: text defining popular astronomy terms including planets, comets, galaxies and more
  • Great Astronomers: text bios on some of the world's greatest astronomers including Galileo, Einstein, and Copernicus
  • Man-Made Space Objects: text description of some of the coolest objects man has sent into space including the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Space Shuttle
  • Comet Guide: text descriptions about history's most famous comets, including Halley's Comet and Comet Hale-Bop SD card slot: for optional Sky Tour audio presentations that provide hours of entertainment on a variety of topics
  • USB port: allows database to be updated with new objects as they are discovered, comets, etc.
  • Built-in Help Menu: includes a quick start instruction guide for using the SkyScout
  • Bring it anywhere: compact and light design makes it easy to carry and durable construction makes it safe for rugged environments.
  • 2-year limited warranty

Warranty Information
Orion products are covered by a limited, non-transferable warranty. Products sold through this website and our catalog that do not bear the Orion Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Orion's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Orion-branded, even if packaged or sold with Orion products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.

Product Specs

Product Specifications:

Warranty Two year

Included Items

Included Items:

SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Soft carry case
Case strap
CD-ROM
Earphones
Wrist strap
USB cable

Media Buzz

Customer Reviews


8/7/09 7:09 PM
SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Reviewer: Tom H
I was very skeptical about ordering this after reading other reviews, but I really needed a device like this. All features worked fine except for the Identify function. Pressing the Target button did absolutely nothing. It wasn't a magnetic interference issue since the Locate feature worked flawlessly. I read of the same problem in the Celestron Forum. I'm returning it tomorrow for a refund. What a shame. I really wanted this to work out.

7/28/08 5:02 PM
SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Reviewer: L. Newton
The SkyScout is a hand-held device and has the advantages and drawbacks typical of such. It is best at locating major items. It will get you close enough to use as a locator device. If the read aloud feature is used, it will eat batteries. A bit slow in acquiring GPS satellites unless in the wide open. Large metal objects or over-head powerlines affect acquiring by magnetic lines. But, it is still a fun device and makes quick work of identification.

5/17/08 5:54 PM
SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Reviewer: Mark
This product works as advertised. Yes, the display could use more contrast, but the red backlighting is to help preserve night vision. Point it at an object and it tells you what it is. Ask it to find something and it guides you there, by your own hand hand. I mount mine on my Dobs and it works like a computer guided telrad.

11/13/07 11:50 AM
SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Reviewer: Ross Sheridan
SkyScout does not operate as Celestron, the mfg. represents it to. Functions do not perform and results are rarely correct. The GPS is not accurate and close by best to the actual coordinates so beware. I purchased 3 units, 1 was returned once and 1 twice and they still do not work as represented.

11/7/07 10:28 AM
SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Reviewer: Rick
Here are my findings for this piece of equipment: Pros: Works basically as advertised. Cons: *Clunky interface (this ain't no IPHONE) *The display can be hard to read (they should have used text to speech hardware to read all of the descriptions out loud. * A built in laser pointer would be better than the poorly designed Orion add-on. *No Skytour Cards available yet--which should be one of the better features. *Doesn't appear to be as precise as the techonology in goto telescopes (it is, afterall, a handheld device.) * Celestron doesn't monitor or respond to user comments on the SkyScout website. Bottom line: Unless you have money to burn, put your money into an Orion Intelliscope instead.

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