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The Celestron SkyScout is a handheld, portable, non-magnifying celestial viewing device that can instantly identify and/or locate any of the more than 6,000 celestial objects visible to the naked eye. It transforms the night sky into a personal planetarium for stargazers, families, students, and astronomers alike. It makes learning the stories of the sky – and finding your way around the sky – easier than ever before.

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The AA flashlight battery-operated Celestron SkyScout is about the size of a small camcorder (7.4” x 4” x 2.5”) and weighs less than 16 ounces, making it easy to carry and use in the field. Its patented technology combines a GPS receiver (which calculates the time, date, and location on Earth of the user, based on signals from Earth-orbiting satellites); software that calculates the current positions of over 6000 stars, planets, and other celestial objects from its substantial celestial database; and 3-axis sensors that measure the Earth’s gravitational and magnetic fields to determine the true orientation of the SkyScout to the Earth, no matter in what orientation you hold the SkyScout. There’s no need to hold it level or point it north to get it aligned on the sky.

When the SkyScout is turned on, its internal GPS system automatically determines where on Earth you are located. You don’t have to enter your location or the date and time to start observing. The SkyScout does it for you automatically. Its user-friendly “point and shoot” technology lets you point it at any visible object in the sky and read a scrolling commentary about the object and its history in the SkyScout’s illuminated 5-line LED display. The SkyScout comes with compact earbud-type earphones so you can also hear the displayed information narrated for you without having to take your eye away from the SkyScout’s non-magnifying viewfinder. Optional speakers that plug into the earphone output let a group of people hear the commentary simultaneously. The database contains scientific information for over 6000 objects, plus entertaining stories for the 200 most spectacular celestial objects.

If you prefer, select an object you wish to view (for example Mars), and the SkyScout’s “locate” feature uses illuminated arrows in its viewfinder to actually lead you to that object, then tells you all about it. The SkyScout personal planetarium is a fun learning tool for all ages. It puts the knowledge of an expert astronomer in the palm of your hand. It will dramatically improve how you learn your way around the skies – making astronomy easier and more entertaining. The Celestron SkyScout can be used to accompany a telescope, can be taken on camping trips to explore the night’s sky, and can be used as a learning tool for students of astronomy young and old alike. The SkyScout is a great, easy-to-use educational aid for parents searching to answer their child’s seemingly “unanswerable” questions about the sky.

The SkyScout operating system and database can be updated from the internet, always keeping you current with the skies. A built-in USB port and supplied cable allow you to periodically update the operating software from the Celestron website, as well as download new data about celestial objects like the orbits of the Space Shuttle or the locations of passing comets. In addition, there is an SD memory card slot for optional “SkyTour Content Cards” that have additional content offerings, such as “Astronomy for Kids,” “The Constellations,” and “History’s Greatest Astronomers.”

The SkyScout comes with a soft carrying case for storage and travel, earphones to listen to the audio content, a hand strap for comfort and portability, and a USB cable for connecting to your PC to upgrade the database. The high impact molded case of the SkyScout is partially rubber armored for long life and durability. The 3” wide x 1” high graphic LCD display has red LED backlighting to preserve your dark-adapted vision while still being highly legible. The brightness level can be adjusted to suit your individual preferences, as can the headphone volume. The SkyScout database contains 6000 stars, 100 variable stars, all 88 constellations, 200 galaxies, 100 nebulas, 40 star clusters, 20 satellites, 20 asterisms, 20 periodic comets, 10 asteroids, and 25 stars with known planets. In addition, you can download up to 100 objects from the Celestron website and add 50 custom user objects of your own. Two user-supplied AA batteries will power the SkyScout for up to 10 hours of operation.

Consider just some of the possible uses of the SkyScout . . .

• Learn the skies on your own: When the SkyScout is turned on, its “Must-See List” will tell you the 10 coolest things to look at in the sky that night, and will lead you to them if you want to take a guided tour. If you look at a star that’s part of a constellation outline, the SkyScout will let you know it, its graphic display will show you a picture of the entire constellation, and it will help you locate the other stars that form the constellation.

  Let your children learn the skies on their own: The SkyScout is easy to use, even for a youngster. It is very tolerant of young and unsteady hands, as its software adjusts automatically for tremors and small hand movements. Its scrolling text and graphic display and its voice output of stories make it fun for kids to learn the myths and legends behind the constellations and spectacular deep space objects. They learn them at their own pace, on their own, making learning more interesting.

• Use it as an object aiming computer for your telescope: The SkyScout has a standard tripod-type 1/4”-20 thread mounting hole on its underside. This lets you use a standard piggyback camera mount to install the SkyScout on the rear cell of a non-computerized Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. You can then use the SkyScout’s “locate” feature to show you how to move your SCT telescope to over 6000 celestial objects. You can also use it to identify objects you come across while scanning the skies on your own. An optional bracket is available for mounting the SkyScout on non-SCT scopes, such as Dobsonian reflectors, to help you more quickly locate the planets and deep space objects.

• Use it as a fun educational tool at public star parties, scouting camp outs, grade school and high school astronomy classes and clubs: An optional speaker system is available to let a group of people hear the SkyScout’s spoken commentary. Attach the SkyScout and the speaker (magnetically shielded to keep it from affecting the SkyScout’s magnetic compass sensors) on a telescope. While one person observes, the others in the group can be entertained and informed by the spoken commentary about the object being observed, rather than being bored by their wait in the observing line. High school teachers and scout masters will find it a great help in keeping teenagers and preteens interested and engaged while waiting their turn to observe.