Received this in a telescope dealer's news letter. Amazing!!
A Unique New Astronomy Product by Celestron
www.astronomics.com · November 17, 2005
SkyScout, a unique new astronomy product by Celestron, was named the “Best of Innovations” in the personal electronics category among all the new products to be introduced at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show in January.
The Celestron SkyScout is a handheld, portable celestial viewing device that can instantly identify and/or locate over 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 sky easier than ever before.
About the size of a camcorder and weighing less than 16 ounces, the Celestron SkyScout utilizes a consumer-friendly “point and shoot” technology that enables stargazers to point at any visible object in the sky, press a button, and listen to commentary on the object and its history. The SkyScout also has a “locate” feature that allows users to select an object they wish to view (for example Mars) and the SkyScout, using illuminated arrows in the viewfinder, will actually point the user to the object. A totally unique, one of a kind product, SkyScout utilizes patented technology that combines data from sensors measuring both the magnetic and gravitational fields of the Earth, along with internal GPS and a substantial celestial database, to dramatically improve how people learn about astronomy – making it easier and more entertaining.
“The Celestron SkyScout can be used to accompany a telescope, 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,” said Richard Hedrick, senior vice president and CTO of Celestron. “SkyScout will be a great, easy-to-use educational aid for parents searching to answer their child’s seemingly ‘unanswerable’ questions about the sky.”
“We are thankful to the Consumer Electronics Association and the innovations judges for honoring our company with this award,” said Joseph A. Lupica, Jr., president and CEO of Celestron. “We set out to develop a product that would aid consumers in bridging the ‘astronomy-learning gap,’ and this award reaffirms that the timing is right for the SkyScout’s introduction. Having produced many of the industry’s highest quality optical products for amateur astronomers for more than four decades, we know that there is a whole new generation of budding backyard stargazing enthusiasts that will now have the technology product they need to take their knowledge of the Universe to the next level.”
Celestron will officially introduce its revolutionary SkyScout at the Consumer Electronics Show starting Tuesday, January 3, 2006, in Las Vegas. Pricing and availability will be announced at that time.