This is my second experience with the Celestron SkyScout and the first time that I had a length of time to go off and experience it on my own for a whole evening. The first time was a few months ago when the Celestron representatives brought one into the store for a few hours.

What You Get:

The box contains:

• The SkyScout
• A canvas type carrying case, similar to a camera case.
• Straps for the SkyScout
• Straps for the Case
• Ear bud style headphones
• USB cable
• CD of Documentation and Windows software

A Brief Description

The SkyScout is a hand-held, light-weight, rubber-armored device. With built-in GPS and magnetic switches, it can guide you through a series of LED arrows to a selected target or identify a target with the press of a button.

The Sky Scout has no magnification, just two rings at either end of the device to aim the unit. When being guided to an object the are a eight arrows around one of the aiming rings that light up in succession to guide you to the selected object. When you locate the object all the arrows light up.

When identifying an object just point the SkyScout at the item of interest and press the "target" button: a list possible of items (2-5) appears sorted by brightness.

The Sky Scout has a database of about 6000 items and about 200 of those items have audio information associated with them. There is a 3.5mm audio stereo jack for earbuds or small speakers.

There is an SD memory card slot and a USB cable port. All this runs on 2 AA batteries.

My Impressions

First off, I think this is a remarkable advanced device. Can we say "Science-fiction?" It successfully combines GPS, motion switches and electronic compass technology into a unit that identifies objects and guides you to objects in real time. Any comments not absolutely positive are pretty minor.

So, I'll start off by saying "It just works." I was able to locate objects and identify objects in the sky as advertised.

The Voice

About 200 of the 6000 objects in the SkyScout database has an audio file associated  with it. Once an item is selected the user can listen to a brief description through the provided ear-bud headset. The voice is a pleasant, easy-to-understand female voice. Very nice.

The Software

The CD that comes with the software has documentation and software to update the SkyScout. While the software is Windows only, the manual is stored as a PDF file that is readable by Windows, Linux and Mac.

Installing the software onto Windows is fairly simple and straightforward and the installer installs USB drivers and a program called "Celestron SkyScout". The Software does three basic things:

1. It can check for updates over the internet.
2. It can display a help system (via HTML).
3. The program can update itself.
4. The program can update the SkyScout.

At some point it may do more, but it only really needs to be installed at all if you need a firmware update from Celestron.

Quirks - not really problems

1. This unit is sensitive to electo-magnetic fields. When I first started using the unit I found the targets I was using was about 30 second to one degree off. I was a bit concerned until I looked back at the display where there was a warning message explaining that the unit was detecting some electo-magnetic interferance and that the accuracy may suffer.

   If fact, I was standing next to a car (a really big chunk of iron) and by stepping about 10 feet away the unit worked much better.

   Simply be aware of things that can affect the device: electrical lines, large metal objects (like cars) and things that can block GPS signals. This sensitivity is not a problem, but is just the nature of the complex sophisticated technology. (For this reason the unit comes with metal sleaves to cover the batteries before you insert them to reduce the electro-magnetic effect.)

2. The light that illuminates the screen, is the same light the illuminates the retical inside the device. This was something I missed during my first review of the product because we were using it in the daylight with the illumination off.

   My problem was that by the time I turned the screen brightness bright enough for my 50 year old eyes to see. The brightness on the retical was annoying and unevenly bright. At first I thought that this was a flaw in the unit I was using, but lowering the brightness of the retical make the experience less annoying.

3. I found the location of the off button inconvenient. I found I accidentally turn the unit off 6 or 7 times. First few times I was trying to adjust the screen brightness while waiting for the unit to sync-up to the GPS satellites (which takes about 60 seconds) and a few times trying to navigate the unfamiliar interface, I would fat-finger the off switch and have to re-start the unit (which takes about 60 seconds to sync to the GPS satellites.

   I'm certain, take with a few more hours of use, in a Pavlovian-Obedient way, I would be train to avoid the off switch. I don't know if it just me or if the switch is really a problem.

4. I noticed after about a half hour of use the battery level had dropped to almost half. I was using two Alkaline batteries, but I was re-starting the unit a lot (mostly by accident) and had the brightness turn all the way up to read the screen. These are the sorts of things that will burn up battery life. I would recommend to adjust the brightness to the lowest level possible.

Availablity

These units are shipping, but in very small quantities. The dealers we surveyed all have long waiting lists. Until Celestron gets these units out in large quantities, be prepared for a wait.

To order the Celestron SkyScout click here.

• CES 2006 - Best of Innovations
• Reader's digest - Best 2006
• PC Magazine - Last Gadget Standing
• Popular Mechanics - Editor's Choice Awards (CES 2006)