Starscout experience?

[AndyL]

Anyone bought a Celestron Starscout yet?

If so, what's your experience been like?

[jase]

Starscout????
S&T reviewed the SkyScout in July 2006. Interesting article:
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/skyandtelescope/access/1088299811.html?dids=1088299811:108 8299811&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:PAGE&date=Jul+2006&author=&desc=SkyScount+hand-held+object+locator+by+Celestron

There were some funamental flaws that I believe have recently been addressed with firmware upgrades.

[iceman]

I'd be interested in seeing one work in the flesh, but it's not something on my wish list.

[OneOfOne]

I wish I had one a few weeks ago. We were getting set up for a public viewing and were hoping to show the kids Jupiter before it set, however there were two big trees in the path. We guessed where it would be setting and placed the scopes so that it would be visible between them, we got it right. With a SkyScout you could set the time ahead and it would show you where Jupiter WILL be in an hour or so. You could then setup in a suitable spot. The article in S&T made this point, but I think this is perhaps the greatest reason for having one. You can use it to determine where the Moon will rise and be able to setup a photo in preparation for its rise or any other time when you need to be ready for "something". As for pointing to stuff at night, I don't think many would justify it on this alone.

Yes, I have one on my list...but I have already asked Santa for some other stuff.

[jakob]

I think there are some teething problems with it.
One user complained about the poor response from the GPS receiver.
My interest is to mount it on a Dob!
In theory it should work OK.

My expierience with a Digital compass is that it is so much influenced by objects arount it that the accuracy is only achieved by aignement with a known star. After that it should be OK.

To establish the position of an object at any time I use a trial version of Pocketstar on my PDA.

[ballaratdragons]

There is a thread somewhere in Cloudy Nights about a guy who uses one attached to his scope. I can't find it though. :shrug:

It is worth reading if you can find it as he says how well it works for locating objects in the scope.

[seeker372011]

Not withstanding the fellow who used it as a locator on his scope I recently read a review-Astronomy? American S &T? I cant remember where :ashamed: that quite categorically says it doesnt work well for that purpose

In any case it has relatively few deep space objects in its database