Celestron Skyscout

[mac]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone had any experience using a Skyscout? Is it good?

And has anyone tried attaching one to their scope? I know that there can be issues with magnetic interference, but I'm curious anyway.

Thanks!
-Matt

[Allan_L]

Hi Matt,
I have a Skyscout and a Meade MySky.
Both are good fun things.
Both can be inprecise and affected by magnetic fields and obstacles.

The MySky is more precise. Too precise sometimes for the human aiming ability.

The skyscount on the other hand will often give the same object as being several degrees apart. (ie 2 close objects it cant differentiate).

Neither are good to mount on a scope as a finder.

But they are helpful.

There is a skyscout for sale in the Trade section as I recall.
You may get it for a good price. Which is the best way to buy because it is so much more expensive compared to the MySky.

Hope that helps a little !

[barx1963]

Sky at Night magazine reviewed the SkyScout and MySky in their latest issue. Gave the MySky a better rating overall based on pointing accuracy being a bit better and the colour display being better. Both rated well but pointing accuracy was only Ok, so not accurate enough to attach to a scope.

[mac]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info!

[wavelandscott]

I have a Sky Scout and really enjoy it...but not for pointing a telescope.

I've found it a very handy thing for my kids...particularly on bright stars and planets. My kids learn from it and stay out of my hair while I look through my scope(s).

It is negatively impacted by magnetic interference if I get it too close to metal (including my big watch).

I'd put it in the "fun to have" but not essential category.

If pointing a telescope is what you want to do then I strongly encourage you to consider an Argo Navis...thye are top shelf!

[mac]

Thanks Scott!

I'd love to get an Argo Navis for my soon-to-be-ordered 10" or 12" dob. But I'm confused about how much they cost. I looked at their website and got even more confused. In the end I got the impression it would set me back NZ$1000 or even $1100 all up. Which is almost the same price as the 10" dob.

[wavelandscott]

Best to go to the Argo Navis website (Wildcard Innovations) and send them an e-mail.

I'm in the USA now so I'm a bit out of touch with the AUD$/NZ$ price of anything...

From my own experience I'd say that although it seems relatively expensive afer using it a while I say it is cheap at twice the price (but don't get any big ideas Gary!)...

My AN has really changed the way I use my scopes...in a positive way.

[gmbfilter]

These guys do a scope scout http://www.astronomy-shoppe.com/...they have a corrector for magnetic variations, I don't Know how well they work.

Sky scout can be a quick to orientate yourself
I still use mine

[jakob]

This was my experiment with monting a Skyscout:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=34207

THE GADGET REFERRED TO BY GMBFILTER WOULD PROBABLY SOLVE THE ISSUE I HAD. BUT A LOT OF EFFORT.

GOOD LUCK!