Need Advice

[sotos (Sam)]

hi,everyone as a beginer i was thinking of buying a skyscout or a skyplus any idea anyone?

[erick (Eric)]

Hi Sam

Someone will have personal experience, I'm sure. I don't. Have you read reviews? How about:-

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1885

I think you'll need a pair of binoculars as well. You'll always want to look at things with some magnification and gathering more light than you can with your eyes.

Wait a minute, you have the 8" Skywatcher dob, haven't you? What do you want the Skyscout for?

Cheers, Eric

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi,

I was browsing Optcorp's website (www.optcorp.com) and they currently have the Meade Mysky Plus on special at a paultry $149 (US).

I was tempted, but after I'd read the reviews of this product, I decided against it. They've removed the GPS facility in the current 'Plus' model apparently, and one reviewer, most unimpressed, had to choose his coordinated from a great big long list of cities, none of which were his particular city. Many users found the thing to be most unreliable whilst others said it worked a treat right out of the box.

Too much uncertaintly in it for me though.

All the best.

[sotos (Sam)]

hi eric,yes i do have a dob but i thought i'll find my way around the sky quicker

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I have a SkyScout and it is a nifty gizmo. My kids particularly enjoy using it and it keeps them out of my hair while they play with it.

It works as advertised and can be useful in identifying stars and objects in the night sky...however, (we all knew there was going to be a but), depending on where and how you intend to use it, you might be a little disappointed and might be better served using that money for a good planisphere and petrol to get to a dark site.

In the end there is no substitute for learning the night sky. Yes the SkyScout can help you do this but so can a planispere (or charts)...

The SkyScout has a a look through window (no magnification) that you can use to align an object and it will tell you what it is (identify)...alternatively, you can name an object and it will direct you to it...it also has a lot of information recorded that you can listen to about the objects that you are findin/viewing.

But since there is no magnification, if you are in a heavy light pollution area it might be difficult to see what you are trying to find.

I enjoy mine as a fun "toy" and my kids seem to like it to...would I count it as an essential must have...Nope.

Having said all of that, if you are keen on using technology to help you find things (instead of planisphere/star charts/experience), I'd highly recommend a set of Digital Setting Circles...in particular the Argo Navis made right here in Australia...installed properly, they can turn your telescope into an accurate pointing machine...I am basically a lazy observer and I don't often get a chance to hang out all night under the stars...the Argo Navis has improved my efficiency and enjoyment immensely. Once I get everything aligned properly I can quickly find the things I want to see and can linger on them to my hearts content and then move on to the next object. Yes it is more expensive but it is much more powerful than a SkyScout...

Good Luck!