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Off Topic => Engineering => Topic started by: Dracho on November 17, 2005, 02:49:27 pm

Title: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: Dracho on November 17, 2005, 02:49:27 pm
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.

 
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: kmelew on November 17, 2005, 03:01:24 pm
Pretty cool!!  :)

Hope it's not too expensive...  :o
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: GDA-S'Cipio on November 17, 2005, 03:41:18 pm
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.

Aw, man!  I'd have killed for this when I was a teen!

-S'Cipio
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: E_Look on November 17, 2005, 10:03:46 pm
I'd trade it for a good RPN scientific calculator that has mucho RAM.   ;D
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: IndyShark on November 18, 2005, 07:49:48 pm
That is too cool. I would like to check one out.
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: IndyShark on November 18, 2005, 07:52:00 pm
What direction is Qo'noS anyway?
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: Dracho on November 18, 2005, 09:47:35 pm
The guided tour aside, the ability to spatially orient itself to the degree that it can tell what you are looking at is astounding.
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: E_Look on November 20, 2005, 09:39:45 pm
What direction is Qo'noS anyway?

Whaddya mean??  Just find the planet with the busted moon!
Title: Re: Okay Eggheads - A Totally Cool Product Hits the Market
Post by: Dracho on November 20, 2005, 10:34:30 pm
What direction is Qo'noS anyway?

Whaddya mean??  Just find the planet with the busted moon!

It's in the Great Plumber Nebula.  :-X