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Paul Walker, a member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society, is looking at a computer screen that shows what the large telescope on the left is seeing.
steve rice / minneapolis star tribune
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Gadget popular in tucson shops
SkyScouts sell well at local shops.
"Typically they come right in and they take it right out. They don't sit on the shelf for very long," said Dean Koenig, owner of Starizona, 5757 N. Oracle Road, which sells SkyScouts for $399, along with telescopes and star guides, and hosts free star-viewing events.
"Everyone who buys one comes back and talks about them," said Frank Lopez, owner of Stellar Vision Astronomy Shop, 1835 S. Alvernon Way, which also sells SkyScouts. "I don't think I've had one return yet."
Customers range from stargazer newbies to hobbyists with decades of experience.
It's no wonder SkyScouts are popular here, considering Tucson's population of astronomy buffs and the city's reputation as an astronomy hot spot, Koenig said.
The SkyScout was even the recent topic of the Internet radio show "Let's Talk Stars," hosted by local astronomy experts and sponsored by Starizona.
"They all come back in raving," Koenig said. "It's like having a binocular that tells you what sort of bird you're looking at. How cool would that be? That's what it does with stars."
Bill Tyndall, 85, a resident of Green Valley's La Posada senior living center, bought a SkyScout six months ago.
"I've used it whenever I can. It's more of a plaything than anything else," said Tyndall, who chairs an astronomy group at La Posada. "I have a good telescope, but it's an interesting thing to have, and I enjoy sharing it with people. Everyone seems to like it."
Besides selling SkyScouts, said Lopez of Stellar Vision Astronomy Shop, the store has started using the devices for its star-viewing parties and school events.
"It's a cool accessory. I like using it with our general clientele so they can ooh and aah about it," he said. "It's also user-friendly. If customers didn't know anything about using it, they're able to take it out that night and use it without problems."
WIth its easy-to-use function, Lopez said, the SkyScout gives plenty of information and acts like a tutor.
"It might even get people to sign petitions to keep our skies dark," said Lopez, referring to Tucson city ordinances that call for low light pollution to protect night viewing. "But it's nice they're just learning about the sky."
— Levi J. Long

Accent

Scouting stars

GPS device locates, describes heavenly bodies
By Randy A. Salas
McClatchy Newspapers
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.24.2007
'Is that a plane, or is it Antares?" Parke Kunkle has taught astronomy at Minneapolis Community & Technical College for 37 years, but he wasn't ashamed to admit that he couldn't tell.
So, while standing in a Maple Grove, Minn., field recently, he trained SkyScout on the distant object in the dusky sky. The electronic device's display quickly showed that it was indeed the brightest star in the Scorpius constellation, along with scientific data and background information.
"This is like playing with a new toy," said a giddy Kunkle, who's also president of the Minnesota Planetarium Society. "I don't know — it might even tell stories."
In fact, SkyScout does tell stories. Just select the audio option from the identification screen.
"Look at its ruddy, orange glow," a female narrator says about Antares, "and you might be reminded of another celestial object, the planet Mars. Indeed, early sky watchers thought the same thing. In fact, its very name comes from the ancient Greek phrase that means 'rival of Mars.' "
Celestron's SkyScout Personal Planetarium is a nifty handheld gizmo that gives a techno-spin to amateur stargazing. (Meade's similar MySky arrived recently to give it competition.) SkyScouts are available at a variety of Web sites and at amazon.com. At $399, SkyScout's price might seem, well, astronomical to most people who just want to look at the night sky. But its gee-whiz aspect is priceless.
SkyScout is about the size of a video camera. It works solely as a viewing aid, not a magnifying device — although Kunkle says some amateur astronomers use it in conjunction with a telescope.
When you turn on SkyScout, it begins by using GPS technology to determine where in the world you are, along with the date and time. Identifying celestial objects is easy: Find an object in the night sky so that it's in the center of concentric rings inside the viewer, and press the "target" button.
Even cooler, you can have SkyScout find something for you. Just press the "locate" button, pick one of the 6,000 stars and planets in its database and look through the viewer. Arrows prompt you to move the device in various directions until the ring inside the viewer lights up; the object will be in the center of the ring.
Not sure where to start? SkyScout will point out interesting sights.
"See if it will find Mercury," Kunkle goaded me, as if issuing a dare.
"Found" in the ground?
SkyScout had me pointing west toward the ground when it "found" the planet. It didn't work, I said. On the contrary, a beaming Kunkle said, Mercury appears close to the sun, which was below the horizon.
GPS technology and the information in its database allow SkyScout to work its magic.
"It knows that, if you are at this point and time, looking in that direction, that part of the universe has to be there," said Ben Huset, president of the Minnesota Astronomical Society.
Jon Hickman of the Astronomical Society says he uses SkyScout for outreach at stargazing events. Turn it on and a crowd quickly gathers. He even connects speakers so that everyone can hear the narration.
"I'm very big into creating interest and passion for what's out there, so it's a great tool for it," he said. "It's got a great wow factor."
Places to buy SkyScout in Tucson
● Stellar Vision Astronomy Shop, 1835 S. Alvernon Way, Suite 206.
● Starizona, 5757 N. Oracle Road, Suite 103.
Fun with stars on the cheap
SkyScout is cool, but you don't need to spend $400 to have fun stargazing. Here are free or inexpensive ways to explore the heavens.
● Go to a local star-viewing party. Starizona, 5757 N. Oracle Road, Suite 103, hosts the free events from sunset to 9 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and sunset to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For information, call 292-5010.
● Use a star chart. A planisphere is a circular chart that shows which stars are visible on any given date and where they are located. Buy one for about $10, or print one online (www.startribune.com/a3135). Skymaps.com also offers a free monthly star chart to download.
● Get help online. Heavens Above (www.heavens-above.com) offers interactive star charts. Free registration is required.
● Take a virtual ride. Celestia is a 3-D simulation that lets you journey to the planets and stars. The free program can be downloaded at www.shatters.net/ celestia, with add-ons at www.celestiamotherlode.net.
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