Boy Scouts Use Celestron SkyScout - GPS Equipped Star Finder

Celestron and the Boy Scouts of America have announced that Celestron will donate 200 GPS Equipped SkyScout units to the astronomy programs run by the Boy Scouts. About the size of a camcorder and weighing less than 16 ounces, the SkyScout utilizes a consumer-friendly "point and shoot" GPS technology that enables stargazers to instantly identify and/or locate over 6,000 celestial objects in the sky with the press of 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 (i.e. Mars) and the SkyScout, using illuminated arrows in the viewfinder, will point the user to the object. Wow, when I was in Boy Scouts, we have dots with lines drawn between them on flash cards. This sounds like a nice step up!

Each year in the BSA program, nearly 50,000 boys earn merit badges in space exploration and astronomy. To enhance their learning experience, Celestron is donating the SkyScout units to the astronomy programs at all high adventure and approximately half of the BSA summer resident camps nationwide. Last year more than 1.2 million youth attended a Boy Scout summer or high adventure camp.

"American youth have always had a natural curiosity to explore new frontiers including our universe and space in general," said Dave Bates, director of Boy Scout camping and conservation. "During the past century nearly 1 million Scouts have earned merit badges in Astronomy and space exploration-related topics. This donation of Celestron SkyScouts will further allow BSA to inspire Scouts to explore and discover our universe."

"Simply put, SkyScout is the perfect tool for any one that has ever looked up at the night sky and had a desire to know more about the objects that make-up our surrounding universe," said Joseph A. Lupica Jr., president and CEO of Celestron. "Teaming-up with the BSA is a perfect fit for us, in that we both share the desire to grow the budding curiosity of today's young people who will launch the space and science developments of tomorrow."

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