Celestron Announces Grand Prize Winner Of Its Ultimate Backyard Adventure Sweepstakes

Robert Papuga of Morganton, NC, Wins A SkyScout Personal Planetarium™, Computerized Telescope, Digital Spotting Scope, Binoculars And Family Camping Gear.

Torrance, CA (August 30, 2007) – Celestron®, a leading manufacturer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes and microscopes, announced today that Robert Papuga from Morganton, North Carolina is the grand prize winner of the Ultimate Backyard Adventure Sweepstakes. As the Grand Prize winner, Papuga was randomly selected from more than 80,000 entries to win a complete outdoor adventure pack that includes a Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium, NexStar® 6 SE computerized telescope, VistaPix® IS70 digital spotting scope, Traveler® 8 24X25 binoculars and all the camping gear needed to enjoy a family camping trip under the stars.

"I've always been interested in astronomy, but never had the tools to take my curiosity to the next level," said Papuga, a retired vice president of a textile company. "I entered the contest every day for three weeks and now I’m really looking forward to sharing the prize with my family and learning together about the wonders of the Universe."

In addition to receiving a Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium, NexStar® 6 SE computerized telescope, VistaPix® IS70 digital spotting scope, Traveler® 8 24X25 binoculars, Papuga will also receive, a family-size tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, lantern, portable stove, fire pit, chairs, first-aid kit, flashlights, tarps, can opener, portable shower, pots and pans, batteries, coffee maker, duct tape, compass, knife, insect repellent, cooler, extension forks, cooking utensils, pie iron, cutlery, marshmallows and trail mix.

"Camping and stargazing have always gone hand in hand, and all of our stargazing and exploration products are designed to enhance the overall outdoor experience by making it easy for 'adventurers' of all levels and backgrounds to learn about the night sky," said Joseph A. Lupica Jr., president and CEO of Celestron, who personally called Papuga to announce he was the grand prize winner. "We are absolutely delighted to award Robert with many of the Celestron products that have revolutionizing the way we all look at the night sky, and look forward to being a part of their outdoor adventures for years to come."

In addition to Papuga's grand prize, Celestron also announced Ned Chestnut of Hood River, OR, Melanie Bruno of Newhall, CA and Rodney J. Koodray Jr. of Waretown, NJ as the three first prize winners who will each receive a SkyScout Personal Planetarium. Six runner-up winners will be receiving Traveler 10X25 binoculars.

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.

NexStar 6 SE computerized telescope combines state-of-the-art features with an easy-to-use interface to make astronomy fun, exciting and most importantly, easy for star watchers of all experience levels. Celestron’s innovative SkyAlign® technology automatically aligns the telescope for optimum viewing of any star, planet or galaxy that is selected by the user from a computer database menu of over 40,000 celestial objects.

The VistaPix IS70 is a fully integrated, high-performance spotting scope with a built-in, digital camera that allows users to view, capture, save and share vibrant, high-resolution images and video from a distance, using the scope’s built in high-powered magnification and digital zoom features. Designed for use in a wide range of viewing environments, the VistaPix IS70 brings nature’s live action closer than ever with high-resolution, razor-sharp, vibrant images and video that can be saved and viewed later on a television or PC.

Celestron’s Traveler 8 24X25 is a streamlined binocular that can be tucked away in a backpack or overnight bag, or within arm’s reach in your vehicle’s glove box, and is comprised of compact, go-anywhere porro and roof prism binoculars. Featuring BAK-4 prisms and multi-coatings for brilliant views with maximum resolution and high contrast, the Traveler features a conveniently located finger lever for quick and accurate zoom adjustments.