Celestron Encourages Boy Scouts To Let Curiosity "Take Flight" During "Ask Astronaut Clayton Anderson" Event

Celestron Donates SkyScout® Personal Planetarium™ And Traveler 10x25 Porro Binoculars To Inquisitive Scouts As Part Of Ongoing Program To Promote Interest In Space Exploration And Astronomy.

Torrance, CA (September 12, 2007) – Boy Scouts of the Cornhusker Council, in Southeast Nebraska have the opportunity to send questions to NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, who is currently in space aboard the International Space Station. Celestron, a leading manufacturer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes and microscopes, will award exploration prizes to the 20 Boy Scouts chosen to ask their questions. 19 Scouts will receive Traveler 10x25 Porro binoculars, and one lucky winner will receive the SkyScout® Personal Planetarium™.

Cornhusker Council Scouts can submit questions through the “Ask Astronaut Clayton Anderson” website http://www.cornhuskercouncil.org/AskClayton/ until Tuesday, October 16th. NASA will send 20 selected submissions to Anderson, whose responses will be posted on the website. Each year, nearly 50,000 boys in the BSA program earn merit badges in space exploration and astronomy. More than 1 million youth attend a Boy Scout summer or high-adventure camp where they are taught to explore space and the stars.

“Boy Scout councils have been using the SkyScout to learn about objects in the sky from Earth, and now, thanks to this exclusive opportunity through NASA, they will have the opportunity to learn about the Universe from a former Scout in space,” said Joseph A. Lupica Jr., president and CEO of Celestron. “Well-rounded programs, like this, help to grow the budding curiosity of today’s young people and inspire the space and science developments of tomorrow and we are happy to support such a noble effort.”

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.

Celestron’s Traveler 10x25 Porro is a streamlined binocular that can be tucked away in a backpack or overnight bag 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.

About Boy Scouts of America
Serving nearly 4.5 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. For more information on the BSA, please visit www.scouting.org.

About Celestron
Celestron is a leading designer, manufacturer and importer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes and microscopes. Since manufacturing its first telescope in 1960, Celestron has grown to become one of the world’s leading telescope makers, and enjoys brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology. Celestron’s innovative products continue to receive numerous industry and consumer media accolades, adding to an already impressive list that includes awards for product innovation from Reader’s Digest, Popular Science, PC Magazine, Popular Mechanics, the Consumer Electronics Association and more. Celestron sells and markets its products worldwide through a variety of specialty retail outlets and international distributors. Celestron is a privately held company with corporate offices and manufacturing facilities, in Torrance, CA.