Celestron SkyScout Named "Best of America" By Reader's Digest Magazine

Portable celestial exploration, education, and entertainment device awarded by the magazine that celebrates the extraordinary.

Pleasantville, NY (April 10, 2006) - Celestron's SkyScout Personal Planetarium, the innovative handheld GPS stargazing device, has been named "Best of America" by the edoris of Reader's Digest magazine. This celebration of the quirky, amazing, and truly extraordinary is featured in the May issue, on newsstands April 18.

After speaking to hundreds of experts and ordinary folk, the editors tested, tasted, and debated everything from the best sandwich to the best must-have gadgets to the best buzz cut. The resulting list is organized in six categories: legacies, passions, adventure, innovations, time off and connections.

"Our country is full of hidden treasures, creative products and inspiring stories that don't often grab the national spotlight," said Reader's Digest Editor in Chief Jackie Leo. "We had great fun putting the lively and surprising issue together."

About the size of a camcorder and weighing less than 16 ounces, the Celestron SkyScout uses a consumer-friendly "point and shoot" GPS technology that enables stargazers to instantly identify and/or locate over 6,000 celestial objects 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.

A totally unique, one-of-a-kind product, SkyScout uses 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 much easier and more entertaining. 

SkyScout transforms the night sky into a personal planetarium that engages astronomy buggs and stargazers, as well as families, students, campers, and 'ordinary people' of all levels and backgrounds," said Joseph A. Lupica, Jr., President and CEO of Celestron. "After five years in development, it is rewarding to see the SkyScout recognized by America's premier consumer magazine, reaffirming that the timing is right for SkyScout's introduction into the consumer marketplace."

Reader's Digest "America's 100 Best" can be identified by state or category on www.rd.com/boa where readers can nominate entried for next year's collection.