CES 2011: Computerized Telescope Steers Skywatchers to Best Stargazing
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CREDIT: Celestron |
LAS VEGAS - A new computerized telescope that automatically veers viewers to stars and celestial bodies of interest allows even amateur astronomers to stargaze.
Made by Celestron, the Sky Prodigy telescope turns on at the push of a button and uses a combination of digital cameras and proprietary software to automatically determine its location.
This so-called alignment process takes about three minutes, after which the user can choose from a list of 4,000 objects to view.
"Sky Prodigy is an automatic alignment telescope that turns anyone into an instant astronomer," Celestron marketing manager Michelle Meskill told TechNewsDaily at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here.
"You turn the telescope on, hit align and it's going to start sensing the sky," Meskill said. "In three minutes, you're up and running and ready to view Saturn, Jupiter and its moons, or the Orion Nebula."
Don't know what you want to look at? No problem. The Sky Prodigy also includes a "sky tour" feature that automatically moves the telescope to the best astronomical objects currently visible at the time.
Sky Prodigy will be available this summer in three models: a 70 millimeter version for $699, a 90 millimeter model for $749 and a $130 model for $799.
