Celestron Skyscout vs. Astronomy app for iPhone / iPad

[wired2moon]

Looking for views and opinions from the legendary SGL mind pool. I have a Skyscout and Star Walk for iPad. Debating whether to sell Skyscout (paid £200 for it versus £3 for star walk!), but not sure as the big plus it has over star walk is accuracy - with star walk I hold the iPad up to the sky and usually it can't make it's mind up which direction its facing! no such issues with Skyscout.

I'd welcome any thoughts or views based on experience...

Cheers folks

[Mike73]

I really like Sky Walk but don't use it with any kind of internet connection as I found its pretty jittery.

I simply 'match the skies' then put it into 'night mode'. Works well enough for me anyway.

[wired2moon]

Cheers Mike, not too many opinions on this it seems!

Took them both out last night and now swaying towards getting rid of Skyscout - could do with the cash to put towards an 8" dob

[mikey72uk]

There is an iPhone verson of Stellarium which is ok, but the menus are a bit clumsy. Another app I have is iStellar.

The problem with mobile devices is that they can destroy your night vision very quickly.

[wired2moon]

Cheers Mike. Star walk is handy in that it has a night mode (turns all colours red). You need to remember to turn auto lock off though

[West End Wendy]

Sky Safari is absolutely awesome, and gets better with every update. It's far more of a serious astronomer's tool than Star Walk. There are versions for all pockets, too, with varying numbers of stars in the catalogue.

I have an IPhone rather than an iPad, so can't really comment on iPad use, but a friend of mine was using Star Walk on the iPad and was having problems getting the compass to work. More likely to be an issue with the iPad settings than the app, I suspect.

Tim

[jonathan]

I agree with mikey, even if I turn the brightness right down the iPad screen still seems bright to me (in night mode) when my eyes are properly adjusted. If only the iPad had a night mode that affected the whole system, it is annoying when a notification pops up in full colour or I need to check a different app for something.

SkyScout is a great tool for learning the night sky, and the audio tour describes some interesting facts and folklore.

For me, I could delete Star Walk but I wouldn't want to sell my SkyScout.