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[dewayne]

I just came across a new product while purusing hardin-optical.com
It's called the StarPocket Celestial Navigator.
This is their sales pitch.
"Great for kids — a handy way to learn the night sky.
Take the StarPocket with you camping, or on field trips, and identify the constellations. Look through the cleverly-designed little StarPocket and press the button — a built in red LED illuminates the internal sky map. Adjustable rotating sleeves change the map view to reflect different times of year. Contains a built-in compass to help find north. Packaged with a drawstring parachute cloth bag, the star finder weighs just 1½ ounces."
StarPocket Celestial Navigator 2100B$19.95

It sounds like a handy little product for when I go to my dark sky site and become overwhelmed by the vast number of stars.
And at home it seems like it could help me learn to identify the many constellations I have yet to learn.
The price is right.
Any opinions?

[Centaur]

I checked the item on their website. I doubt you can go wrong at that price. It's probably priced so low to compete with good old fashioned planispheres. I suspect that a planisphere is still easier to use and likely continues to provide superior graphics. Since I have not actually used the SPCN, I could be wrong. If it displays planets, that would be a plus over a planisphere. But the product description gives no indication of that.

Click below for a link to a really good planisphere with a great supporting booklet.
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1552977862/curtrenz-20

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I tried an extensive search on the Starpocket and reviews on it and came up lacking. Not even Cloudynights has anything on it.

It certainly is not a serious tool, but for twenty bucks, it can go into your equipment case and used for children or just to orient yourself. I have seen it priced at $31.00 else where. If anyone drops it, no big deal. They don't offer any screenshots of what the image looks like, so that rises my suspicion somewhat. And it seems to be the size of a small flashlight...you may look cool and impress the young lovelies by whipping out a star chart from your pocket.

You'll spend the 20 on gum and candy anyhow, and never miss it!