This seemed like a useful addition to the Skyscout. Installing it took more effort than expected. Using this expansion card requires firmware version 1.29 or later. Since I’d never updated my SkyScout, it first required installing and updating the update program. That was relatively straightforward. Updating the firmware took a few tries. The SkyScout kept returning the “Corrupt Block” error message. I finally figured out that the USB cable should go directly to the USB port and not through a hub. Once I did that, the firmware installed OK. Inserting the SD card was simple, but the SD port cover is poorly designed and doesn’t want to go in. If I push it, the SD card gets ejected. Very irritating.

As far as the content, going through the topics:

1. Objects in the Sky — this card has additional information on the planets, stars, and so on. Most are a minute or two narrations. A little more information than in the basic unit. These objects may be somewhat easier to navigate to than using the unit’s Locate, but Locate has many more objects to find.

2. Astronomical Distances — tells the distances between Earth and some object (planets and about 20 other objects). Also relates distances by referencing travel time at the speed of light. Audio runs about 20-30 seconds for each object. OK, but nothing noteworthy. Not much repeat value.

3. Star Hopping — the most interesting and useful topic to me. This topic guides you through the star hopping process. Of course with the SkyScout learning how to star hop is not as important.

4. Astro Trivia — some trivial information. There are trivia for the planets, the moon, Andromeda, and Pleiades. An example: the moon’s gravitational pull is 1/6 the Earth’s. That means if you weigh 150 pounds on Earth, you would weight 25 pounds on the moon.

All in all, I think a good astronomy book such as Terence Dickinson’s _NightWatch_ provides better and more useful overall information.
Rating: 2 / 5