Kindly sent to me for review this is a smart idea for those interested in star gazing.
The Universe2Go headset is designed to be used with a companion app, which is free to download. The app has two modes, Starmap mode which is a mode suitable for use with just the mobile and Planetarium mode which is the mode designed to work with the headset. To activate this mode you’ll need the unique code provided with the headset.
The headset itself is made from plastic and has attachable head straps. The headstraps didn’t get much use, this is not something you want to strap onto your head as you would a VR unit, this is something you have a look through and then might pop it down while you take a look through a telescope of through some binoculars.
In fact this isn’t a virtual reality unit at all, this is actually an augmented reality device, it’s designed to use your smartphone to overlay information about objects in the night sky that you’re taking a look at.
When you open the top section there is a section of foam which you’ll need to remove and customise to your phone size. A list of compatible mobiles is available on the Universe2Go website. While reviewing an LG G3 was used and this seemed to be the largest sized mobile you could use with the headset.
Getting a mobile in or out of this isn’t especially convenient, and while this does mean your mobile is safe and secure, and it can also be a bit of a hassle when you’ve finished using the app or if you need to answer a call.
The app has a setup process that needs to be followed before the app can be used. This happened so quickly first time it proved tricky to get the mobile in place before the calibration began. Fortunately this process can be repeated.
Once setup you’re ready to explore the Universe2Go app. Look around and you’ll see all the various objects in the night sky moving around, with detailed information available. Objects can be highlighted for extra information, so for example focusing on Mars will zoom in and show the planet spinning while you’re told about the planet.
When the app manages to line up the information with the real night sky it’s a brilliant bit of kit, and is very useful if you’re having difficulty finding a particular object in the sky. Unfortunately despite repeated calibrations, the app was often out of sync. Even so, it was still useful as once you understood how it was out (e.g. the moon appears when you look lower down than the moon in the sky) as you could correct for the difference and still use this to pinpoint objects of interest.
There are numerous modes to explore, for example the beginner mode is really good at filtering out all the background objects and highlighting the basics to help you navigate the night sky, the mythology mode gives you the stories behind certain names and constellations. Fortunately you can easily change between modes without removing the handset, the app menu system works by controlled by tilting your head to make the desired selection.
The asking price is high for what seems like a fairly cheap headset, but in reality you’re actually paying for access to the planetarium mode on the app, and this contacts so much information (reported as 3 hours of audio and 150 celestial photos from the Hubble Telescope) this is worth considering regardless of your experience. The 8 different modes are sure to offer something for everyone, and the compact size means this is ideal for popping in a bag when heading out to a good stargazing area.
Available from Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/1ThOgWG and Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/1WjaSUY
