Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory
Item #: 12099- Stargazing and Astroimaging Redefined: Celestron Origin is an intelligent, all-in-one home observatory that captures stunning views of faint, deep-sky celestial objects and delivers them to your phone or tablet. The images you capture in seconds look better than what you’d see in the eyepiece of a much larger telescope under much darker skies.
- Revolutionary RASA Optical Technology: Origin’s patented 6” Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) optical design places it in a class by itself. With its large aperture and fast f/2.2 focal ratio, you get unparalleled image brightness and clarity with less exposure time.
- Automatic, AI-powered Astrophotography:As Origin captures data, built-in AI algorithms autonomously stack and process every frame in real-time. Galaxies and nebulae instantly come to life—sharp, detailed, and in brilliant color—all with no user intervention.
- Automated Setup with StarSense: To get started, place Origin outside, turn it on, and connect to the app. Using Celestron’s patented StarSense technology, Origin scans the sky and autonomously focuses and aligns itself. You’re ready to select a target and start imaging in less than two minutes.
- Intuitive App Interface: The user-friendly Celestron Origin Powered by SkySafari™ app for iOS and Android, developed in partnership with Simulation Curriculum offers a simple yet powerful planetarium interface, making it easy to navigate the sky and control the system.
- Share the View with Everyone: Multiple users can use the Origin app to view the telescope’s live feed simultaneously. You can also cast the view to your smart TV or save and share it instantly.
- Advanced Features: As you grow in the hobby, download the raw image files you capture for more advanced manual processing. You can also experiment with filters and use Origin for night-vision or land-based observing during the day.
Overview
- Stargazing and Astroimaging Redefined: Celestron Origin is an intelligent, all-in-one home observatory that captures stunning views of faint, deep-sky celestial objects and delivers them to your phone or tablet. The images you capture in seconds look better than what you’d see in the eyepiece of a much larger telescope under much darker skies.
- Revolutionary RASA Optical Technology: Origin’s patented 6” Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) optical design places it in a class by itself. With its large aperture and fast f/2.2 focal ratio, you get unparalleled image brightness and clarity with less exposure time.
- Automatic, AI-powered Astrophotography:As Origin captures data, built-in AI algorithms autonomously stack and process every frame in real-time. Galaxies and nebulae instantly come to life—sharp, detailed, and in brilliant color—all with no user intervention.
- Automated Setup with StarSense: To get started, place Origin outside, turn it on, and connect to the app. Using Celestron’s patented StarSense technology, Origin scans the sky and autonomously focuses and aligns itself. You’re ready to select a target and start imaging in less than two minutes.
- Intuitive App Interface: The user-friendly Celestron Origin Powered by SkySafari™ app for iOS and Android, developed in partnership with Simulation Curriculum offers a simple yet powerful planetarium interface, making it easy to navigate the sky and control the system.
- Share the View with Everyone: Multiple users can use the Origin app to view the telescope’s live feed simultaneously. You can also cast the view to your smart TV or save and share it instantly.
- Advanced Features: As you grow in the hobby, download the raw image files you capture for more advanced manual processing. You can also experiment with filters and use Origin for night-vision or land-based observing during the day.
Includes These Celestron Technologies
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Description
Celestron Origin stands at the forefront of a new era in amateur astronomy, blending stargazing and astrophotography into a single, user-friendly experience. This intelligent, all-in-one home observatory takes the complexity out of traditional telescopes, transforming your backyard into a gateway to the cosmos. Packed with cutting-edge technology, Celestron Origin captures the beauty of celestial objects and brings them to life on your phone or tablet.
Celestron engineers drew on their decades of expertise while designing every detail, from Origin’s patented optical technology to its intuitive companion app. The result is a revolutionary new system that builds on Celestron’s legacy and makes astronomy more accessible, exciting, and fun than ever before.
RASA Optical Technology: Unleashing the Power of Light
At the heart of Celestron Origin lies the patented Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA)—a landmark advancement in optics. In the RASA design, the imaging sensor lies at the front of the telescope tube, not the back, creating an ultra-fast f/2.2 system with an extraordinarily wide field of view while providing sharp images to the edge. Since it launched in 2014, RASA technology has become the go-to choice for space surveillance and satellite tracking. National defense contractors, professional research astronomers, and governments trust RASA to detect tiny pieces of debris and space junk, keeping our vital communications satellites safe in orbit. For Origin, Celestron’s optical engineers developed a brand-new 6” RASA with all the same capabilities of an observatory-grade instrument in a grab-and-go package.
Thanks to RASA, Origin is in a class of its own, far outperforming other telescope designs. RASA simply delivers more photons in less time than a smaller and slower Newtonian reflector, refractor, or other entry-level telescope tube. RASA’s unique combination of speed, aperture, and performance ensures unparalleled image detail, even during short exposure times.
To take full advantage of the RASA optics, Celestron selected the Sony IMX178 color CMOS sensor to capture your data. It features STARVIS back-illuminated technology for the highest sensitivity and fast readout with low noise, helping to provide clear images as quickly as possible. This sensitive chip has small 2.4µm2 pixels for high resolution—a perfect match for the fast optical design.
Turning Every Backyard Observer into an Astroimager
Celestron Origin introduces a paradigm shift in astrophotography with its built-in AI algorithms. As the telescope captures data, these intelligent algorithms automatically stack and process every frame in real time. The result is a breathtaking display of celestial objects, rich with color and detail. For the first time, astroimaging is accessible to enthusiasts of all skill levels, including those who have never used a telescope.
A Universe at Your Fingertips: StarSense Technology & the Origin App
Setting up Celestron Origin is a snap, thanks to its automated initialization process powered by StarSense technology. Place Origin outside, turn it on, and connect to the app. Then, you can choose to remain with your telescope or head indoors. In less than two minutes, Origin focuses itself, scans the night sky, autonomously aligns itself by matching star patterns overhead to its internal database, and notifies you that it’s ready to begin your astronomical adventure.
The Celestron Origin Powered by SkySafari™ app, developed in collaboration with Simulation Curriculum offers an intuitive planetarium interface that simplifies navigation through the night sky. Using the planetarium view, hold your device up to the sky to look around using “compass mode”, and tap on any object you want to see (the best ones are highlighted). Or try the Tonight’s Best list, where Origin displays all the most impressive galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and more—based on your precise location and observing time. Forget about consulting a star chart or planning ahead; Origin is ready to show you the universe whenever you are.
Once you’ve chosen a target, Origin centers it precisely in the field of view. Switch to the camera view and press Start Imaging to begin capturing 10-second exposures. It’s that easy! You see the results come through in real-time as the target takes on more and more detail. As Origin works, it continually tracks the sky and adjusts its built-in dew prevention system to keep your images razor-sharp.
A Shared Cosmic Experience
Gone are the days of waiting in line to peer into an eyepiece. Origin fosters a sense of community as you share the awe-inspiring experience of exploring the night sky together. Whether your friends and family are in the same room or gathered outside, multiple people can connect to Origin, and stream the view with their own devices. Additionally, Origin allows you to cast the live feed to your smart TV or instantly save and share your astroimages, creating memorable moments beyond the confines of your backyard.
Ready for More? Advanced Features
As you grow in the hobby alongside Origin, it will continue to support you with more advanced features and functionality. For example, Origin has a built-in filter drawer that accepts standard 1.25” and 2” format filters. This allows you to install optional filters, which can be especially useful in imaging nebulae in light-polluted environments like the typical suburban backyard. For imaging broadband objects like galaxies and star clusters or objects from dark skies, remove the filter for more light-throughput and brighter images. Experiment with removable and interchangeable filters for results you can’t achieve with other systems’ fixed filters.
If you would like to try advanced image processing, Origin again has you covered. Unlike other systems, Origin stores all your raw images for you. Connect via USB to import them into your favorite image-processing software for manual editing and stacking.
And how about putting Origin to work for you while you sleep? That’s no problem with the scheduled observations feature. Just tell the app which objects you want to capture. You’ll wake up to an array of spectacular images.
Gain a New Perspective Here on Earth
In addition to revealing distant worlds, Origin can also capture incredible views of land-based objects on Earth, day or night. During the day, you can manually slew Origin to capture landscapes and scenery. At night, Origin’s fast optics and sensitive camera allow you to see things in very dim ambient conditions for almost night vision-like performance. Look around your yard or campsite at night to see what you may be missing!
Take Your Astroimaging Studio Anywhere
Origin is a portable system that doesn’t require external WiFi networks, so you can easily take it to remote dark skies in any car. The optical tube, mount, and tripod all easily assemble and disassemble without tools. Each component weighs less than 16 lb. Optional carry cases are also available.
Your Origin system comes complete with everything you need to become an instant astronomer:
- 6” RASA optical tube with integrated camera
- Origin single fork-arm mount with internal lithium battery
- Built-in computer with cooling fans and WiFi
- Autofocuser
- Dew prevention system with environmental sensor, dew heater ring, and dew shield
- Integrated filter drawer
- Full-height tripod
- Lens cap
- AC charger
Future Upgrades
When you invest in Origin, you can count on Celestron’s engineers as your long-term partners in astronomy. Our technical teams are hard at work developing even more upgrades and enhancements for your Origin. For example, we provide access to Origin’s camera for potential future upgrades as technology improves. We’re also developing all-new functionality for your Origin and the Origin app.
Here’s a sneak preview of a few features that will roll out in the coming months:
- Compatibility with the StarSense Autoguider
- Compatibility with the Wedge for NexStar Evolution and SE 6/8
- Support for polar alignment
Taken together, these features will allow you to use Origin for long exposure astroimaging. With precise polar alignment, you’ll be able to achieve exposure times as long as 10 minutes or even longer. But that’s just the beginning. We’ll keep you notified whenever we add new features to Origin so you can keep on exploring with us!
Specifications
| Optics Info: | |
|---|---|
| Optical Design: | Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph |
| Aperture: | 152mm (5.98") |
| Focal Length: | 335mm (13.18") |
| Focal Ratio: | f/2.2 |
| Optical Coatings: | StarBright XLT coatings throughout |
| Central Obstruction Diameter: | 63mm (2.48") (41% of aperture diameter) |
| Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye): | 474x |
| Image Resolution: | 1.48 arcsec/pixel |
| Dovetail: | CG-5 Dovetail Bar |
| Filter Drawer: | Integrated, accepts 1.25" or 2" astroimaging filters |
| Imaging Sensor Info: | |
| CMOS Image Sensor: | Sony IMX178LQJ, color, back-illuminated |
| Sensor Size: | 8.92mm (0.35") diagonal |
| Pixel Size: | 2.4μm x 2.4μm |
| Number of Effective Pixels: | 6.44M (3096 x 2080) |
| Field of View: | 1.27° x 0.85° |
| Integrated Electronics Info: | |
| Onboard Computer: | Raspberry Pi 4 Model B |
| Mount: | Computerized GoTo altazimuth mount |
| Dew Prevention: | Fully automated heating element integrated into front lens, removable dew shield/lens shade |
| Focus Motor: | Autofocus or manual control |
| Cooling Fans: | One (1) fan for optics, one (1) fan for electronics, both pull air through vents with wire mesh |
| LED Status Ring: | Indicates status "at-a-glance" |
| Ports Info: | |
| USB-A: | Two (2) on optical tube for accessing raw image files for external processing, one (1) on mount for mobile device charging only |
| Ethernet: | One (1) on optical tube |
| Auxiliary Ports: | Two (2) on optical tube, four (4) on mount |
| Power Info: | |
| Battery: | Integrated LiFePO4, 97.9 Wh, capable of 6+ hours of use |
| Power Input: | 12V DC adapter for charging internal battery or running on external AC power |
| User Interface Info: | |
| Celestron Origin App: | Runs on compatible iOS or Android smartphones and tablets |
| System Requirements: | iOS 16 or higher, Android 12 or higher |
| Dimensions: | |
| Optical Tube: | 609.6mm x 177.8mm (24" x 7") diameter |
| Mount: | 457.2mm x 304.8mm x 254mm (12" x 12" x 10") |
| Tripod (Collapsed): | 330.2mm x 304.8 x 812.8mm (13" x 12" x 32") |
| Assembled System: | 609.6mm L x 660.4mm W x 1219.2mm H (24" L x 26" W x 48" H) |
| Weight: | |
| Optical Tube: | 10.6 lb (4.8 kg) |
| Mount: | 17 lb (7.7 kg) |
| Tripod: | 14 lb (6.35 kg) |
| Total System: | 41.6 lb (18.87 kg) |
Videos
Reviews
Edison Consumer Electronics & Information Technology’s Smart Technologies Gold Winner 2020
Celestron took gold! With over 3K entries worldwide, our Celestron Origin won gold in the Edison Awards’ Smart Technologies category.
Read Full Review
Gadgety Award ShowStoppers CES 2024 Award
Recognizing the pinnacle of cutting-edge consumer electronics, this award highlights the innovation and excellence of Celestron's latest creation.
Read Full Review
Techlicious Top Picks of CES 2024 Awards
Exploring the wonders of the night sky is a dream for many, but it can demand extensive astronomical knowledge and a lot of patience. Enter the Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory, a game-changer in amateur astronomy. The new telescope can process data faster, thanks in part to AI, and can deliver crystal-clear images in just seconds, not minutes or hours. You can even schedule the Origin to take stunning pictures of space objects you'd otherwise miss while you're asleep.
Read Full Review
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FAQ
I see Origin has no eyepiece. Does it only work with a smartphone or tablet to view objects?
That’s correct. Because the human eye is less efficient than CMOS sensors at low light levels, we are removing it from the equation. Origin’s sensor “sees” more photons in less time than your eye could and then delivers the images it captures to your phone or tablet. The result is “almost real-time” visual observing without an eyepiece. With Origin, you see much more detail in faint, deep-sky objects than you would through the eyepiece of a much larger telescope under dark skies.
What is Origin’s WiFi range?
If you connect directly to Origin’s internal WiFi, the range is about 30-50 feet. If you connect Origin to your home network, you can control it anywhere within range of your WiFi network (e.g., router or wireless access points), typically 100+ feet.
Can I capture the Moon and planets with Origin?
Yes, you can. We recommend using “snapshot mode” for these objects. However, remember that Origin is a precision instrument optimized for the thousands of faint, deep-sky objects you can’t see with the naked eye.
Besides the #93669 Nebula Filter for Origin, what other filters can I use in Origin’s filter drawer?
Celestron’s engineers designed the Nebula Filter for Origin as Origin’s ideal companion. But the filter drawer also accepts most 1.25” or 2” astronomical filters available from Celestron and third-party manufacturers.
I understand that Origin’s internal battery will run for about 6-7 hours with typical usage. I plan to be out in the field for an entire weekend without access to AC power and want to run Origin for longer than that. What power options does Celestron offer?
We highly recommend our PowerTank Lithium batteries, which all work seamlessly with your Origin. The chart below outlines the approximate Origin use time each battery provides.
| SKU# | Battery | Battery energy | Approximate Origin use time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18763 | PowerTank Lithium LT | 73.3 Wh | 4.9 hours |
| 18771 | PowerTank Lithium | 84.4 Wh | 5.6 hours |
| 18768 | PowerTank Lithium Pro | 158.7 Wh | 10.5 hours |
There is a camera cable in front of the optics. Won’t that get in the way when I’m capturing images?
From our decade of experience with Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph optical systems, we know that the camera cable will have very little effect on your images. It does not cause significant diffraction effects. You will not see the spikes or flares on stars that you do with other optical designs.
Does the AI technology inside Origin “doctor” my images with external data?
No. The AI imaging processing in the Origin app sharpens and enhances your images using the same processing techniques an astroimager would use in Photoshop—adjusting levels, curves, brightness, contrast, and color balance. It does not add any data to your images, but only adjusts the data you have collected. The technology is working in real-time on your live-stacked images and is also applied to the final stacked master. In both cases, the images you capture with Origin are 100 percent your own data. You always have the ability to adjust the image yourself using the manual controls.
What is the recommended outdoor temperature range for operating Origin?
We recommend only using your Origin when ambient temperatures are within 23 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 to 40 degrees Celsius).
Does Origin need to be collimated?
Origin’s optics are precisely collimated at the factory. Your Origin should generally not require adjustment unless it has experienced significant mechanical shock, like being dropped or taking a large impact. If the optics do become misaligned, there are tip-tilt screws to slightly adjust the tilt of the front lens cell to compensate. (Please consult the instruction manual before attempting any adjustment of the tip-tilt screws.) The Schmidt corrector and primary mirror are rigidly held or bonded in place and cannot be adjusted by the user. If the optics become too far out of alignment after a significant impact, the tube may need to return to Celestron to be realigned.
Can I use the Origin optical tube on another Celestron mount?
No, the Origin optical tube only works with the Origin mount at this time.
Can I purchase another Celestron telescope tube (e.g., a 6” Schmidt-Cassegrain) and NexStar+ hand control and use the Origin mount as the foundation for a visual system?
Yes, if you add a NexStar+ hand control to the Origin mount and install another optical tube, you can use the system visually. You can expect it to perform like our NexStar Evolution mount, with one crucial difference: you cannot use WiFi to control the mount in this configuration. Because Origin’s WiFi module is in the Origin optical tube assembly, not the mount, this configuration only works with the hand control, not WiFi. The Origin app only works with the complete Origin system.
How does Origin handle field rotation when stacking the images?
Origin uses 10-second sub-exposures by default and continually and automatically stacks the images. You will not see any field rotation in 10-second sub-exposures; you’ll generally only start introducing field rotation when you use sub-exposures of about 30 seconds. The length of the sub-exposure does not affect the total exposure time, though. You can image your target for hours with Origin and not see any field rotation in your images.
Will I be able to take dark frames? What about flats?
Celestron takes darks and flats at the factory and stores them within Origin’s computer. You shouldn’t need to take additional darks or flats for normal operation. However, if you wish to take your own darks and flats, you can do so using the Origin app. For flats, you’ll need an EL panel for best results. A new bias frame is generated when new darks are created.
Are the output files available in FITS format?
Yes, Origin’s raw sub-exposure files are available in FITS format. You can download them onto a thumb drive for manual post-processing on your computer with third-party software. Additionally, the final stacked master is available as a .png file from your smartphone/tablet. When you share images from the Origin app, they will be delivered in .jpg format to make them easier to share (i.e., smaller).
Why must I use a thumb drive to transfer the raw sub-exposures? Why can’t I just get them via WiFi through the app?
The raw image files are large, so if they were sent via WiFi they would rapidly fill your device’s memory and could affect performance. Using a thumb drive, you can transfer images quickly and load them onto your computer for third-party post-processing.
If I’m hosting a star party with my Origin, can I maintain control over the telescope using the app while my guests have a passive-only app experience on their devices?
Currently, no. While multiple people can connect to Origin at once, all those who are connected retain the ability to control the telescope.
Can my guests use the Origin app to capture images and save them to their individual smartphones? This would be an excellent souvenir for guests to take home.
Yes! Once Origin has captured an image, anyone connected through the app can save it to their personal device.
What is the maximum shoulder height for a 1.25” filter that the Origin filter drawer can accommodate?
The maximum shoulder height is 8mm. This clearance should allow you to use most filters in the marketplace.
Can I rotate Origin’s camera to frame a specific object better?
Yes. But remember that if you choose to rotate the camera, you’ll also need to capture new flat frames for the best results.
Can one do spectroscopy with Origin, either with a diffraction grating or a standalone spectroscope?
No, not at this time.
Can I point Origin using right ascension and declination (RA and Dec) coordinates only?
Yes, the app has an option to slew Origin by manually entering RA and Dec coordinates.
Can Origin image comets?
Comets are excellent targets for Origin. The app’s database even includes a selection of brighter comets. To view them, tap the Search icon and look in the “Brightest Comets” folder. Origin tracks at a sidereal rate, but this should not pose a problem because comets generally won’t move much in the short time it takes for Origin to produce a nice image.
Any plans to make Origin compatible for remote operation?
We may add this functionality later.
Can I switch Origin on or off remotely?
No, not at this time.
What is the size of the internal memory storage for raw files for imaging?
Roughly 45 GB.
Is there an anti-cord wrap feature?
Yes. If you use Origin with the AC Charger plugged in, you can enable anti-cord wrap in the Origin app under Menu>Settings>Advanced. However, you won’t need to enable this feature if you use Origin’s internal rechargeable battery.
Can additional “piggyback” cameras be mounted onto Origin’s tube?
Yes, there are accessory mounting holes on the tube. However, we don’t currently offer a specific bracket for this. The #93609 Piggyback Mount can work but requires some minor modification.
Support & Downloads
| Manuals: |
|---|
| Celestron Origin Quick Setup Guide |
| Other Product Files: |
| Celestron Origin Specification Sheet |
