Celestron | Origin Mark II

Intelligent home observatory

In brief

• Stargazing and astrophotography redefined: Celestron Origin is an all-in-one intelligent home observatory that captures stunning images of faint celestial objects in the deep sky and transmits them to your phone or tablet. The images you capture in seconds are more beautiful than what you would see through the eyepiece of a much larger telescope under a much darker sky.
  
  
• Next-generation 678C camera: Sony's latest Starvis 2 color CMOS technology offers improved resolution, increased sensitivity, and a significant leap forward in image quality.
  
  
• Revolutionary RASA optical technology: The patented optical design of Origin's 6-inch Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt astrograph places it in a class of its own. With its large aperture and fast f/2.2 focal ratio, you achieve unparalleled brightness and image clarity with reduced exposure times.
  
  
• AI-powered automatic astrophotography: As Origin captures data, built-in AI algorithms autonomously stack and process each image in real-time. Galaxies and nebulae instantly come to life: they are sharp, detailed, and bursting with color, all without user intervention.
  
  
• Automated setup with StarSense: To get started, place Origin outside, turn it on, and connect to the app. Thanks to Celestron's patented StarSense technology, Origin scans the sky and autonomously performs focusing and alignment. You are ready to select a target and start imaging in under two minutes.
  
  
• Intuitive app interface: The user-friendly Celestron Origin app for iOS and Android, developed in partnership with Simulation Curriculum, the creators of SkySafari™, offers a simple yet powerful planetarium interface that makes navigating the sky and controlling the system easy.
  
  
• Share the view with everyone: Multiple users can use the Origin app to view the telescope live simultaneously. You can also stream the view to your smart TV or record and share it instantly.
  
  
• Advanced features: As you progress in your 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 terrestrial observation during the day.

Celestron Origin Mark II is at the forefront of a new era in amateur astronomy, combining stargazing and astrophotography into one user-friendly experience. This intelligent all-in-one home observatory eliminates the complexity of traditional telescopes and transforms your garden into a gateway to the cosmos. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, Celestron Origin Mark II captures the beauty of celestial objects and brings them to life on your phone or tablet.

Celestron engineers have drawn on decades of expertise to design 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.

Now equipped with the Celestron Origin 678C camera
The Celestron Origin Mark II is now equipped with the Origin 678C camera, a next-generation upgrade that integrates Sony's latest Starvis 2 CMOS technology. With 8.4 megapixels, ultra-fine 2.0 μm² pixels, and a modern 16:9 format, this advanced sensor offers higher resolution and increased sensitivity.
Precisely matched to Origin's fast f/2.2 RASA optics, the 678C camera captures the fine structures of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Whether you are new to astrophotography or an experienced imager, you will enjoy sharp, precise results ready to be stacked, shared, or admired on your device in near real-time.

RASA optical technology: Unleashing the power of light

At the heart of Celestron Origin lies the patented Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt astrograph (RASA), a historic advancement in optics. In the RASA design, the imaging sensor is located at the front of the telescope tube rather than the back, creating an ultra-fast f/2.2 system with an extraordinarily wide field of view while providing sharp images all the way to the edge. Since its launch in 2014, RASA technology has become the go-to choice for space monitoring and satellite tracking. National defense companies, professional research astronomers, and governments trust RASA to detect tiny debris and space junk, keeping our vital communication satellites safe in orbit. For Origin, Celestron's optical engineers have developed an all-new 6" RASA with all the capabilities of an observatory-quality instrument in an easy-to-carry package.

Thanks to RASA, Origin is in a class of its own, far surpassing other telescope designs. RASA simply delivers more photons in less time than a smaller, slower Newtonian reflector, a refractor, or another entry-level telescope tube. The unique combination of speed, aperture, and performance of RASA ensures unmatched image detail, even during short exposure times.

To fully leverage RASA optics, Celestron has selected the Sony IMX178 color CMOS sensor to capture your data. It features STARVIS back-illuminated technology for maximum sensitivity and fast readout with low noise, allowing for clear images to be obtained as quickly as possible. This sensitive chip has small 2.4µm² pixels for high resolution, perfectly matching the fast optical design.

Transforming every observer into an astro-imager

Celestron Origin introduces a paradigm shift in astrophotography with its built-in AI algorithms. As the telescope captures data, these intelligent algorithms autonomously stack and process each image in real-time. The result is a stunning display of celestial objects, rich in color and detail. For the first time, astrophotography is accessible to enthusiasts of all levels, including those who have never used a telescope.

A universe at your fingertips: StarSense technology and the Origin app

Setting up Celestron Origin is a breeze, thanks to its automated initialization process powered by StarSense technology. Place Origin outside, turn it on, and connect to the app. You can then choose to stay with your telescope or head inside. In under two minutes, Origin focuses, scans the night sky, autonomously aligns itself by matching star patterns to its internal database, and informs you that it is ready to begin your astronomical adventure.

The Celestron Origin app, developed in collaboration with Simulation Curriculum, the creators of SkySafari™, offers an intuitive planetarium interface that simplifies navigating the night sky. Using the planetarium view, hold your device up to the sky to look around using the “compass mode,” and tap on any object you want to see (the best ones are highlighted). You can also try the list of the best objects of the night, where Origin displays all the galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and other impressive objects based on your precise location and the time of observation. Forget about consulting a star chart or planning ahead; Origin is ready to show you the universe at any time.

Once the target is chosen, Origin centers it precisely in the field of view. Switch to camera view and press Start Imaging to begin capturing 10-second exposures. It’s that simple! You see the results appearing in real-time as the target becomes more and more detailed. While Origin works, it continuously tracks the sky and adjusts its integrated dew prevention system to keep your images perfectly sharp.

A shared cosmic experience

The days of waiting in line to look through an eyepiece are over. Origin fosters a sense of community by allowing you to share the impressive experience of exploring the night sky. Whether your friends and family are in the same room or outside, multiple people can connect to Origin and stream the view with their own devices. Additionally, Origin allows you to stream the live feed to your smart TV or record and instantly share your astro-images, creating memorable moments beyond the confines of your garden.

Ready for many more things? Advanced features

As you progress in your hobby with Origin, it will continue to assist you with more advanced features and capabilities. For example, Origin has a built-in filter drawer that accepts standard 1.25" and 2" filters. This allows you to install optional filters, which can be particularly useful for imaging nebulae in light-polluted environments like the typical suburban garden. For imaging wide-band objects like galaxies and star clusters or objects from a dark sky, remove the filter for better light throughput and brighter images. Experiment with removable and interchangeable filters to achieve results you can’t get with the fixed filters of other systems.

If you want to try advanced image processing, Origin has you covered there too. Unlike other systems, Origin stores all your raw images for you. Connect them via USB to import them into your favorite image processing software for manual editing and stacking.

And how about letting Origin work while you sleep? No problem with the scheduled observations feature. Just tell the app which objects you want to capture. You’ll wake up to a range of spectacular images.

A new perspective on Earth

In addition to revealing distant worlds, Origin can also capture incredible views of terrestrial objects, both day and night. During the day, you can manually aim Origin to capture landscapes. At night, Origin's fast optics and sensitive camera allow you to see things in very dark ambient conditions, providing near-night vision performance. Look around your garden or campsite at night to see what you might be missing!

Take your astro-imaging studio anywhere

Origin is a portable system that does not require an external WiFi network. So you can easily take it to remote locations in any car. The optical tube, mount, and tripod easily assemble and disassemble without tools. Each component weighs less than 16 lb. Transport cases are also available as an option.

Your Origin system comes with everything you need to become an enthusiastic astronomer:

• RASA 6" optical tube with integrated camera
• Origin single-arm mount with internal lithium battery
• Integrated computer with cooling fans and WiFi
• Autofocus
• Dew prevention system with environmental sensor, dew heating ring, and dew shield
• Integrated filter drawer
• Full-height tripod
• Objective cap
• AC charger

Future updates

When you invest in Origin, you can count on Celestron engineers as long-term partners in astronomy. Our technical teams are working hard to develop even more updates and improvements for your Origin. For example, we provide access to the Origin camera for potential future updates as technology improves. We are also developing entirely new features for your Origin and the Origin app.

Here’s a preview of some features that will be rolled out in the coming months:

• Compatibility with the StarSense autoguider
• Compatibility with the HD Pro wedge
• Support for polar alignment

Together, these features will allow you to use Origin for long-exposure astrophotography. With precise polar alignment, you’ll be able to achieve exposure times of 10 minutes or more. But that’s just the beginning. We’ll keep you updated on new features for Origin so you can continue exploring with us!