What a night with it looks like
Celestron describes the setup in three steps: place Origin outside, turn it on, connect the app. StarSense scans the sky, focuses and aligns itself, and Celestron says you can start imaging in under two minutes. The app is built with Simulation Curriculum (SkySafari), several people can watch the live feed, and you can cast it to a smart TV.
The optical design is the story. In a RASA, the sensor sits at the front of the tube, which allows f/2.2: very bright images in short exposures. With 2.0 µm pixels and 335 mm of focal length, Celestron states 1.23″ per pixel. There is an automatic dew prevention system (heater ring, sensor and dew shield), a computer with cooling fans, and raw files are available over USB for your own processing.
The catch
Weight and bulk. The optical tube is 4.8 kg and the mount 7.7 kg (the 12.5 kg we use for our portability criterion), and the tripod adds 6.35 kg for 18.87 kg in total. This is a "carry it from the garage" telescope.
The field is narrow for such fast optics (1.32° × 0.75°), and the filter drawer is empty: the nebula filter is sold separately. At $4,299, it is also the second most expensive model in our list.
How it scores
Celestron Origin Mark II gets 8.4/10 (good) with our overall weights. Each criterion below is scored out of 10 from Celestron's published figures; a criterion without a figure is left out and the other weights are rescaled. The scales are on the methodology page.
| Criterion | Weight | Score /10 | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture | 25% | 10.0 | |
| Sensor resolution | 10% | 8.2 | |
| Image scale (detail) | 10% | 9.9 | |
| Light pollution filter | 10% | 5.0 | |
| Battery life | 10% | 6.0 | |
| Portability (weight) | 10% | 2.2 | |
| Tracking mode | 5% | 5.0 | |
| Warranty | 5% | 7.0 | |
| Price | 15% | 2.5 |
By use, with the same figures and different weights: for astrophotography 8.8/10 (No. 2), for planets 9.1/10 (No. 3).
Full specifications
As published by Celestron on its US pages, read on November 9, 2026.
| Optical design | 6-inch Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) |
|---|---|
| Aperture | 152 mm (6.0 in) |
| Focal length | 335 mm, f/2.2 |
| Main sensor | Sony IMX678 (color, back-illuminated), 8.9 mm diagonal |
| Resolution | 3856 × 2180 |
| Pixel size | 2 µm |
| Field of view | 1.32° × 0.75° |
| Image scale | 1.23″ per pixel (stated by Celestron) |
| Wide-angle camera | No |
| Filters | Integrated filter drawer for 1.25" or 2" filters; Celestron nebula filter sold separately |
| Mount and tracking | Computerized GoTo alt-azimuth; Celestron sells an equatorial wedge that lists Origin compatibility |
| Focus | Autofocus |
| Eyepiece | No, view on phone or tablet |
| Battery | Integrated LiFePO4 battery, 97.9 Wh, 6+ hours (Celestron) |
| Weight | 12.5 kg (27.6 lb), optical tube 4.8 kg + mount 7.7 kg; 18.87 kg with the tripod |
| Dew heater | Yes |
| Tripod in the box | Yes |
| In the box | Optical tube, Mount, Tripod |
| Warranty | 2 years (Celestron) |
| Checked price | $4,299 on November 9, 2026 |
| Availability | Shown as out of stock on celestron.com on November 9, 2026 (Celestron points to authorized retailers) |
Buying advice
Listed at $4,299 on celestron.com on November 9, 2026, shown out of stock, with Celestron pointing to authorized retailers. Celestron advertises free ground shipping in the contiguous US, 30-day returns and a 2-year warranty.
- 152 mm RASA optics at f/2.2, the largest aperture and fastest focal ratio in our list
- Sony IMX678 Starvis 2 camera, automatic dew heater and filter drawer
- StarSense alignment and autofocus; raw files available over USB
Alternatives to consider
Unistellar eQuinox 28.5Very good · out of 10114 mm, 7 kg, $2,319 on sale.
Vaonis Vespera Pro 28.5Very good · out of 1012.5 MP, 5 kg, 5-year warranty, $2,990.
DWARFLAB Draco8.9Very good · out of 1090 mm, 300 s exposures, $1,599 pre-order.
Questions about the Celestron Origin Mark II
What is new in the Celestron Origin Mark II?
Celestron's page highlights the Sony IMX678 Starvis 2 color camera ("next-generation 678C camera") with 8.3 MP on 2.0 µm pixels. The 6-inch RASA optics, StarSense alignment, autofocus and integrated battery carry over the Origin concept.
Is the Celestron Origin portable?
Not really: 18.87 kg (41.6 lb) for the whole system, including a 6.35 kg tripod. It is designed as an intelligent home observatory.
Sources
Official pages read on November 9, 2026: www.celestron.com/products/celestron-origin-intelligent-home-observatory. Product images: Celestron.