Celestron Origin – Artificial intelligence comes to amateur astronomy

The new Celestron Origin telescope, based on advanced RASA technology, integrates AI for user-friendly operation. It features a 6.4 MP Sony sensor, transmitting data to smartphones or TVs, allowing remote operation. While it appeals to photographers and novices, traditional astronomers may find it less engaging. The telescope debuts at CES in Las Vegas.

Brett Venter

January 10, 2024

2 minutes

Celestron, Origin, RASA, telescope

The world of amateur astronomy is slowly undergoing several changes. One of these is the advent of smarter telescopes, offering better views without requiring massive amounts of prior knowledge. The new Celestron Origin, just announced by the astronomy company, is the latest candidate for pushing forward what’s possible in the (heh) space.

The new telescope is based on Celestron’s Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA), an F/2.2 widefield system aimed at more advanced users like researchers and government programs. But the Celestron Origin, while based on the design, is looking to be more user-friendly. Yes, AI is involved.

Origin story

The ‘scope is billed as the “world’s first intelligent home observatory” and given that there’s AI inside this computerised astrograph, the company probably isn’t wrong. A RASA system is very similar to a Schmidt Cassegrain (and Celestron makes some good ones) but there’s one serious difference — instead of an eyepiece, the images focuses onto a camera sensor.

Long story short, this “6.4 MP Sony IMX178 color CMOS sensor with STARVIS back-illuminated ultra-high sensitivity-low noise technology” replaces the human eye, collates the data, and transmits this information to a paired smartphone, tablet, or even a TV screen. It’s entirely possible to remotely operate the Origin and see the results on your TV but a certain sort of astronomer might feel that it’s taking all the fun out of it.

But the human eye is a wretched thing in the dark and many prospective astronomers have been turned off by the fact that what’s visible is nowhere near as impressive as astrophotography images. The Celestron Origin is for them. The other sort of visual observer will still be able to chase faint fuzzies while astrophotographers (and complete novices) capture stunning images and views while they sleep. But seeing something with your own eyeball or viewing a stacked image on a screen just isn’t the same thing.

The Celestron Origin is being exhibited at CES in Las Vegas this week. Pricing and availability should be along soon.