3767 replies to this topic

[Nerd1]

Take my money now? Just got the email this thing looks really nice.

[Greenie]

No info here. Please post what you got. Thanks

[Nerd1]

https://www.astronom...bservatory.html

[tarbat]

So, comparing to a Seestar S50, it looks like the ORIGIN has a similar field of view, but a much better resolution per pixel at 1.5 vs the Seestar of 2.4.  At $4k, it's an interesting proposition.

 

 

Edited by tarbat, 08 January 2024 - 11:53 AM.

[cwilly8]

https://www.celestro...igin-technology

[tbhausen]

I was hoping to see a wider FOV with only a 335 mm focal length.

[Nerd1]

I was hoping to see a wider FOV with only a 335 mm focal length.

That is a little disappointing.

[Gofr]

 Just read the full product feature of this thing at my local retailer's website and it's quite the impressive machine. It's a full fledged complete AP rig all built in to one convenient package with convenient software to use. I may finally be willing to give EAA/AP a try with this thing one day. At $5400 (CAD) it's pricey, but considering it's an entire complete AP rig, it's actually not too bad. Maybe I'll pick it up on sale in a couple of years.

 

Though I do see one negative, only a focal ratio of 2.2 available? I mean I get why, AP likes their fast and widefield scopes, but no option for barlows or to put the camera in the back for higher mags of smaller targets like planets or tiny deep sky objects? A bit disappointing there, but maybe something to consider for a future V2 of the system or something.

 

Looks like future upgrades coming for the system include polar alignment and a wedge for long exposure stuff. That's neat.

[tncoltsfan]

I just came here to hear all the people complaining about FOV, Mount, Tripod, Camera, ZWO Compatibility etc, etc, etc!!! But seriously, couldn't you do just as well or better with an 8" RASA OTA, your EQ-6 Pro Mount and ZWO Camera and ASI Air??? What am I missing other than the App and automatic setup?

Edited by tncoltsfan, 08 January 2024 - 12:15 PM.

[Gofr]

I just came here to hear all the people complaining about FOV, Mount, Tripod, Camera, ZWO Compatibility etc, etc, etc!!! But seriously, couldn't you do just as well or better with an 8" RASA OTA, your EQ-6 Pro Mount and ZWO Camera and ASI Air??? What am I missing other than the App and automatic setup?

Convenience. Why mess with all those parts, when everything is already built in to this system? No wires messing about all over the place, no having to deal with various software compatibilities and headaches and making them all talk to each other, easy casting to the TV (afaik ASI air doesn't have a casting feature, I could be wrong though???), easy access to starsense, easy program that uses AI to stack your photos for you so that idiots like me that don't know AP don't have to figure out what all the settings do and how to set them each night. Never underestimate the value of convenience.

Edited by Gofr, 08 January 2024 - 12:26 PM.

[Starmix]

This is an all in one package. For many convenience is all important. I would say at the same $2.5K price of the Vespera Pro they would have killed the competition. $4K well they are in full more advanced rig territory.

[Northernguy]

Although I don't have a see star, I am attracted to the simplicity of setting up, just plunk it down outside and run back in to avoid the nasty elements. This celestron must be larger and heavier due to the larger optics, etc, but still looks to have a relatively easy setup and take down procedure. Probably I'm just getting old and lazy, but sometimes I just don't feel like taking out six different parts, plugging things in, routing cables, forgetting to turn on the computer, etc. so this is also somewhat attractive.

In any case, I'm glad that other manufacturers are jumping in to make better smart telescopes. competition can only help us

[pmasters1951]

I just came here to hear all the people complaining about FOV, Mount, Tripod, Camera, ZWO Compatibility etc, etc, etc!!! But seriously, couldn't you do just as well or better with an 8" RASA OTA, your EQ-6 Pro Mount and ZWO Camera and ASI Air??? What am I missing other than the App and automatic setup?

I thought $3,999 looked like a lot of money, until I priced your proposed alternative:

 

EQ-6 mount: $2,025

8" Celestron RASA OTA: $2,079

ASI Air plus: $299

ASI178MC-Cool (color): $669

 

So it's at least competitive, pricewise. You do get an 8" aperture a-la-carte vs the 6" though.

[tncoltsfan]

Convenience. Why mess with all those parts, when everything is already built in to this system? No wires messing about all over the place, no having to deal with various software compatibilities and headaches and making them all talk to each other, easy casting to the TV (afaik ASI air doesn't have a casting feature, I could be wrong though???), easy access to starsense, easy program that uses AI to stack your photos for you so that idiots like me that don't know AP don't have to figure out what all the settings do and how to set them each night. Never underestimate the value of convenience.

I get it, but I thought the ASI Air working remotely on my iPad was convenient? I think you can Air Play from the iPad to a TV as well, not sure.

[rimcrazy]

Meh… for $4k I can and already have built significantly better DIY system for astrophotography. A new Redcat 51 III on an AM3 with an AAmini and ASI533MC is $3700. That includes a tripod. $300 more for a narrow band filter and it’s the same $ but a much better solution. 
 

Missing a guide solution but I could probably make a few trades to work that in too. Point is at $4k there are substantial alternatives that are both better and cheaper. 

Edited by rimcrazy, 08 January 2024 - 01:00 PM.

[GSBass]

It’s hard to ignore the f2.2, even with the small fov you could most likely take two photos and stitch them in the same amount of time as a f5 scope….however I’m not seeing any mention of target rotation… that’s going to be important on a scope like this, if they skimped on that it will limit it pretty severely

Edited by GSBass, 08 January 2024 - 01:12 PM.

[charles.tremblay.darveau]

I'm just mildly disappointed that they are not selling the Rasa 6 as a standalone option. Celestron, if you ever read this forum, think 6" Rasa with APS-c corrected field and GOOD tilt control. Make one and I'll buy it.

 

Having owned an Evolution, this stuff is HEAVY. It doesn't seem like the kind of system you would hike with (as opposed to the Seestar). It also feel like a missed opportunity to use a larger sensor for larger FOV.

[rrpallechio]

I have a SeeStar, and this looks like a big step up from there. I have two nits to pick.

 

First nit: My I/T career lasted 42 years, including 25 with IBM. In that world, a product announcement always came with an availability date. Sometimes it would be as vague as, for example, first quarter of some year. Usually it would be more precise, like May 1 of some year. Is it common in the astronomy vendor world to announce products with no indication of when they will be available?

 

My second nit ... at the Celestron site they have two videos about the new Origin (https://www.celestro...ervatory#videos).

The impression they give in the videos is that the sample images they show were taken by the Origin. But in the image descriptions they document the number of images and exposure time of each image. In all but one image the exposure time is 15 seconds. But the Origin takes 10 second exposures. I'm not sure what to make of that.

 

Third, and this is not a nit. I have to figure out how to convince my significant other that it is a good idea to bring a fifth telescope into the house.

[jprideaux]

Here is Celestron's video about it.

 

Here is another video about it.

 

I'm interested but am a little disappointed with the small sensor but perhaps that was necessary because the larger sensors had enclosures that were too big for the Rasa-6 and would block extra light.

 

I would hope they eventually build in a mosaic mode like the Vaonis products.  

 

I also hope they provide a convenience already stacked but not yet stretched raw image in TIF or FITs like the Vaonis and ZWO offerings for those that want to post-process but don't want to mess with stacking all the individual sub-frames.

 

The price is a lot but in-line with Celestron's other offerings if you by things piecemeal.  

 

I bet Vaonis, ZWO, and Unistellar are relieved at the high price point where it may not cut too much into their offerings.

 

I would expect that the software may take a couple (or few) months after release to setting in. 

 

One other thing.  for those of us (like me) that are used to the small size and weight of the Vespera/SeeStar/Dwarf2, this thing will be a beast.

It won't be a "throw it in the car as an after-thought for a family trip" kind of thing.  It will be a "pack it first and then everything else around it" kind of thing.  You won't really be able to take it on plane.

Edited by jprideaux, 08 January 2024 - 01:48 PM.

[Gofr]

I have a SeeStar, and this looks like a big step up from there. I have two nits to pick.

 

First nit: My I/T career lasted 42 years, including 25 with IBM. In that world, a product announcement always came with an availability date. Sometimes it would be as vague as, for example, first quarter of some year. Usually it would be more precise, like May 1 of some year. Is it common in the astronomy vendor world to announce products with no indication of when they will be available?

 

My second nit ... at the Celestron site they have two videos about the new Origin (https://www.celestro...ervatory#videos).

The impression they give in the videos is that the sample images they show were taken by the Origin. But in the image descriptions they document the number of images and exposure time of each image. In all but one image the exposure time is 15 seconds. But the Origin takes 10 second exposures. I'm not sure what to make of that.

 

Third, and this is not a nit. I have to figure out how to convince my significant other that it is a good idea to bring a fifth telescope into the house.

My local retailer has availability date at April 19.

[Mogster]

GBP the RASA 8 is £2000, the evolution mount is another £1000. On top of that there’s the camera, focuser, dew system.

 

Expecting a RASA 6, mount and ancillaries for £2000 seems unrealistic. Comparing this 6” RASA package with the 50mm Seestar also isn’t a valid comparison.

 

The RASA Origin’s sensor does seem quite small.

[rrpallechio]

It’s hard to ignore the f2.2, even with the small fov you could most likely take two photos and stitch them in the same amount of time as a f5 scope….however I’m not seeing any mention of target rotation… that’s going to be important on a scope like this, if they skimped on that it will limit it pretty severely

In the description tab of the announcement they say this:

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 HD Pro Wedge
    Support for polar alignment

[Wildetelescope]

Key factors:

1. A second major manufacturer from the camera/scope/mount side has just bought into the automated telescope.  More is coming, I am certain.  

2. For DSO, the R-A cameras have the best optics of any of the one button roboscopes out there.   6 inches of aperture with a quality fast mirror.  

 

The optics alone justify the expense, if that is what you are looking for.  I love my Seestar, but 2 inches is 2 inches. It will be interesting to see if there is a market for the one button imaging solution at that price point that is not filled.   This will compete well with Unistellar and Stellina.   Vespera will not be threatened, but it has to contend with the Seestar on the other end of the price point.   Bottom line is that the start ups are going to get squeezed, now that the "big" guys are starting to get into the game.

It will be interesting to watch things unfold.  I would expect less expensive, lesser options to come under the Skywatcher brand.   I expect things to follow the trajectory that we see with the adoption of harmonic drive mounts.

 

Cheers!

 

JMD

[Gofr]

In the description tab of the announcement they say this:

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 HD Pro Wedge
    Support for polar alignment

Yeah been trying to get that info out also. They are setting this thing up to be a one stop shop for AP, including long exposure, as well as EAA and anything else you would want it to do.

 

I remain skeptical on its planetary AP performance as I feel you'd want more focal length and magnification for that as well as other smaller objects, but I'll wait for hands on reviews to see how it does there.

[slabslayer]

It’s hard to ignore the f2.2, even with the small fov you could most likely take two photos and stitch them in the same amount of time as a f5 scope….however I’m not seeing any mention of target rotation… that’s going to be important on a scope like this, if they skimped on that it will limit it pretty severely

I was wondering that too. This would be perfect for the RV as my other 2 setups are way too big to take camping. And convenience is a big plus. I’d like to see some more actual user reviews from real consumers. IF it works as advertised it could be really useful and simple. Could have applications for teaching and star parties too.