Celestron · Smart Telescope
Celestron Origin Mark II
Celestron Origin Mark II: a 152mm smart astrograph that turns your backyard into a deep-sky imaging station
Price updated Mar 22, 2026
Performance Scores
Overview
The Celestron Origin Mark II is built around a Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph optical design, which means it prioritizes wide-field, flat-image astrophotography rather than high-magnification planetary viewing. The 152mm aperture at f/2.2 gathers light quickly, making it well suited for capturing faint nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters in shorter exposure times than slower optical systems would require. This is a smart telescope, meaning it handles alignment, tracking, and image acquisition largely on its own.
You control it through a phone or tablet, which lowers the barrier to entry considerably for beginners while still offering enough depth for more experienced imagers. The equatorial mount with GoTo and tracking keeps targets centered accurately during longer imaging sessions. At 18.87kg, this is not a grab-and-go instrument.
You will want a dedicated setup spot or a sturdy transport solution. The $4,299 price point also reflects its imaging focus, so if you primarily want to observe visually through an eyepiece, other telescopes at this price would serve you better. For someone whose main goal is producing quality deep-sky images with a streamlined, automated workflow, the Origin Mark II is a serious and capable tool.
At a Glance
152mm
Aperture
f/2.2
Focal Ratio
18.87kg
Weight
340mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- The f/2.2 focal ratio allows noticeably shorter exposure times compared to slower astrographs, which helps when imaging from light-polluted skies
- The Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph design produces a flat field across the full image, reducing star distortion toward the edges of your frames
- Automated GoTo and equatorial tracking handle alignment and target acquisition, letting you focus on imaging rather than manual setup
- Smart telescope integration with a phone or tablet makes the workflow accessible to beginners without sacrificing capability for experienced users
- The 152mm aperture provides enough light-gathering to reveal genuine detail in faint deep-sky objects like distant galaxies and emission nebulae
- At just under 19kg, the system is stable and substantial, though you should plan for a fixed or semi-permanent setup rather than casual portability
Customer Reviews
2 reviews
It works and takes beautiful pictures
A powerful high quality telescope combined with an excellent camera and a versatile mount. The very nice and functional app-based software allows you to set up the telescope and be ready to look at amazing images on a tablet within minutes. The telescope determines orientation, finds stars and perfe...