Celestron Origin: how long to image deep-sky targets
The first-generation Origin: a 6-inch f/2.2 RASA in a smart package and the fastest system here by a wide margin. Superseded by the Mark II in late 2025 and no longer sold new; Celestron offers a camera upgrade to the Mark II sensor.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Aperture | 152 mm |
| Focal length | 335 mm (f/2.2) |
| Sensor | Sony IMX178, 3096 × 2080, 2.4 µm pixels |
| Pixel scale | 1.48″ per pixel |
| Field of view | 1.27° × 0.85° (76′ × 51′) |
| Sub exposures | 10 s, 15 s, 30 s (default 10 s) |
| Filters | Filter drawer takes 1.25-inch or 2-inch filters, including dual-band; Celestron sells an optional Nebula Filter. What the names mean. |
| In the calculator | “No filter” is the No filter position; “dual-band” is the drawer dual-band (Nebula Filter). |
| Read noise used | 1.4 e⁻ |
Weighing it against the others? The buying guide puts every scope on one table.
Popular targets
| Target | Bortle 4 | Bortle 6 | Bortle 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy | 10 min62 subs | 23 min139 subs | 1 h 08 min406 subs |
| Orion NebulaEmission nebula | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs | 12 min74 subs |
| PleiadesReflection nebula | 18 min111 subs | 43 min257 subs | 2 h 07 min762 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyGalaxy | 7 min44 subs | 16 min94 subs | 44 min265 subs |
| Bode's GalaxyGalaxy | 8 min47 subs | 17 min102 subs | 49 min293 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy | 31 min185 subs | 1 h 13 min439 subs | 3 h 39 min1,316 subs |
| Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs |
| Dumbbell NebulaPlanetary nebula | 5 min30 subs | 7 min44 subs | 19 min116 subs |
| Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs |
| Lagoon NebulaEmission nebula | 5 min30 subs | 7 min45 subs | 21 min126 subs |
| Eagle NebulaEmission nebula | 11 min67 subs | 25 min151 subs | 1 h 14 min442 subs |
| Omega NebulaEmission nebula | 5 min30 subs | 9 min52 subs | 24 min143 subs |
| Trifid NebulaEmission nebula | 8 min49 subs | 18 min107 subs | 51 min308 subs |
| Triangulum GalaxyGalaxy | 18 min111 subs | 43 min257 subs | 2 h 07 min762 subs |
| North America NebulaEmission nebula | 16 min94 subs | 36 min215 subs | 1 h 46 min635 subs |
| Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant | 17 min102 subs | 39 min235 subs | 1 h 56 min696 subs |
| Eastern Veil NebulaSupernova remnant | 14 min86 subs | 33 min197 subs | 1 h 37 min580 subs |
| Elephant's Trunk NebulaEmission nebula | 26 min156 subs | 1 h 01 min367 subs | 3 h 03 min1,097 subs |
| Iris NebulaReflection nebula | 13 min79 subs | 30 min180 subs | 1 h 28 min530 subs |
| Pacman NebulaEmission nebula | 18 min111 subs | 43 min257 subs | 2 h 07 min762 subs |
| Heart NebulaEmission nebula | 31 min185 subs | 1 h 13 min439 subs | 3 h 39 min1,316 subs |
| Rosette NebulaEmission nebula | 16 min94 subs | 36 min215 subs | 1 h 46 min635 subs |
| Horsehead NebulaEmission nebula | 22 min131 subs | 51 min307 subs | 2 h 32 min914 subs |
| Flame NebulaEmission nebula | 6 min35 subs | 13 min76 subs | 36 min215 subs |
| California NebulaEmission nebula | 22 min131 subs | 51 min307 subs | 2 h 32 min914 subs |
| Helix NebulaPlanetary nebula | 22 min131 subs | 51 min307 subs | 2 h 32 min914 subs |
| Double ClusterOpen cluster | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs |
| NGC 891Galaxy | 19 min113 subs | 43 min261 subs | 2 h 09 min772 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyGalaxy | 6 min37 subs | 12 min75 subs | 35 min209 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyGalaxy | 12 min71 subs | 26 min157 subs | 1 h 16 min457 subs |
All 170 targets have a page for the Origin.
Every target for the Origin
Supernova remnants
Globular clusters
- M2
- M3
- M4
- M5
- M9
- M10
- M12
- Hercules Cluster
- M14
- M15
- M19
- M22
- M28
- M30
- M53
- M54
- M55
- M56
- M62
- M68
- M69
- M70
- M71
- M72
- M75
- M79
- M80
- M92
- M107
- Omega Centauri
- 47 Tucanae
Open clusters
- Butterfly Cluster
- Ptolemy's Cluster
- Wild Duck Cluster
- M18
- M21
- M23
- M25
- M26
- M29
- M34
- M35
- M36
- M37
- M38
- M39
- M41
- Beehive Cluster
- M46
- M47
- M48
- M50
- M52
- M67
- M93
- M103
- Double Cluster
- Rosette Cluster
- Owl Cluster
- NGC 663
- NGC 1893
- NGC 6939
- Caroline's Rose
Emission nebulas
- Lagoon Nebula
- Eagle Nebula
- Omega Nebula
- Trifid Nebula
- Orion Nebula
- De Mairan's Nebula
- North America Nebula
- Pelican Nebula
- Crescent Nebula
- Elephant's Trunk Nebula
- Bubble Nebula
- Pacman Nebula
- Heart Nebula
- Soul Nebula
- California Nebula
- Flaming Star Nebula
- Tadpoles Nebula
- Horsehead Nebula
- Flame Nebula
- Rosette Nebula
- Cone and Christmas Tree
- Monkey Head Nebula
- Thor's Helmet
- Carina Nebula
- Tarantula Nebula
- Wizard Nebula
- Cave Nebula
- Ghost of Cassiopeia
- Tulip Nebula
- Cocoon Nebula
Star clouds
Planetary nebulas
- Dumbbell Nebula
- Ring Nebula
- Little Dumbbell
- Owl Nebula
- Helix Nebula
- Cat's Eye Nebula
- Eskimo Nebula
- Ghost of Jupiter
- Turtle Nebula
- Blinking Planetary
- Bow-Tie Nebula
- Saturn Nebula
- NGC 6781
- Abell 39
Galaxies
- Andromeda Galaxy
- M32
- Triangulum Galaxy
- M49
- Whirlpool Galaxy
- M58
- M59
- M60
- M61
- Sunflower Galaxy
- Black Eye Galaxy
- M65
- M66
- M74
- M77
- Bode's Galaxy
- Cigar Galaxy
- Southern Pinwheel
- M84
- M85
- M86
- M87
- M88
- M89
- M90
- M91
- M94
- M95
- M96
- M98
- M99
- M100
- Pinwheel Galaxy
- Spindle Galaxy
- Sombrero Galaxy
- M105
- M106
- M108
- M109
- M110
- NGC 891
- Sculptor Galaxy
- NGC 2403
- NGC 2903
- Hamburger Galaxy
- Antennae Galaxies
- Needle Galaxy
- Whale Galaxy
- Centaurus A
- Fireworks Galaxy
- NGC 7331
Reflection nebulas
Getting the most from the Origin
10 s auto subs (15 s with the Nebula Filter); manual 1 to 30 s on the alt-az mount, longer only with the EQ wedge, and 60 s and up needs the StarSense Autoguider too. Filter drawer takes 1.25-inch or 2-inch filters, including dual-band; Celestron sells an optional Nebula Filter.
Longer subs matter most under dark skies, where read noise rather than skyglow sets the floor. From a city the difference between 10 s and 30 s subs is small; from a rural site it can halve the total time, especially with a dual-band filter in place.
Stack across nights. Every smart scope app can continue a stack or you can combine the saved frames on a computer; the figures here are totals, not single-session limits.
Compare the Origin
- Origin vs Seestar S50
- Origin vs Seestar S50 Pro
- Origin vs Seestar S30
- Origin vs Seestar S30 Pro
- Origin vs DWARF 3
- Origin vs DWARF mini
- Origin vs Draco
- Origin vs DWARF II
- Origin vs Vespera II
- Origin vs Vespera Pro
- Origin vs Vespera 3
- Origin vs Vespera Pro 2
- Origin vs eQuinox 2
- Origin vs Odyssey
- Origin vs Origin Mark II
Useful gear
What actually fits this scope, checked against the maker's own pages: power, EQ mode, dew and carry.
- Celestron 93665 equatorial wedge NexStar Evolution OriginCelestron's named wedge for the Origin; needed for subs beyond 30 s.
- Celestron StarSense Autoguider 94040Celestron recommends it with the wedge for exposures over 30 s.
- Celestron nebula filter for Origin 93669Celestron's own drawer filter, engineered for f/2.2.
- Celestron Origin padded telescope bag 94031Official bag for the RASA tube.
- portable power station 300W AC outletRuns the supplied 12 V adapter in the field; the dew shield and heater are already built in.
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