Comparing the Celestron Origin and Vaonis Vespera II: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each
New Smart Telescopes: Celestron Origin vs Vaonis Vespera II
Two premium smart telescopes have recently entered the market, the Celestron Origin and the Vaonis Vespera II. Both are released in 2024, but they cater to different needs and budgets.
The Celestron Origin, manufactured by American astronomy company Celestron, is a specialist astrophotography telescope called a Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA). It measures 122 x 66 x 61 cm and weighs a substantial 18.9 kg, making it less portable and more suited to permanent setups. The price of this advanced astrophotography setup is $3,999.
On the other hand, the Vaonis Vespera II, produced by French manufacturer Vaonis, is a compact, premium smart telescope. It weighs just 5 kg, making it notably lightweight and portable. Despite its smaller size, it still offers impressive features. The Vespera II features a mosaic mode that allows the capture of widefield images and has an 8.3MP resolution camera using a Sony IMX585 sensor and a pixel size of 2.9 μm. The Vespera II is simpler, quicker, and easier to use, and is substantially cheaper than the Celestron Origin, priced at $1,590.
When it comes to telescope capacity, the Celestron Origin boasts a 6-inch aperture telescope, far above the 2-inches of the Vaonis Vespera II. This larger aperture provides superior light-gathering power and higher resolution, making the Celestron Origin more versatile for various targets including planets and the moon. In contrast, the Vaonis Vespera II's smaller 50 mm refractor aperture is optimized for wide-field astrophotography, ideal for larger deep-sky objects but limited for planetary detail.
Both telescopes offer high-quality imaging capabilities, but with different approaches. The Celestron Origin's advanced optics and software alignment produce pinpoint stars across large sensors, implying compatibility with high-resolution astrophotography cameras. The Vespera II, on the other hand, uses an efficient autonomous field detection system with a sensor suitable for wide-field imaging, although specific camera resolution details are not provided.
In summary, the Vaonis Vespera II focuses on portability, ease of use, and wide-field viewing with a moderate aperture and smart autonomous features at a moderate premium price. The Celestron Origin emphasizes larger aperture, versatile detailed imaging capabilities, and advanced optical performance at the cost of portability and higher price, targeting users willing to manage more complex setups for higher-resolution results.
- Astrophotographers looking for a portable, premium smart telescope might find the Vaonis Vespera II appealing due to its lightweight design and mosaic mode for capturing widefield images.
- The Celestron Origin, an advanced astrophotography telescope, boasts a larger aperture, making it suitable for a variety of astronomical targets and versatile detailed imaging, while attracting a higher price tag.
- Both telescopes leverage technology, with the Celestron Origin focusing on sophisticated optics and software for high-resolution astrophotography, and the Vaonis Vespera II employing a smart autonomous system for efficient wide-field imaging.
- Smartphones and other gadgets could potentially be used in conjunction with both the Celestron Origin, thanks to its compatibility with high-resolution cameras, and the Vaonis Vespera II, given its autonomous field detection system and wide-field imaging capabilities.
