Celestron Origin Smart Telescope user review, images & tips

30 December 2024After the first few uses, here is my Initial thoughts on the Celestron Origin Smart Telescope.Who am I:  A 78 years old who is a keen but very much amateur astronomer and with a need to upgrade my current equipment. The reasons were, firstly, a desire to extend my viewing from mainly planets and nearby objects to those deeper objects like nebula and galaxies and secondly, due to health reasons standing and looking through an eyepiece was difficult with focussing an additional problem a year ago, I read about the Celestron Origin Smart Telescope and this just seemed to fit the bill and ultimately registered my interest with my preferred provider, PicStop. The Celestron Origin had been such a success in the USA that supplies to the UK were delayed, and then only in small quantities.PicStop pulled the stops out once they had notification of their allocation and I received this rather large parcel. One very large box with about 6 other boxes inside and as I opened each my excitement grew and on final assembly, I was delighted with the ease it went together and the overall quality of it. Tip: View the many YouTube videos on the Celestron Origin. These range from the unpacking and assembly to using the app and how best to use. They really helped me to get going with the Origin.My location: I live in Formby on the West coast  (of the UK) about 12 miles from the City of Liverpool. My rear garden is surrounded by other properties and trees. Hence, light pollution and object interference.Usage: Unfortunately the weather in the UK has severely limited my use but have managed to get sufficient nights to realise I had made the right choice and the outcomes for me were way beyond my expectations. Pending my first night, I decided to set up in the daytime and use it for terrestrial objects.  In my case, this was limited to chimney pots and trees. Not very exciting, but it did help in getting to know the app and the Origins response.  It also helped in using the snap mode, which is not only applicable to terrestrial use but also for planets.Whilst it is sturdy equipment, it is transportable and can be carried. I recently took mine to Bristol with the main tube in the specially designed padded Origin Bag and the tripod in a tripod bag. I am using it on the mini tripod as I find it easy to carry that with the Origin on it to a table in the garden than messing with the main tripod. It works perfectly for me.On the first night of use, my excitement, and…