Celestron Origin vs AKASOAURA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Celestron Origin
This app redefines stargazing and astroimaging with AI-powered real-time stacking and processing. Explore the cosmos through a user-friendly planetarium interface, easily locate celestial objects, and share stunning images with others.
- AI-powered real-time image stacking
- User-friendly planetarium interface
- Compass mode for sky navigation
- Tonight's Best celestial object list
- Simultaneous streaming to multiple devices
- Audio presentations for celestial objects
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Celestron Origin redefines stargazing and astroimaging for a new generation. The images you capture with Origin look better than what you’d see in a much larger telescope under much darker skies. The Celestron Origin Powered by the SkySafari™ app, developed in partnership with Simulation Curriculum, features a user-friendly planetarium interface that makes it easy to navigate the sky and control the system. Simply hold your device up to the sky using Compass mode and tap on any object you want to see. (The best ones are highlighted.) Or try the Tonight’s Best list, which displays all the most impressive celestial objects you can see right now. Once you’ve selected a target, Origin locates it and begins capturing data. With each exposure, built-in AI algorithms autonomously stack and process every frame in real time. Galaxies and nebulae spring to life—sharp, detailed, and in brilliant color—all with no user intervention. Gone are the days of waiting in line to peer into a telescope’s eyepiece. Multiple people can connect to Origin via the app and stream the view with their own devices. With Origin, you can cast the live feed to your smart TV and save and share your completed astroimages. ORIGIN’S KEY FEATURES + Planetarium Functionality + In the app’s Planetarium View, navigate the sky by swiping or pinching the screen. For a more interactive experience, tap the compass icon to enter Compass mode, which uses your smartphone’s accelerometer and gyro to match the onscreen view to the sky overhead. + Selecting an Object + In the Planetarium View, objects highlighted with orange circles are the best targets. Tap an object to select it and display its name. Zoom in to find fainter objects. To point Origin to your chosen object, tap the crosshairs icon or use the “Center Object” option in the Object Info bar. Use the Tonight icon to see a list of the best currently visible objects. You can also search for objects by name or designation with the Search icon. + Picture-in-Picture (PIP) + A Picture-in-Picture (PIP) in the lower-left corner of the Planetarium View shows a live feed from Origin’s camera. Tapping the PIP screen shows the full Camera View, which displays the same view but fills the entire screen. + Camera View + The Camera View displays a live feed from Origin’s camera. Here, you can start imaging sessions or adjust camera settings. Origin automatically stacks and processes each exposure using its built-in AI algorithms. This processing doesn’t add new data to your image but rather brings out the best in your data and reduces noise. When you’re finished, tap “End Imaging” to save the final stacked master to the Image Gallery and your device’s camera roll. + Object Info View + You can view detailed information on every object in the Origin app’s database by pressing the Info button. You can also listen to audio presentations for over 200 of the most popular celestial objects. + Image Gallery + After you complete an image, Origin stores it in the app’s Image Gallery and your device’s camera roll. You can access the Image Gallery anytime by tapping the Gallery button. + Sharing Images + After tapping the Share button, you can customize your image by adjusting settings like exposure, name, date, object, logo, and crop. When you’re ready to share, press the Share icon to share via various apps or directly to social media. + Scheduled Imaging + Origin can capture images automatically during a scheduled imaging session without any input from you (even while you sleep!). Simply add the desired objects to a schedule and tap “Run Schedule Now.” Origin will start with the first object and continue through your list. To retrieve images, select the completed schedule and download the images to your Image Gallery and your device’s camera roll. Device requirements: iOS 16 and up iPhone 8 and up
AKASOAURA
Stream live video from your AURA device, adjust camera settings remotely, and update firmware over-the-air. Share your captured moments instantly with friends and family.
- Remote live streaming
- Adjustable camera settings
- Over-the-air firmware updates
- Instant social media sharing
- Capture review and management
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1.Remote Viewing: Seamlessly stream what your AURA device sees directly to your mobile device in real-time. Experience the night in vivid detail, all from the comfort of your location. 2.Adjust Settings on the Go: Dive into a user-friendly interface to adjust your AURA's image and camera settings. Whether you're adjusting for clarity, range, or capturing mode, control is at your fingertips. 3.OTA: The OTA (Over-The-Air) push service means that as soon as new firmware becomes available, it will be pushed to you via the app. You can update your firmware by connecting to your AKASO Seemor's WiFi hotspot. This method allows you to easily and swiftly keep your device's software up-to-date, ensuring that your night vision device operates at its best. 4.Instant Sharing: Turn your captures into shared experiences. The app's seamless integration with social media and other platforms means you can share your adventures and discoveries with friends, family, and the world instantly. 5.Capture Review & Sharing: Relive your best moments by browsing through your captures on the app. Enjoy the convenience of reviewing your footage, fine-tuning your shots, and sharing your experiences with a community that appreciates the beauty of exploration.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Celestron Origin at 93% against AKASOAURA's 18%. Celestron Origin also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (28 vs 9). AKASOAURA's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Celestron Origin holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Celestron Origin's written reviews are positive against 18% of AKASOAURA's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Celestron Origin | AKASOAURA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (28 ratings) — better | 2.0 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews — better | 18.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 980 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Celestron, LLC | Proexpress Distributor LLC |
Customer experience
Celestron Origin
AKASOAURA
In-app purchases
Celestron Origin
No in-app purchases
AKASOAURA
No in-app purchases








