Comparison

Celestron Origin vs AstroFITS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

AstroFITS

This app allows users to quickly open and view FITS files on iOS devices using GPU acceleration. It features automatic image stretching and supports various color formats and bit depths, making astronomical image analysis more accessible.

Highlights
  • Open FITS files quickly on iOS
  • GPU accelerated image processing
  • Automatic image stretching
  • Supports RGB and gray color
  • Handles multiple BITPIX formats
  • Save adjusted images to Photos
Features
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A simple app to open FITS file in iOS quickly using GPU. It has an auto-stretch feature. And works on FITS file with RGB or gray color. It handles BITPIX of 8,16,32,-32 and -64. It is designed and tested for Seetar FITS file. It takes about 2 seconds to open and automatically stretch a 50mb FITS file. Sample links are provided below. Enjoy! Use: 1. Download your FITS file to your phone File directory. 2. Tap Image icon on the first top left. 3. Select your FITS file. 4. It will auto stretch. 5. Adjust the image level. 6. Adjust the image curve. 7. Tap the second top icon to save image to Photo. If you encounter an issue, please email to ustrainsit74@gmail.com with your FITS file as attachment. Sample: Below are some FITS files for download. - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Li8f1QH1u1R6U8RKZZ0kwW9LZ4cHCaXz/view?usp=share_link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MVuW1oa7qAjbfdl_iGUI-q7knE2ij67v/view?usp=share_link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TE70gdDK3XmLx9-iB43I-uh6INq8FCaO/view?usp=share_link Privacy policy and term of use (EULA) is at https://deepskycolor.blogspot.com/2018/12/privacy-policy-for-deep-sky-color-app.html

Screenshots

Celestron Origin4 screens
AstroFITS3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Celestron Origin at 4.1 against AstroFITS's 2.0. Celestron Origin also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (28 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AstroFITS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per year. Celestron Origin asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Celestron Origin holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Celestron Origin has 28 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Celestron Origin ships an update every 2 months, AstroFITS monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Celestron Origin versus AstroFITS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCelestron OriginAstroFITS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (28 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings28 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size980 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCelestron, LLCyong chong loh

Customer experience

Celestron Origin

All ratings28 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%

AstroFITS

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Celestron Origin

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

AstroFITS

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Subscription$0.991 Year

Questions

Is Celestron Origin free?
Celestron Origin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AstroFITS free?
AstroFITS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Celestron Origin or AstroFITS?
Celestron Origin is rated higher. Celestron Origin averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while AstroFITS averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Celestron Origin or AstroFITS have ads?
Neither Celestron Origin nor AstroFITS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Celestron Origin or AstroFITS?
Celestron Origin ships an update every 2 months, and AstroFITS monthly. Most recently, Celestron Origin was updated on September 18, 2026 and AstroFITS on September 21, 2026.

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