The ROLLS-ROYCE of Smart Telescopes is coming! Let's look at the specs

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[mycarolinaskies]

I'm not surprised they chose the 178.

First, if you look at the specs for the 178 and the designed purpose of short imaging at 335mm at F/2.2 at a reasonable end-cost it's actually the correct choice. Yes there are >larger< sensors but they don't work with an Alt-Az methodology of short exposures and very real world field rotation. There are >newer< sensors of similar chip size, but larger pixels, or much larger well depth, or less bit depth. I'm sure these chips were considered and likely prototyped, but for one reason or another none matches the consistency of output as the 178. Star bloat, lower S-N-R, lower dynamic range come to mind.

The 150mm aperture and short FL are serious specs which can't be treated as poor technical choices against the stiff competition. Nor can a company like Celestron create such a device 'on the cheap' because they do have both a reputation to uphold, but also a much larger corporation to sustain than the others. Compared to the Stellina and EVScope and Unistellar which are it's direct competitors it immediately stakes a more serious claim to a stand-alone astrograph. Even more serious, they do plan for and to allow upgrade of the camera and use on an equatorial wedge.

Now, considering their approach was to start with a RASA design, that immediatly places the cost of just the optics development more than a simple C6+Hyperstar. Redesigning the OTA to house the brains of the system too is totally new... it's not just pluggin in a module, it's a revisiting of the OTA's full purpose even while utilizing existing concept platforms.

I honestly expect initial testing to be above the standard fare we saw from other all-in-one astrographs.

BTW, I looked around at different images posted and given the image specs (15s exposures stacked) I believe it's actually pretty good compared to many C6 Hyperstar V4 images. I think that's where you'd have to start comparing. Remember too, all the images on the website are from one user using one unit at one location. I'll remind everyone to go and check out early images from all the competition. Lets be more genuine than looking at PR JPEG photos!

[FrankSD]

Thanks! Not just for this video but for all the things you’ve taught me over the past few years. Keep ‘em coming! To answer your question: yes, I pre-ordered one. True that it’s pricey but after using a Vespera 2 I really like being able to get shooting in minutes—without assembly, alignment, focusing, tracking. And I trust Celestron to give us the upgrades or updates we want, like a better camera.

[alexis]

It would be awesome if they made just the 6-inch OTA itself, so people can customize their particular setup and with more options on like an EQ mount!

[lnemonk]

The camera sensor killed it for me at that price. Excellent review, they should have asked you before putting that system out. Thanks Cuiv!

[themoose]

As someone who transitioned from using the ASI78MC for imaging to using it as a guide camera, I'm really surprised this unit uses the IMX178 sensor. It's nice that they allow camera upgrades, but they're really sandbagging right out the gate. I can see them offering a slightly less outdated sensor a year from now for a lot more money than the sensor is worth.

[FrankNolf]

I am more interested at a Rasa 6 at a $1500 price point. 5k euro on European astro shops is big money for this smart telescope.

[BrianKushner]

Cuiv, Quick story. About 15 years ago I got the Astronomy bug. Mostly viewing little photography. I spent a small fortune.I was fortunate to have unlimited budgets and I was buying scopes and chasing that better look for a few years. Most nights I didn't see much. I live 5 miles from Philadelphia so heavy light pollution. After a couple of years I gave up and sold all my gear at big losses and moved on. Then a month ago I run into a Seestar 50 video on YT and was amazed technology had come that far. I immediately ordered from High Point and had it a few days later. Total investment $500. Throw in the leveling device you recommend and the caps I have maybe $540 tops. I set this scope on my apartment balcony (again, 11 stories up facing Philly) and have seen and photographed more things in a few nights then I saw over a few years spending probably $50K on gear. For me the Seestar is perfect. Would I upgrade if something much better and fairly priced came along? Sure why not. But to make a jump to $4, 000 and not being sure I'd get that much better then I'm getting now I think not. Thanks for all your videos on the Seestar and other gear love the channel.

[rtpman]

Nice video and I agree with your assessment of the overall package. I too would be interested in the Rasa 6" stand alone. Also, they seriously need to have several camera options if they keep it proprietary.

[rogerwise]

It will be interesting to see how the images compare to my SeeStar. I doubt they will be $3, 500 better.

[worldofzap]

@ an 8 SeeStar price, I really hope Celestron does look at providing this scope as a standalone scope, say a RASA 6 with some of the bells and whistles of this system. I like the filter drawer, the built in auto focus idea (as long as it can be controlled by INDI drivers etc), and smaller form factor cameras, as long as we can get cooled cameras. All that for say around a three SeeStar price.

[johnkulczycki]

Well, we really won’t know what’s what until someone has the scope in hand and tests it.

Given that they must have started the engineering for this at least two years ago (whole new scope here RASA6) I’m sure they needed to have a usable base camera to make the whole thing work and get it out the door to market. At some point you have to lock everything down in the design to actually make it out the door, or it will never get there.

Within a year there will most likely be a camera upgrade to keep it current.

I can see where Celestron would use a proprietary thread on the camera to corrector plate system in order to lock in their cameras.

The camera software is the key here because it has to do so much. GOTO, plate solve, adjust position, adjust focus, take photos, download photos. And then do it all again for your next object.

My other thought is that Celestron may come out with their own strain wave mount line in the future.

my .02 cents worth.

[mattestabrook]

Great video, Cuiv! As a fellow C6/Hyperstar user (who got his start on an Evolution 6), I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the new 6" RASA and the seed of what may become a Celestron competitor to the ASIAir. The price of this smart scope system is prohibitively high for most (especially if we've already sprung for a Seestar or Dwarf), but this is such an interesting development because of what it portends for Celestron and its ecosystem in the years to come! That competition is desperately needed in the astrophotography world, even if it is competition between (frustratingly walled-in) ecosystems, and I'm looking forward to it!

[bozhidarpetrov]

Hi Cuiv, thanks for yet another nice video! Still I think you are not looking into this with open mind - the “Smart telescopes” as an idea are essentially meant to be a closed, ready-to-use system. The intend behind them was to be used “as is”, so your desire to use the separate parts for other configurations goes directly against that. To be honest this is the first smart-scope that actually is designed with upgrades been possible in mind. Not a single one of the other 10+ models of smart telescopes can do that, so even having the option to upgrade the camera or the tube even in the future is a great plus for this new beast. There is also a major minus that you didn’t mention in the video and that is the weight and portability of the scope, which far exceeds all the models currently on the market.
Will be interested to hear your opinion on the Vaonis’ products, especially the company’s choices and actions.

[derekderek]

It also looks like there is a huge shift in Ha because of the RASAs speed. I wonder what filters they use and if they even took the OTAs speed into consideration when selecting them.

[gregerianne]

Nice, advanced preview, Cuiv! Thanks for all the information. You made some great points.

[artyombeilis]

I calculated that C6 on Evolution mount with hyperstar, with ASI178MC with external focuser, starsense and with ASIAir you can get for around $3000...

And it will be way more flexible in comparison to this contraption.

Only reason to get it instead of normal rig is to have all on one cool factor, not wanting to tinker with hardware and cables.

[dereksmith]

Pass, for that amount I wood start with ZWO AM3 which leaves $2, 500 for scope, hardware and software, which leaves a lot off room for upgrades at a later date.

[DuaneWomacklordkonti]

For the price it seems to be missing the sweet spot of value for features, The Rasa isn't truly unlocked without PA and how much would it cost to add guiding and a new camera to this?
So it's 4k out of the gate maybe another 2-4K for upgrades?

[pkinnb]

I’m not surprised that you never got ahold of Celestron. Years ago, the tripod for my Nexstar was stolen from the back of my truck while on a star observation trip. I was days away from home and I couldn’t use the scope. I called literally all over North America, every Celestron number I could find, and none of them worked, or ever called me back. I finally found a Nexstar 6 tripod at a dealer in California. They assured me it would fit, and I paid the outrageous price and had it shipped to Texas, where I was staying. All that to say, I won’t be buying from them again. I now have a Seestar and I’m selling the Nexstar for a song😅. Love your channel and your outstanding videos! Keep them coming! PK

[alantan]

I love your honesty and cutting through the marketing speak being pushed on social media. I was very excited about the release of a rasa6 but not thrilled by the camera and mount choice.