Editor's Pick
Smart Telescope
The telescope that finally removes the learning curve
Point, focus, capture — a category we were skeptical of until we tested it for six weeks.
The Editorial Authority on Astronomy & Astrophotography
Explore the universe.
Capture its beauty. Discover more.
ORIVON is where curious minds come before they buy a telescope, plan a night under the stars, or simply want to understand what they're looking at.
Editor's Picks
What our editors are recommending right now
A short, deliberately curated list — updated as new gear earns its place, not on a schedule.
Best Value
Beginner Telescope
The most honest first telescope under $400
No gimmicks, no plastic optics — just a mount and aperture that actually teach you the sky.
Upgrade Pick
Astrophotography Camera
The dedicated astro camera worth the jump from DSLR
Cooled sensor, low read noise, and a price that doesn't require a second mortgage.
Accessory
Filter
The one filter every city-based imager should own
A dual-band filter that turned unusable light-polluted skies into workable data.
Buying Guides
All buying guides
Make the right decision before you spend a dollar
Guide
Getting Started
Best Beginner Telescope: What Actually Matters
Aperture, mount stability and expectations — the three things that determine whether you'll use it again.
Guide
Imaging
Best Astrophotography Cameras by Budget
From a modified DSLR to a dedicated cooled CMOS — where each tier stops making sense.
Guide
Optics
Best Filters Explained: UHC, Dual-Band and Broadband
Which filter solves which problem — and why the wrong one wastes clear nights.
Reviews
All reviews
Tested for weeks, not unboxed for an afternoon
9.2 / 10
Smart Telescope Review
Celestron Origin: The Smart Telescope Reviewed in Full
An intelligent imaging system that gets remarkably close to replacing a beginner's entire learning curve.
8.6 / 10
Mount Review
A Tracking Mount That Punches Above Its Price
Sub-arcsecond periodic error for a fraction of the cost of the mounts it's compared to.
8.9 / 10
Eyepiece Review
The Wide-Field Eyepiece That Changed How We View Nebulae
Sharp to the edge, comfortable eye relief, and worth the upgrade from a stock eyepiece.
Comparisons
All comparisons
The decisions everyone gets stuck on
Optics
Refractor vs. Reflector
Which design fits your budget and your back.
Mounts
Alt-Az vs. Equatorial
Visual convenience against imaging precision.
Cameras
DSLR vs. Dedicated Astro Camera
Where a cooled sensor actually earns its cost.
Category
Smart Telescope vs. Traditional Setup
Convenience versus control, honestly assessed.
Category Spotlight
Smart telescopes are changing who gets to see deep space
A new generation of app-controlled, self-aligning telescopes has quietly solved the hardest part of amateur astronomy: knowing where to look and how to focus. We've spent the past year testing every serious release in the category.
12Models Tested
340+Hours Under the Sky
6Editor's Picks
Learning Center
Visit the Learning Center
Understand the sky before you try to capture it
From the Editors
Latest from the publication
Astronomy
Why Aperture Matters More Than Magnification
The single most misunderstood spec in the hobby, explained without the jargon.
Astrophotography
Best Astronomy Apps for Planning a Clear Night
The four apps our imaging team actually keeps on their home screen.
Buying Guide
Best Budget Astrophotography Setup Under $1,200
A complete, coherent kit — not just a list of unrelated products.
Updated Monthly
Open Mission Control
Mission Control — this month's sky, briefed
Best Deep Sky Targets
Where to point your optics this month
Solar & Lunar Eclipses
What's happening and when to watch
Sky Events
Meteor showers and conjunctions
Image of the Month
A public-domain frame worth studying