Planetary Imaging Guides

Cloud bands with intricate detail, Great Red Spot (GRS)

♄Saturn

Iconic ring system with Cassini Division, A, B, and C rings with varying brightness

♂Mars

White polar ice caps (CO2 and water ice), Dark albedo features (Syrtis Major, Mare Acidalium)

☽Moon

Craters with central peaks (Tycho, Copernicus, Plato), Maria (dark basaltic plains) - Sea of Tranquility, etc.

☉Sun

Sunspots with umbra/penumbra structure, Solar granulation (convection cells)

Techniques

Lucky Imaging

The foundation of planetary photography - selecting only the sharpest frames from thousands captured...

Wavelet Sharpening

Multi-scale frequency decomposition that enhances planetary detail at specific size scales without a...

Complete Stacking Workflow

End-to-end guide from video capture to final processed planetary image...

Processing

Histogram Stretching

Expand tonal range to reveal hidden detail in planetary images...

Planetary Derotation

Mathematically compensate for planet rotation during long capture sessions to combine more data for ...

Processing

RGB Filter Imaging

Capture and combine separate color channels for enhanced resolution using monochrome cameras and RGB...

Best Stacking Percentage for Planetary Imaging

Choose a stacking percentage based on seeing, frame quality, and the tradeoff between sharpness and ...

Processing

Best Gain and Exposure Settings for Planets

Dial in exposure, gain, and histogram targets to freeze seeing without clipping highlights....

ROI Capture to Increase FPS

Use Region of Interest to boost frame rate and improve lucky imaging results....

Planetary Imaging Focus Tips

Achieve precise focus using a nearby star, careful refinement on the planet, and periodic checks....

Color Balance and Saturation for Planets

Natural color calibration workflow for Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon....

Astrophotography Image Adjustments: Histogram, Sharpening, and Color

Best practices for histogram, sharpening, color, and cleanup using the live adjustment panel....

Stacking Algorithms

Median Stacking

The safest choice - naturally rejects outliers and artifacts

Best for: First-time planetary photographers - safe and reliable

Weighted Quality Stacking

Your sharpest frames contribute most - ideal for variable seeing

Best for: Nights with variable atmospheric seeing (most common scenario)

Sigma-Clip Stacking

Statistical outlier rejection - for scientific-quality results

Best for: Removing cosmic ray hits that appear as bright dots

Local Quality Stacking

The AutoStakkert method - 30-40% more detail possible

Best for: Maximum planetary detail extraction from good source footage

The gold standard for planetary video capture - uncompressed, per-frame timestam...

File Formats

SER Format

.ser

Classic video format that can store uncompressed or lightly compressed planetary...

AVI Format

.avi

Standard smartphone and consumer camera format with lossy compression...

MP4/H.264 Format

.mp4

iPhone, Android, or other mobile devices capturing through telescope eyepiece

By Equipment

Smartphone

MP4 (H.264/H.265)

30-60 fps

Planetary Camera

Dedicated high-speed cameras like ZWO ASI, QHY, or similar

SER or AVI (uncompressed)

60-200 fps

ZWO ASI Cameras

SER 16-bit (via SharpCap/FireCapture)

100-200 fps (ROI dependent)

QHY Cameras

High-quality planetary cameras from QHY including QHY5III, QHY462, QHY678 series

SER or AVI

100-200 fps

DSLR/Mirrorless Camera

Canon, Nikon, Sony and other interchangeable lens cameras - entry-level option for planetary imaging with significant limitations

MOV H.264 (or RAW with Magic Lantern)

30-60 fps (crop mode)

Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector

Adjustable prism device that corrects atmospheric dispersion - essential for imaging below 40-45° altitude

Same as camera

Troubleshooting

Fix Blurry Planetary Photos

Atmospheric turbulence (seeing), Focus is not precise

Weighted Quality Stacking

Remove Satellite Trails from Planetary Images

Satellites (especially Starlink) crossing field of view, Airplane lights

Median Stacking

Reduce Noise in Planetary Images

High camera gain amplifies sensor noise, Short exposures have less signal

Sigma-Clip Stacking

Fix Compression Artifacts in Planetary Videos

H.264/H.265 video compression, Low bitrate recording settings

Sigma-Clip Stacking

Fix Color Fringing in Planetary Images

Chromatic aberration from telescope optics, Atmospheric dispersion at low altitudes

Median Stacking

Resources

Astrophotography Glossary

Learn the terminology of planetary imaging. From stacking to wavelets, understand the concepts behind professional results.

Browse all glossary terms

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about planetary astrophotography, stacking algorithms, and using Uranum AstroStack AI.