Equipment

Gain vs Exposure

Balancing sensor amplification and light collection time

Definition

Gain amplifies the sensor signal electronically, while exposure time controls how long light is collected. Higher gain allows shorter exposures but increases noise. For planetary imaging, the goal is to use the shortest exposure that still provides adequate signal - this freezes atmospheric turbulence and allows higher frame rates. Typical gain ranges are 250-400 for planets.

Related Terms

Frame Rate (FPS)

Number of frames captured per second

Planetary Camera

High-speed camera designed for planetary imaging

ROI (Region of Interest)

Cropping the sensor to increase frame rate

See It In Action

Learn how Gain vs Exposure is used in planetary imaging with our step-by-step guides:

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Put Your Knowledge to Practice

Now that you understand Gain vs Exposure, try processing your own planetary video with Uranum.

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