Technique

Lucky Imaging

Selecting only the sharpest frames from a video

Definition

Lucky imaging exploits brief moments when atmospheric turbulence settles, capturing sharp frames among many blurry ones. By recording high-speed video and selecting only the best 5-50% of frames (depending on seeing conditions), amateur astronomers can achieve near-diffraction-limited images. The technique was developed in the 1990s and revolutionized planetary imaging.

Related Terms

Stacking

Combining multiple frames into a single high-quality image

Seeing

Atmospheric turbulence affecting image sharpness

Frame Rate (FPS)

Number of frames captured per second

See It In Action

Learn how Lucky Imaging is used in planetary imaging with our step-by-step guides:

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Put Your Knowledge to Practice

Now that you understand Lucky Imaging, try processing your own planetary video with Uranum.

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