Integration time
The total time spent collecting usable light. More integration usually improves signal and reduces noise, but only when the data is focused, guided, and worth keeping.
A small field glossary
How to read the tools.
Short explanations for the terms that appear in the weather board, planner, and image details.
Narrowband
A filter strategy that isolates emission from specific wavelengths such as H-alpha, OIII, or SII. It is often more forgiving under moonlight and light pollution.
Transit
The time a target reaches its highest altitude for the night. A higher target usually means less atmosphere and a better chance of clean detail.
Astronomical darkness
The part of the night when the Sun is at least 18 degrees below the horizon. This is the most useful baseline for deep-sky imaging.
Seeing
Atmospheric steadiness. Good seeing matters most for small targets, planets, and long focal lengths.
Transparency
How clear and deep the atmosphere is. Poor transparency reduces contrast even when the cloud forecast looks good.