Total Integration / SNR Estimator

Estimate signal-to-noise ratio based on your total integration time and target brightness.

Input Parameters

Sub-Exposure Length180s

30s10m

Number of Subs

Target Brightness

Filter Type

Filter Bandwidth (nm, optional)

Overrides filter type to scale sky noise by bandpass width.

Sky Quality (Bortle)Class 5

DarkBright

Sky Brightness (mag/arcsec², optional)

Use a measured SQM value to override the Bortle estimate.

Measured Sky Background (e⁻/s/pixel, optional)

If set, this replaces the Bortle/SQM-based sky model.

Camera Read Noise (e⁻)

Total Integration Time

2h 30m

50 × 180s subs

Relative SNR

70.5

relative units

LowHigh

Good integration - solid dataGOOD

SNR Growth Curve

0h10h

SNR improves with the square root of total integration time.

Doubling your SNR requires 4× the integration time.