Our Sun: A 4K Celestial Observation
This past August 11th, 2025, provided a fantastic opportunity to capture our nearest star in incredible detail. Using a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE equipped with the Cinema 4K app, I managed to record the Sun at a smooth 4K resolution and 60 frames per second.
The Workflow: From Raw Capture to Processed Image
The journey from raw footage to a polished solar image involves a series of specialized software tools:
- Stabilization: The initial footage was stabilized using PIPP (Planetary Imaging Pre-processor). This crucial step helps to remove unwanted jitter and ensures a steady frame for subsequent processing.
- Stacking: For stacking, Siril proved to be the preferred choice. Siril allows for precise alignment and stacking of multiple frames, bringing out finer details in the solar disk.
- Wavelet Sharpening: To further enhance the solar surface features, RegiStax 6 was employed for wavelet processing. This technique intelligently sharpens different levels of detail, revealing the intricate structures on the Sun.
A Note on Stacking Software
It's interesting to note a particular challenge encountered when using AutoStakkert! 4 (AS!4) for solar stacking. In my experience, AS!4 has a tendency to distort the Sun's roundness, often resulting in an almost polygonal appearance after stacking. This observation led me to favor Siril for this particular solar imaging project, as it maintains the natural spherical shape of the Sun.
The Result
Here is the processed image of our Sun:
This image is a testament to the power of modern smartphone astrophotography and the effectiveness of dedicated processing software in revealing the dynamic beauty of our Sun.
