“Lucky imaging”

[jambouk]

When did this term become commonly used amongst astronomers? 

[Merlin66]

I'm pretty sure it started with the advent of webcams and CCD's.

The ability to use faster frame rates to "freeze" the seeing conditions gave rise to some images which were exceptional - the results of "lucky imaging".

(Previously using film this type of result would not have been possible)

[7170]

In old books I've read references to it in the 1970s as a technique - using cinema cameras and image intensifiers. If Wikipedia is to believed it goes even further back to the 1950s.

I've also seen it applied to handheld eyepiece projection photography (perhaps tongue in cheek though). As you were lucky to get an image if you had to hold your camera up to the eyepiece, in the correct axis, and hope for a moment of still atmosphere when you pressed the shutter. With the action of pressing the shutter usually moving the camera bit! 😀

[Knight of Clear Skies]

I believe the term was first used by Henry Fox Talbot in 1835 when he accidentally captured the Fourth Countess of Lincoln emerging from a dip in Lake Windermere.

Edited May 18, 2020 by Knight of Clear Skies