In astrophotography, it's normal to retain the original image, which may contain noise, especially in low-light conditions (such as when imaging dim nebulae). Seestar does perform "dark" processing (dark frame correction) during initialization to reduce certain types of noise, which is typically caused by sensor or electronics background noise.
However, even though dark frame processing can help reduce some of the noise, it may still be present in the original image, particularly when using long exposures. The stacking process helps improve the SNR, and over time, stacking multiple images can reduce the visible noise.
The "snow" noise you're seeing in Stargazing mode, especially with the lens cap on, is normal. This background noise can be more pronounced when there is no object in view (like with the lens cap). If the noise is too noticeable, it could mean that the exposure time is too long or that the sensor's gain is set too high. In these cases, stacking images should help reduce the noise and improve the overall quality of the final image.
Noise is a common part of astrophotography, especially when imaging faint objects. With proper stacking and processing, the noise should be significantly reduced, resulting in a clearer and more detailed final image.
