I've been having a blast trying to figure out how to take pictures of Jupiter. It's a huge planet, so you'd think it's easy to capture, but here's the catch - if your videos are too long, you can actually see how fast it spins. But guess what? You can make that into cool animations (check out the example below).

My current project is getting a clear and sharp photo of Jupiter along with some of its moons. I've mentioned it before - I prefer looking at the planets through an eyepiece rather than taking pictures, so I haven't really researched the perfect techniques. But I believe with time, I'll get the hang of it, and you'll see the outcomes here.

I'm sharing a few of the pictures I've taken of Jupiter. I'm hoping to get an amazing shot later this year when it's in opposition. Right now, it's rising too late, and there are too many trees blocking the view for good shots. Still, I'm quite happy with what I've managed to capture so far.

Back in 2022, I snapped my very first picture of Jupiter. I used an old 5" Newtonian telescope without any tracking, and I paired it with my trusty Canon DSLR.

My favorite Jupiter shot - I love how the colors are subtle and the details look soft and muted. Of course, probably the worst goal for astrophotography :)

Here's a pic from August 28th, 2023, after I wrapped up photographing Saturn during its opposition. It was a bit of a speedy shot, but I think it turned out alright, and hey, I even caught Io in there.

Another quick shot in the bag, right after a stargazing session. I spotted Io getting ready to pass in front of Jupiter, casting its shadow on the planet. I've got my sights set on getting better shots of Jupiter's moons casting shadows in the near future. Just need to plan it out a bit.

And here is an animation of Io transiting Jupiter while casting its shadow.

Jupiter during it's 2023 opposition on November 2nd.

Animation of Jupiter during it's 2023 opposition on November 2nd.

From right to left, Jupiter - Io - Ganymede on November 2nd, 2023.

Jupiter Opposition - December 06,2024.