Jupiter

Jupiter is the 5th planet from our Sun and it averages about 484 million miles from the Sun. It is the largest planet in our Solar System with a radius of 43,400 miles, over 10 times that of the Earth. It also takes about 12 years to complete 1 orbit around the Sun, but only about 10 hours to make 1 rotation.

Jupiter has 84 confirmed moons orbiting as of January 2023. Four of the moons are easily visible with binoculars or a small telescope. They are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto in order of distance from Jupiter.

Jupiter doen't have a surface, but is a gas giant. With a telescope you can see the many cloud grouping and bands moving accross Jupiter. One distictive feature is the Giant Red Spot, a large high-pressure region or a "Storm" that can be seen moving across Jupiter. It was first observed in 1665. It is about 10,000 miles in diameter.

One of the challenges of capturing good quality images of Jupiter is it's fast rotation period of 9.8 hours. That results in .61 degrees of Rotation per minute. The typical method is to capture short video clips of Jupiter and stack them. Video captures of more than 1 to 2 minutes will result in some blurring of the stacked image. You can use derotation software to compensate for this. The trick is to balance a high number of frames with a short capture period.

2018 Images 2019 Images 2020 Images 2021 Images 2022 Images

My First Image of Jupiter from 2016

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Freeport, IL USA
7 June 2016
01:27 CDT
Meade LPI Imager (640x480)
Meade ETX125
1900mm
Meade ETX125 Mount
Single Frame
N/A

N/A
N/A
Photoshop

My first image of Jupiter from 2016. It was a single frame so there was no stacking are sharpening done. This started my quest for Planet Imaging.

The 2018 Season

Opposition on 08 May 2018

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Freeport, IL USA
29 Jun 2018
22:41 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
5008
10%

PIPP
Registax6
Registax6
Photoshop

I had not collumated my C9.25 from it's purchase. Noticed spikes around the moons. Europa and Io from L to R. Finally took these clues and did an initial collumation.

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Freeport, IL USA
2 July 2018
22:18 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
5045
10%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

After Collumation, much improved image. 4 Moons visible, enhanced the moons with Photoshop. From Left to Right, Io - Jupiter - Ganymede, Callisto, Europa. Red Spot also visible.

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Freeport, IL USA
8 July 2018
22:21 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
4470
10%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Jupiter with Io and Europa. The shadow of Io is also visible on the surface.

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Freeport, IL USA
16 July 2018
22:14 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
4479
10%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Nice image with Ganymeded, Io and the Great Red Spot.

The 2019 Season

Opposition on 10 June 2019

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Freeport, IL USA
10 June 2019
23:35 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
2003
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

My first Jupiter session for the season. Wide view with 4 moons visible.

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Freeport, IL USA
10 June 2019
23:53 CDT
ASI290MC w/ 2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
5015
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Taken about 30 minutes later than the above image. Io is moving closer to the edge of Jupiter.

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Freeport, IL USA
20 June 2019
23:53 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
3003
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Another pretty good image showing Europa, Io and Callisto.

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Freeport, IL USA
29 June 2019
22:13 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
4200
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Captured the Great Red Spot and Io.

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Freeport, IL USA
6 July 2019
22:45 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
2189
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Captured Great Red Spot and 3 of the Moons.

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Freeport, IL USA
7 July 2019
22:45 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
2158
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Ganymede and Io with Jupiter.

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Freeport, IL USA
11 July 2019
22:09 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
8897
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

One of my last sessions of Jupiter from 2019. Io is moving from Left to Right, about to eclipse Jupiter. Also got the GRS.

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Freeport, IL USA
11 July 2019
23:35 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
5717
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Taken about 1 1/2 hours after the above shot, Io has moved to the right and it's shadow is clearly visible on the left edge.
My last good session for Jupiter.

The 2020 Season

Opposition on 14 July 2020

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Freeport, IL USA
18 June 2020
3:15 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
8913
25%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

First image of 2020.

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Freeport, IL USA
16 July 2020
22:58 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
5040
50%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Jupiter with Ganymede, Io, the Shadow of Europa and Callisto. Great Red Spot moving from Left to Right.

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Freeport, IL USA
6 August 2020
22:10 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
8851
70%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Jupiter with Io.

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Freeport, IL USA
14 August 2020
23:23 CDT
ASI662MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
8801
70%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Nice Shot of Jupiter with Ganymede along with the Great Red Spot and the Shadows of Ganymede and Io.

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Freeport, IL USA
2 September 2020
21:45 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
8630
50%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Jupiter, getting late in the year.

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Freeport, IL USA
15 September 2020
20:00 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
2119
50%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

One of my last sessions for Jupiter in 2020. Nice image capturing Ganymede, Europa and the Shadow of Io along with the Great Red Spot.

The 2021 Season

Opposition on 19 August 2021

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Freeport, IL USA
14 October 2021
21:11 CST
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7192
50%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Only a few sessions for Jupiter in 2021. Captured Io, Europa and Ganymede along with Ganymede's Shadow.

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Freeport, IL USA
18 October 2021
20:36 CST
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
13350
25%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

One of my best images of Jupiter. Have Io and Ganymede just becoming visible on the left of Jupiter. Great Red Spot also visible.

The 2022 Season

Opposition on 26 September 2022

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Freeport, IL USA
20 October 2022
21:56 CST
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7842
30%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

First good image of 2022. Worked on Collimation with a slight adjustment. Jupiter much higher in the sky for 2022. Lots of detail of the clouds.

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Freeport, IL USA
22 October 2022
21:48 CST
ASI662MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
12007
75%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

My Best Image of Jupiter. I upgraded cameras to the ASI662. Conditions were excellent and I was able to stack 75% of images. Lots of detail around the Great Red Spot. Moons were not enhanced with Photoshop.

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Freeport, IL USA
26 October 2022
22:06 CST
ASI662MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
9168
50%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Nice and clean image of Jupiter with Io.

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Freeport, IL USA
1 November 2022
21:09 CST
ASI662MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
11807
35%

AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

My last attempt at Jupiter for 2022. Red spot is just moving off the left limb, Io and it's shadow also on the left. Callisto is just visible in the upper left. Conditions were average.