Jupiter's Stripes: An Early Morning Capture with a Mak Telescope
Even when the sun begins to rise and the sky brightens, the wonders of our solar system can still be captured. This recent image of Jupiter, taken in the early morning hours of September 3rd, 2025, is a testament to that.
Capturing the Gas Giant in Less-Than-Ideal Conditions
The capture was made using a Celestron C90, a compact Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, paired with a Touptek 715C camera. While not the most optimal time for planetary imaging due to the encroaching daylight, the distinctive stripes of Jupiter are still remarkably clear.
Imaging Details:
- Telescope: Celestron C90
- Camera: Touptek 715C
- Capture Area: 640x480
- Binning Mode: Average
- Hardware Binning: On
- Binning: 2x2
- Analogue Gain: 1000
- Exposure: 50.0000ms
- Shooting Time: 2025-09-03 05:25:48.9648504
The Mystery of Jupiter's Moons
Upon close inspection of the image, one might notice tiny dots surrounding Jupiter. These are indeed its Galilean moons! Observing these celestial companions requires significant magnification, a feat that even Galileo himself achieved with his early telescopes. This capture offers a glimpse into the same captivating celestial dance that fascinated astronomers centuries ago.
