See gorgeous views of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse captured from space

Jupiter with its moons Io and Europa. Captured by the author using a large amateur telescope, it illustrates what is possible today using commercially available equipment and a dedicated approach! ( With even a modest telescope and camera setup, you can capture cloud bands on Jupiter, the majestic rings of Saturn or the polar caps of Mars — images once the preserve of professional observatories. This technique, known as lucky imaging, records short video clips at high frame rates to freeze fleeting moments of steady air, then stacks the sharpest frames into one crisp photo.No advanced skills are required to start. Whether you own a modest backyard telescope or are shopping for your first planetary camera, this guide provides everything needed to succeed. You will learn a complete workflow that takes you from set-up to finished image, explore why certain planets are easier than others and find answers to practical questions that beginners often ask.Clear skies, patience and practice are your only limits. Soon you will be creating gallery-worthy shots right from home.Step-by-step tutorial: Imaging planets with a telescope and cameraPlanetary imaging relies on video capture rather than single long exposures. Follow these 12 steps for reliable results with most setups. Planning observations in advance is essential!

1. Check weather conditions Check conditions and plan your target. Use a planetarium app such as Stellarium or a site like TimeAndDate.com to confirm the planet is visible and high in the sky. Review weather forecasts and seeing predictions on ClearDarkSky.com or Windy.com. Good seeing — stable, calm air — makes all the difference when it comes to this kind of imaging! 2. Set up before night time Set your telescope up outdoors early. Allow it to cool for at least a couple of hours so that internal air currents do not blur the view. Level the tripod and power on your motorized mount. 3. Use a motorized tracking mount A motorized tracking mount is essential. For GoTo systems such as Celestron NexStar models, perform a quick two-star alignment and sync directly on the planet. Equatorial mounts need polar alignment for smooth tracking. Alt-az tracking Dobsonians need just a quick one- or two-star alignment to get you underway.Centering the planets make take a little while, less with a GoTo mount, but it's absolutely essential. 4. Locate and center the planet either manually or via GoTo. Use the finder scope or red-dot finder, then switch to a low-power eyepiece to bring the target into view and center it as best you can.
2. Increase your magnification Add magnification. Insert a 2x or 3x Barlow lens or Powermate into the focuser. This increases focal length to fill more of the camera sensor with the small planetary disk. Once that’s done, check your telescope collimation on a star – this is essential for this kind of astrophotography. Adjust the collimation screws to give a nice concentric, out-of-focus star pattern that looks like a bullseye. 6. Synchronize your laptop Connect to your laptop. Plug the camera into a USB port and launch capture software such as SharpCap or FireCapture – both programs are freely available for use. 7. Connect the camera Remove the eyepiece and connect your planetary camera — such as a ZWO ASI224MC,ASI585MC or similar — using the appropriate 1.25-inch nose piece or T-ring. Secure everything firmly. 8. Keep things central Center the planet. Spend time focusing carefully on the planet itself. Slowly adjust the focuser while watching surface details sharpen. Many imagers slightly defocus, then refocus through the sweet spot for precision. Do this several times to get the best focus you can. Atmospheric seeing conditions will seriously impact how easy this step is. 9. Setting correct parameters is crucial Set camera parameters. Choose a high fra

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