JUPITER'S
GALILEAN MOONS
On clear winter nights in the Northern Hemisphere, one object often steals the show long before you even reach for a telescope. Hanging bright and steady in the cold air, unmistakably non stellar, is the planet Jupiter - the giant of our solar system and a favourite first target for anyone beginning their journey into astronomy.
What makes Jupiter so captivating isn't just its size or brilliance, it's the company it keeps.
The Galilean Moons: Four Worlds in Motion
With nothing more than a pair of binoculars or a modest telescope, you can witness one of the most charming sights in amateur astronomy: Jupiter lined up with its four largest moons. The photo above was taken on March 10, 2026 at 8:46 pm. From left to right we see the moons: Ganymede, Callisto, Io, (then the planet Jupiter) and then Europa. These are known as the Galilean moons, observed by Galileo Galilei around 1610, and they remain one of the most accessible cosmic spectacles for beginners and seasoned observers alike.
There's something deeply relatable about seeing them. We're used to our own Moon, a familiar companion. But suddenly, through your lens, you're looking at other moons - worlds orbiting a planet half a billion miles away.
You won't always see all four Galilean moons at once. Sometimes a moon slips behind Jupiter, or crosses in front of it, casting a tiny shadow on the planet's cloud tops. These "moon transits" are a favorite target for many astrophotographers.
Capturing the Moment
You may be surprised to learn that the above photo wasn't even taken through a telescope at all.
A DSLR camera and a zoom lens were enough to reveal Jupiter and its moons as tiny points of light arranged in a neat line. It's a reminder that astronomy doesn't always require elaborate equipment - just curiosity, patience, and a willingness to look up.
A Giant Among Giants
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system - so massive that all the other planets in our solar system combined still wouldn't outweigh it. And while astronomers have catalogued over 90 moons orbiting this gas giant, the Galilean four remain the brightest and easiest to spot.
The below photo was taken with a telescope and planetary camera. You can see Jupiter's Great Red Spot (a massive, high-pressure anticyclonic storm) and upon enlarging, you can see two of the planet's moons in the extreme top left and bottom right corners.
Planets of the Winter Sky
Jupiter isn't the only planet that puts on a show during the colder months. Venus, Mars, and Saturn often join the evening lineup and are easily visible to the unaided eye.
Together with the iconic constellations, they make the colder months a very rewarding season for skywatching.