How to Photograph Jupiter with a Game Boy Camera: DIY Tutorial Released

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Remember that viral photo of Jupiter taken with a Nintendo Game Boy Camera? The mastermind behind it has just dropped a full DIY tutorial so anyone can try the same feat for themselves.

Musician and retro-tech enthusiast Chris Graue made headlines last month after successfully capturing an image of Jupiter using a Game Boy Camera — Nintendo’s iconic 128×128-pixel accessory from 1998. Now, he’s published the schematics for the custom 3D-printed adapter that made it possible, along with a quick tutorial video.

What It Takes

The Hooker Telescope at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California — a 100-inch (2.5-meter) reflector that Edwin Hubble himself once used — serves as the backbone of the project. Graue and his collaborators connected the retro camera to the telescope’s eyepiece using a custom-designed 3D-printed adapter.

In Graue’s own words, the adapter is “a tube that pressure fits inside of a standard 1.25 inch eyepiece for telescopes.” While most of us won’t have access to a 100-inch observatory telescope, the adapter itself works with any standard 1.25-inch eyepiece, opening the door to Game Boy astrophotography on smaller rigs too.

Free Schematics and Tutorial

The adapter schematics are now available for free on Graue’s project page, released under a permissive license. Anyone with a 3D printer can download the files and print their own adapter in a matter of hours. Graue has also posted a walkthrough video demonstrating the assembly and setup process.

The hardware requirements are refreshingly accessible:

A Game Boy Camera (still widely available second-hand for around $20–40)
Any Game Boy console (original, Pocket, Color, or Advance)
A telescope with a 1.25-inch eyepiece
The 3D-printed adapter (free schematics)
A mount or bracket to hold the Game Boy steady against the eyepiece

More Than Just Jupiter

Even without a giant telescope, the adapter lets photographers pull off creative shots. Retro-tech modders have already repurposed Game Boy Cameras as mirrorless cameras, webcams, and telephoto lenses over the years.

For those more interested in terrestrial subjects, the adapter works just as well on spotting scopes and telephoto camera lenses, making it a versatile tool for lo-fi photography experiments.

Why It Matters

The Game Boy Camera’s grayscale, 128×128-pixel sensor produces images with a distinctive retro aesthetic that has cultivated a dedicated community of artists and tinkerers decades after its release. Graue’s project demonstrates that with a bit of creativity and modern 3D printing, old hardware can still capture new perspectives — including ones 400 million miles away.

The full tutorial and schematics are available now on Graue’s website.

DIY on Know the Tech

How to Photograph Jupiter with a Game Boy Camera: DIY Tutorial Released

What It Takes

Free Schematics and Tutorial

More Than Just Jupiter

Why It Matters