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.

Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope Set: Build the Iconic Observatory Before the Real One Burns Up

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

Lego is taking builders back among the stars with a stunning new tribute to one of humanity’s most famous scientific instruments. The Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope set lets you construct your own detailed replica of the observatory that has reshaped our understanding of the cosmos — and you might want to grab one before the real Hubble meets its fiery end in Earth’s atmosphere.

A Detailed 1,252-Piece Build

The new set, announced on July 9, 2026, contains 1,252 pieces and will retail for $140 when it launches on August 1, 2026. According to Engadget, the kit includes removable panels that reveal a meticulously recreated interior featuring replicas of Hubble’s real scientific instruments, including its gyroscopes and mirrors.

Builders can adjust the model’s antennas and solar arrays, and when complete with its aperture door open, the Lego Hubble stands over 12.5 inches tall, 15 inches long, and 15 inches wide. A display stand with an information plaque provides the perfect way to show it off, while an included astronaut minifigure offers a tangible sense of the telescope’s impressive scale.

A Nod to Lego’s Space Legacy

This isn’t the first time Lego has paid homage to Hubble. Back in 2021, the company released the Lego Space Shuttle Discovery set (10283), which featured the Hubble Space Telescope as a payload in its cargo bay — a nod to the 1990 STS-31 mission that deployed Hubble into orbit. That set became a fan favorite among space enthusiasts and Lego collectors alike.

The new standalone Hubble set follows Lego’s “Icons” line, which celebrates real-world landmarks, vehicles, and cultural touchstones in premium, adult-oriented building experiences.

The Real Hubble’s Race Against Time

The timing of the release adds a bittersweet layer. The actual Hubble Space Telescope — launched in 1990 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery — has been orbiting Earth for over three decades, capturing iconic images like the Pillars of Creation, the Hubble Deep Field, and countless other breathtaking views of the universe.

However, Hubble’s orbit is slowly decaying. Without a reboost mission, NASA expects the telescope to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere sometime in the mid-2030s, where it will largely burn up on reentry. While the Webb Space Telescope has taken over as NASA’s premier space observatory, Hubble’s legacy remains unparalleled.

A Set That Will Outlast Us All

There’s a poetic irony to the Lego Hubble’s durability. As Engadget’s Kris Holt notes, the plastic Lego typically uses is not biodegradable, meaning this miniature Hubble will likely outlast its real-world counterpart — and all of us — by centuries. It’s a small, brick-built monument to humanity’s curiosity about the cosmos.

At $140, the Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope set is positioned as a premium build for adult space enthusiasts and Lego collectors. Given the enduring popularity of both Lego’s space-themed sets and Hubble’s cultural significance, this one is likely to be in high demand.

Pre-orders are expected to open soon through Lego’s official website and major retailers worldwide.

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