Full Io Orbit

In case anyone missed it, Jupiter is super cool.  Not only is Jupiter the King of the Planets, but it is so bright, it hides 4 moons that would otherwise be visible to the unaided eye; and each of these hidden moons is interesting in its own right.  Io is the most volcanically active object in the Solar System.  Europa is a prime candidate for the search for life beyond Earth.  Ganymede is the largest moon.  And Callisto has the oldest surface in the Solar System.

Collectively, these 4 moons are known as the Galilean Moons, named after Galileo, who discovered them in 1610.  The telescope had only just been invented, so it's not surprising that with really quite modest equipment by modern standards, the Galilean Moons can be resolved and imaged.

With that as context, I present the below video.  This was stitched together from several hundred photos taken over many nights at 3 minute intervals.  Taken together, all of the frames show a full orbit of Io around Jupiter.

For now, enjoy the video.  A how-to and further thoughts will be forthcoming.  Note that Io starts in front of Jupiter and emerges about 4s in.