Filters

[Caldwell 14]

Not sure if I am in the right place or not to post this or not, so apologies to our mods in advance.

Filters, do you use them and if so which ones and when. I, as of this evening own 3, if you could my astrozap solar filter. I use a TV band mate type 2 UHC and a Japanese Meade 4000 moon filter, but nothing else personally, but I know folks with huge collections.

[Thefatkitty]

No worries! I actually moved you topic and post to General Optics; hope you don't mind. It will get more views here though

I have a few Baader filters. A solar Continuum, Calcium-K, UV/IR cut, and two clear glass filters. I mostly photograph the Sun these day, a clear night seems out of reach!

The Solar Continuum really enhances the detail in white light, and also brings out the detail on the Moon as well.

The Calcium-K is advertised as such, but I prefer to call it "enhanced white light", Seriously, the difference between my Ca-K filter and a dedicated Ca-K scope/filter such as a Daystar/Quark/Lunt is huge. Much tighter bandpass with those.

The UV/IR cut filter I use behind my Solar Continuum. Helps make a good image even better!

And the clear glass filter are used for 1) a cover for the nosepiece on my Canon's T-ring, and 2) what I use behind the Ca-K filter. I don't use the UV/IR filter behind that; it will actually cut down the detail. This way I can go from the Solar Continuum with the UV/IR behind it to the Ca-K and clear glass without adjusting focus on my scope.

Fun thread, thanks!!

[John Baars]

I can agree with Thefatkitty in his choice of sunfilters and their combinations.. Actually, I use mostly the same ones. And of course Solar Screen to reduce sunlight.

Since , like me, you work with a moderate aperture, you have to be economical with light on deepsky. A narrowband filter like a UHC can really only be used in combination with a large exit pupil like 4 or 5 mm. Then it comes into its own perfectly. As you know, this only works on emission nebulae, such as most planetary nebulae. Galaxies consist of ordinary starlight and it doesn't work on those.

On planets, I don't use color filters. Put out the door years ago.
The Baader Contrast Booster especially in combination with an achromat, for the APO again it is not necessary. On Mars, a simple gray filter or a variable polarization filter sometimes helps to temper the excess of red light somewhat.
That is all.

[Caldwell 14]

To be honest the vast majority of my viewing is planetary and most of the targets I view, like the ring, swan and orion nebulae I actually prefer without a filter at all. I do need a filter for the moon, I really do. I can’t see properly afterwards after even a short lunar session otherwise

[Bigzmey]

Filters are wonderful astronomical tools. Most of the nebulae I have observed were not detectable without filters, and in those which were, filters helped to resolve additional details. Those include many cool targets like Vails, Horsehead, Skull and Bones, Rosetta, and Thor Helmet.

Filters even helped me to pull some galaxies and globs from light polluted sky.

I am also big fan of using filters for Lunar and planetary. Here, on a typical desert night, poor seeing limits high powers on planets and the Moon. On such nights the main utility for the filters is to cut the glare (which is still quite useful). On rare nights with good seeing the fun begins, and a well-selected filter can resolve fine planetary or lunar details otherwise not detectable.

Not a big fan of neutral density and polarizing filters though, to my eye they reduce the contrast. I prefer good quality color filters, or special filters like Baader Neodymium and Continuum.

[StarHugger]

Astronomy filters classify into 4 sections, Solar, DeepSky, Planetary and Imaging. For reference the two types of filter are absorption and reflection performing exactly the function thier name implies.

My collection of filters includes all these, really too many to list (wife) and have used them all successfully and with results well worthy of the cost, after scopes, eyepieces and cameras astronomy filters are the next level of observation without wich astro would be a colourless void for most observers.

There is also colour filtering on your eyepieces, camera lenses & sensors and refractor objectives.

[messier 111]

I often use filters for observation.
the most used is the contrast booster for the planets.
on Jupiter and Mars he works miracles, less on Saturn but still very good.
I also use the Nebustar 2 teleview filter.
for solar I have my 80mm lunt
and a Herschel wedge with brightness variation.
also I have a lunar filter but it picks up dust I must say lol.
There .

[Caldwell 14]

I have had both the Baader Neodymium and Continuum filters in the past, I thought they both made a difference, particularly the Baader Neodymium which I found useful for Jupiter and Mars

[Mike Q]

I have a a few filters in my collection but i don't use them all that often. If i need to darken the sky its a good old broadband. When you get to nebula is when it gets tricky. For me it seems that a narrowband or Oiii filter does the trick most of the tme with thec Oiii being just a bit more effective. Then you have a H Beta which is the last filter to get as it is really only used on a small number ofv. items. The one filter i dont have and should probably get is the Baader Contrast Booster. It is supposedly very good on planets and i know a couple of guys that swear by it on the Orion Nebula.

[Caldwell 14]

The one filter i dont have and should probably get is the Baader Contrast Booster. It is supposedly very good on planets and i know a couple of guys that swear by it on the Orion Nebula.

Literally bought one on eBay a few minutes ago, I’ll let you know how I get on.

[Mike Q]

The one filter i dont have and should probably get is the Baader Contrast Booster. It is supposedly very good on planets and i know a couple of guys that swear by it on the Orion Nebula.

Literally bought one on eBay a few minutes ago, I’ll let you know how I get on.

That would be awesome.

[Bigzmey]

I have been using 1.25" versions of Baader Neodymium Moon and SkyGlow, and Contrast Booster for years. Last week picked 2" versions for my wide field EPs.

[Mike Q]

I have been using 1.25" versions of Baader Neodymium Moon and SkyGlow, and Contrast Booster for years. Last week picked 2" versions for my wide field EPs.

The Baader Contrast Booster is on my to buy list for 2025. I will get the 2 inch version.

[John Baars]

Some time ago I compared the Baader filters to each other.
The solar spectrum is below.
Mark how three filters efficiently block magnesium- and sodium / natrium light.

[Mike Q]

https://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/us ... y-objects/


http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/fil ... n-nebulae/

[Caldwell 14]

So I had a go with the Baader Contrast Boaster with Saturn, Mars and Jupiter last night. Definitely helped bring out details that I would not have been able to. I think from one outting I have had to date that these filters are worth the money. A fairly safe buy I would have thought.

[Caldwell 14]

So I had a go with the Baader Contrast Boaster with Saturn, Mars and Jupiter last night. The filter definitely helped bring out details that I would not have been able to see otherwise. Last night’s Io transit shadow was definitely blacker and harder with the filter. The seeing was not great and the highest magnification I could get to was x127 on Jupiter. I think from one outting I have had to date that these filters are worth the money. A fairly safe buy I would have thought. I thought where it really scored was with Mars where my Naglar zoom easily took me to x224 and beyond with ice cap and other features better defined.