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considerthestars
member
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Annapolis, MD
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I have a 10 inch Dob and will soon be purchasing a Nexstar 8SE and live in the light polluted skies east of Annapolis, MD. The city of Bowie, MD (about 8 or 10 miles away) really lights up the western sky. I am interested in DSO's (esp. nebulae and galaxies). I would like to get a good light pollution filter. Budget is $150 or (ideally) less. I would appreciate any recommendations. This is for observing not photography.
Thanks,
Gordon
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Gordon Leidner
Zhumell 10 inch Dob
Nextar 8SE
Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocs
Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Meade LPI
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 6479
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
I have a 10 inch Dob and will soon be purchasing a Nexstar 8SE and live in the light polluted skies east of Annapolis, MD. The city of Bowie, MD (about 8 or 10 miles away) really lights up the western sky. I am interested in DSO's (esp. nebulae and galaxies). I would like to get a good light pollution filter. Budget is $150 or (ideally) less. I would appreciate any recommendations. This is for observing not photography.
Thanks,
Gordon
Well, I do like the Lumicon Deep-sky filter ($99), but the Orion Skyglow isn't too bad either. Another possibility would be the Astronomik CLS filter ($75 for the 1.25" model). Remember, these broad-band "Light Pollution" filters may help somewhat but will not completely eliminate the effects of light pollution, so you still want to observe under conditions which are as dark as you can easily get to. For nebulae, you are better off with a narrowband "nebula" filter rather than the broad-bands. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
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Icarus
super member
Reged: 05/05/07
Posts: 110
Loc: Sioux Falls, SD
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Hi Gordon. As far as broadband filters go, Harrington's Star Ware book has the Orion SkyGlow ranked first followed by The Lumicon Deep Sky filter. He also points out if you are looking for fine detail within emission or planetary nebulae, no matter where you are observing from, you should go for a narrow band filter like the Lumicon UHC or OIII filters.
I have both the UHC and OIII filters from Lumicon and like their performance. I don't use them much because I am into double stars. But when I do use them they provide very good views.
Clear Skies,
Scott
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Antares "Vixen Spec" 105mm f/14.3
Celestron C102HD f/9.8 - GSO 10:1 Crayford
Kasai 80mm f/11.25
Orion 203mm f/4.9 Reflector
Atlas EQ-G Mount/ADM Losmandy Saddle adapter/GPS/GoTo Controller
SkyView Pro Mount - TrueTrack Single Axis Drive
Baader Genuine Orthoscopics 5mm,6mm,7mm,9mm,12.5mm,18mm
TeleVue 2" 2x Powermate
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considerthestars
member
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Annapolis, MD
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How does the Orion Ultrablock compare with these? Also, a friend mentioned H Alpha filters for skies in this area. I'm not familiar with these, either.
Not sure if it matters but the eyepieces I have that I like the most are the 2 inch Baader Planetarium Hyperions.
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Gordon Leidner
Zhumell 10 inch Dob
Nextar 8SE
Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocs
Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Meade LPI
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Icarus
super member
Reged: 05/05/07
Posts: 110
Loc: Sioux Falls, SD
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Quote:
How does the Orion Ultrablock compare with these? Also, a friend mentioned H Alpha filters for skies in this area. I'm not familiar with these, either.
The UltraBlock were rated as about the same as the Lumicon and Thousand Oaks UHC filters. Probably can't go wrong with whom ever you choose to go with. Your 2" EP's will work great. 
I can't help on the H Alpha filters.
Clear skies,
Scott
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Antares "Vixen Spec" 105mm f/14.3
Celestron C102HD f/9.8 - GSO 10:1 Crayford
Kasai 80mm f/11.25
Orion 203mm f/4.9 Reflector
Atlas EQ-G Mount/ADM Losmandy Saddle adapter/GPS/GoTo Controller
SkyView Pro Mount - TrueTrack Single Axis Drive
Baader Genuine Orthoscopics 5mm,6mm,7mm,9mm,12.5mm,18mm
TeleVue 2" 2x Powermate
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 6479
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
How does the Orion Ultrablock compare with these? Also, a friend mentioned H Alpha filters for skies in this area. I'm not familiar with these, either.
Not sure if it matters but the eyepieces I have that I like the most are the 2 inch Baader Planetarium Hyperions.
The Orion Ultrablock is a narrow-band "nebula" filter similar to the Lumicon UHC, Thousand Oaks Type II, DGM Optics NPB, etc. It is designed mainly to enhance only emission nebulae and tends to dim other objects. If you want just a "light pollution" filter useful on all deep-sky objects, you may need to go with a broadband one. The Ultrablock is quite effective on emission nebulae (and is not as expensive as some of the other narrowband filters), so it can be worth having. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 1784
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I have switched from Orion filters, to Lumicon fliters.
Fred
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Trinity College - Cambridge England
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considerthestars
member
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Annapolis, MD
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I checked in to Skyglow broadband and you have the option of purchasing one that either threads into the eyepiece or into the rear cell of an SCT. I'm buying a Nexstar 8SE. I presume this would work with the Nexstar and that by purchasing this type of mount I wouldn't have to swap out the filter every time I swapped out an eyepiece? Any other advantages/disadvantages? Link is: http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=accessory_sale/~product_id=05658
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Gordon Leidner
Zhumell 10 inch Dob
Nextar 8SE
Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocs
Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Meade LPI
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Steven Aggas
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Posts: 266
Loc: Arizona
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Here is a web page that was sent to me that I found particularly interesting. It does not contain all types of filters but you can see which ones pass the light you want to see and which ones miss the emission line/s and therefore would be a waste of money.... Additionally, you can see which ones call themselves OIII but really aren't.
Steven
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Mr. Wizard
Elements in Harmony I, an 8"f6 German Equatorial - Stellafane Winner,
II a 20"f4.2 Newt-Dob - Astrofest Winner,
III a 6"f3.5 Finder/Newt-Dob, and
IV a 36"f4.5 Newt-Dob - "If it's up there, it's in here."
www.DarkSkyObserving.com
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Illinois
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 524
Loc: near Chicago, Illinois USA
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I have two Orion Skyglow and Narrowband filters! I noticed that skyglow seem better in my backyard where the light pollution is bad. Narrowband filter is more noticeable useful in dark sky....M17, M8 and M27 look great on narrowband filter!
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Astronomer since 1975!
Meade 16" Lightbridge Dobsonian
Orion 10" SkyQuest Classic Dobsonian
Tele Vue Eyepieces
Orion Expanse Wide-Field 6mm eyepiece
4.5" F5 Reflector since 1982!
Orion Narrowband and SkyGlow filters
Member of IDA, let's fight light pollution!
Old Edmund 6"F8...donated to cousins
Super Polaris C8...donated to Byron Observatory in Illinois
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 1799
Loc: Arctic
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I have a Lumicon Deep-Sky Filter and it works well for me. Never looked back and made the best choice for it.
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 6479
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
I checked in to Skyglow broadband and you have the option of purchasing one that either threads into the eyepiece or into the rear cell of an SCT. I'm buying a Nexstar 8SE. I presume this would work with the Nexstar and that by purchasing this type of mount I wouldn't have to swap out the filter every time I swapped out an eyepiece? Any other advantages/disadvantages? Link is: http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=accessory_sale/~product_id=05658
I would not recommend the rear-cell filter route. You will eventually want to use your filter in some other optical setup like another scope or in someone's eyepiece, in which case, you are kind of out of luck. Also, you will not want to just keep the filter in the scope at all times, as there are a number of instances where the view will be better without the filter. Changing out a filter from a rear-cell is a bit more involved when you want to do something different than it is when just changing the filter on the front of an eyepiece. I recommend getting a filter which screws onto the eyepiece. It may be a pain at times, but in the long run, it is probably the better way to go. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
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considerthestars
member
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Annapolis, MD
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David that sounds like good advice. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.
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Gordon Leidner
Zhumell 10 inch Dob
Nextar 8SE
Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocs
Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Meade LPI
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Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 1903
Loc: Missouri / United States
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I'll second the opinion on going with the eyepiece filter. In addition to attaching these to eyepieces, they can also be threaded into the Tele Vue Paracorr and Big Barlow / 2-inch Powermate adapters, providing additional flexibility.
I am not aware of a 1.25 to 2-inch adapter that is threaded for filters, but it would be a useful addition to the tool kit, enabling 2-inch filters to be used with 1.25-inch eyepieces for scopes with a 2-inch focuser.
If you have both 2-inch and 1.25 inch eyepieces, I would suggest going with the 2-inch filter, rather than the 1.25-inch. These filters have much more effect at lower magnifications and wider fields. I have frequently found, at higher magnifications, that I can see more detail without a filter. The reason for this, I suppose, is that higher magnifications significantly increase the contrast between an object and the sky background, which is what the filter itself is designed to do. In this situation, the filter often acts only to reduce the light from the object being observed. Even a small light reduction (as would be the case with narrowband filters like the OIII and UHC) can reduce the visibility of detail at high magnification. Of course, this is not a fixed rule. Sometimes filters do help at high x -- it's something you have to experiment with.
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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considerthestars
member
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Annapolis, MD
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Quote:
If you have both 2-inch and 1.25 inch eyepieces, I would suggest going with the 2-inch filter, rather than the 1.25-inch.
I have 13mm, 8mm, 5mm and (soon, I hope) 24mm Hyperions, which I would probably use with the Skyglow. I presume with these I would want the 1.25 inch?
thanks
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Gordon Leidner
Zhumell 10 inch Dob
Nextar 8SE
Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocs
Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Meade LPI
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StarStuff1
sage
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 359
Loc: East Tennessee
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H alpha filters are useless with regular visual eyepieces. The do work wonders when used with sensitive ccd cameras and in Image Intensifier Eyepieces like the Collins I3.
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Two dozen eyepieces, a dozen binoculars, a half dozen refractors, two reflectors and a homemade Image Intensifier Eyepiece (IIE). All products subject to change by the owner at any time.
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KerryR
member
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 90
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Several companies make 2" to 1.25" adapters that are threaded for filters. I have two, but I'm not sure of the brands. One might be Antares. I think this is pretty common on modern adapters, but certainly not on all...
GTO probably makes a threaded adapter-- I have a 2" focuser extension tube from them that is threaded for filters. GTO eyepieces and accessories are carried by Hands On Optics.
So, I'd get 2" filters along with a threaded adapter.
I currently have an 1.25" Orion Skyglow, 1.25" Celestron UHC/LPR,2" Lumicon UHC, and 2" Lumicon OIII filters.
The Orion and Celstron filters are nearly identical, and provide very mild increase in contrast, but they do make a difference in objects that are otherwise nearly or totally invisible, while not dimming stars too much (they do turn green, though). These are my least used filters. They're 1.25". I don't use the Orion any more. I needed 2 matching filters for my binocular telescope (hence 1.25"). I only got them because they're much cheaper, and I had to buy 2. I'd have preferred to get 2 Lumicon UHC filters.
The Lumicon UHC filter is probably the nicest most usefull all around filter: great increase in contrast without too much star dimming. Useable on all apertures. Get's dim at smaller apertures, but still usable.
The Lumicon OIII filter is astounding in it's ability to provide tremendous contrast in emission nebula, but the star field is very suppressed. This is my most used filter. Things get really dim below 6" aperture.
I've used the UHC and OII lumicon filters with my 70mm Pronto on the North American nebula. While the OIII worked, it was really dim (but not visible without it). The UHC worked too, but because everything in the field got brighter, it didn't really make the nebula easier to see.
So: I think the OIII is the best filter for contrast, especially for larger than 6" apertures. If you want one filter that works well at nearly all apertures and works nearly as well as the OIII, then I'd get the UHC.
None of these help with galaxies, by the way. (The orion and celestron broadbands might help a very little). DGM Optics carries filters that they say are expressly for galaxies, but I haven't tried one...
Kerry
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Steven Aggas
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Posts: 266
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
H alpha filters are useless with regular visual eyepieces.*
* Unless one has a somewhat larger telescope, then it's definitely worth the $180 including shipping...
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Mr. Wizard
Elements in Harmony I, an 8"f6 German Equatorial - Stellafane Winner,
II a 20"f4.2 Newt-Dob - Astrofest Winner,
III a 6"f3.5 Finder/Newt-Dob, and
IV a 36"f4.5 Newt-Dob - "If it's up there, it's in here."
www.DarkSkyObserving.com
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considerthestars
member
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Annapolis, MD
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Has anyone ever tried the Baader Planetarium Moon and Skyglow filter? Here's what the seller says about it: "The Baader Planetarium Moon & Skyglow (Neodymium) filter brings an entirely unique approach to contrast enhancement and light pollution reduction. Based on earlier research at Carl Zeiss, Baader has developed a new filter that uses Neodymium glass which filters out a few specific wavelengths from streetlights as well as skyglow from the Moon. The unique spectral characteristics of Neodymium also boost color contrasts by isolating the Red, Green, and Blue regions (so-called RGB enhancement). The result is a filter that leaves natural colors intact, but enhanced."
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Gordon Leidner
Zhumell 10 inch Dob
Nextar 8SE
Orion 8x56 Mini Giant Binocs
Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Meade LPI
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PeterSurma
member
Reged: 08/24/06
Posts: 60
Loc: Heidelberg, Germany
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Let me be rather straight and say, Baader is a good dealer, but they - as probably all dealers - tend to exaggerate a bit. You are absolutely right to ask for practical experiences ! That's what we have to rely on !
'Entirely unique approach' - well you have to know the polluting spectral lines and you filter them out. What's new about this ? This has been known for decades now. Filtering out moonlight is impossible I'd say, because the spectrum is basically the same as the sun, pure contiuum ! No way filtering it out against say galaxies ... (which have contiuum too, so how could the filter know what to throw away) 'Colors intact' - well I hardly see any with DeepSky observing (even with 0 LP), do you ever ... ?
On the other hand I must admit I've only used narrow-band emmission-line filters up to now. Their effect in fact can be pretty pronounced with the right objects (most PNs, emission line nebulae) + thus worth the money. I'm more sceptical about those magic filters though ...
Is there REALLY a benefit ?
Good luck,
Peter
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Web: http://www.eyes4skies.de/home_EnglishVersion.htm
Edited by PeterSurma (07/11/08 06:20 AM)
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