18 replies to this topic

[patindaytona]

Before I jump into this, I primarily use a Night Vision for nebulae. But I'd like to see some in color also by using a filter for traditional glass eyepieces. I am in a bortle 6 area. So things are pretty dim unless using the night vision. That narrows it down to some of the brightest nebulae if going for a glass filter. Ring, Dumbell, Orion and few others. What is a good overall filter for some of these objects? I have heard of the oxygen filters, but are't they useful for only few select objects? What else is good considering I'm in quite alot of light polluted area? Would I pick up some color using these types of filters?

[bphaneuf]

Can’t link it on my phone, but go to the equipment forum and click on Equipment Links of Interest. Scroll down to filters and you’ll find tons of info. The second entry (from David Knisley) is a great place to start

[Daveatvt01]

There seem to be two questions here:

1) What is the best first filter for visual?

and

2) Will they allow me to see color in nebulae?

 

There are lots of threads on #1, here’s one-

https://www.cloudyni...39-uhc-or-oiii/
 

For question 2, I have never been able to see color with any filter if it could not be seen without the filter. I’m not sure if this is universal or not though. In general, some people are better able to see color in certain nebulae while others cannot. A lot depends on sky conditions, age, aperture, etc. 

There are some small bright PN’s that appear blue or green to me.

[Mike W]

Before I jump into this, I primarily use a Night Vision for nebulae. But I'd like to see some in color also by using a filter for traditional glass eyepieces. I am in a bortle 6 area. So things are pretty dim unless using the night vision. That narrows it down to some of the brightest nebulae if going for a glass filter. Ring, Dumbell, Orion and few others. What is a good overall filter for some of these objects? I have heard of the oxygen filters, but are't they useful for only few select objects? What else is good considering I'm in quite alot of light polluted area? Would I pick up some color using these types of filters?

UHC like the Televue Nebustar II, it'll bring out nebula such as the lagoon etc.

[Tony Flanders]

Before I jump into this, I primarily use a Night Vision for nebulae. But I'd like to see some in color also by using a filter for traditional glass eyepieces. I am in a bortle 6 area. So things are pretty dim unless using the night vision. That narrows it down to some of the brightest nebulae if going for a glass filter. Ring, Dumbell, Orion and few others. What is a good overall filter for some of these objects? I have heard of the oxygen filters, but are't they useful for only few select objects? What else is good considering I'm in quite alot of light polluted area? Would I pick up some color using these types of filters?

You seem to be under the misapprehension that filters will help you see nebula's colors through the eyepiece of a telescope. It doesn't work like that at all. In fact filters make it less likely to see color, by reducing the amount of light entering the eye. And if you were to see color, it would necessarily be the color imposed by the filter rather than the nebula's "natural" color.

[rjacks]

There are very few emission nebulae that show color in the eyepiece. In my experience, only M42, Tarantula, and Eta Carina nebulae show color and only under good conditions.

 

Several of the planetary nebulae show color. Off the top of my head, Ghost of Jupiter, IC 415, Ring, Cat's eye, blue snowball. An object has to be quite bright to show color. Filters won't bring out color on any of these objects. Dumbbell has no color, FYI.  

 

A good UHC filter will enhance contrast and bring out detail on a number of emission nebulae. A good OIII filter will also enhance aspects of certain nebulae, and make certain nebulae appear when they are invisible with a bare eyepiece (Veil, Thor's Helmet).

 

So, yeah, UHC and OIII filters may be useful to you, but not for color.  Good luck.  

[Nankins]

The UHC hands down - not so much color-wise but it does help the nebulae pop more.  Add the OIII too - yes it is more money used up, and yes it is a bit more specialized, but you'll see more actual blue and green coming from nebulae that have a lot of blue and green.  

 

If you want to see a nebula with a lot of color that you don't necessarily need a filter to see, try the Eskimo Nebula (vivid blue) or the Cat's Eye (vivid green).  Also the Blue Snowball planetary nebula - tiny but darker blue than Neptune. 

 

M42 is more of a catch or miss.  Most of us visual observers usually see a little green in the grey.  However you don't always need good filters to see colors, you need more of good skies, as well as excellent vision.  Some people can see color with no problem in the nebula - don't we all wish we had that ability!  First light with a new pair of 12x50 binoculars - M42 was one of my targets that winter night and the atmosphere was better than usual.  Still can't get the vivid pink-white out of my head.  It wasn't because the binoculars were brand new, it was because the atmosphere was very calm and the airglow wasn't as bad as usual that night. 

[Nankins]

 

Several of the planetary nebulae show color. Off the top of my head, Ghost of Jupiter, IC 415, Ring, Cat's eye, blue snowball. An object has to be quite bright to show color. Filters won't bring out color on any of these objects. Dumbbell has no color, FYI.  

 

The Dumbbell has no color???  I saw very faint blue around the core last summer - more pronounced with filters but also still there without filters.  

[Darren]

The Dumbbell has no color???  I saw very faint blue around the core last summer - more pronounced with filters but also still there without filters.  

It seems to have a greenish tinge to me, and it isn't particularly difficult to see. I've always found the Dumbbell to be one of the more colourful nebulae.

[bphaneuf]

Agreed.  It’s always been bright with a not-so-subtle lime to bluish green tint to it.  The color is more prominent without a filter in my experience.  UHC and OIII reveal more internal structure and outer halo detail.  Here’s an eyepiece impression.  I mixed white powder with lime green and a little blue to get close to the color I saw.

 

-b

[Astro-Master]

If I could only have one filter it would be the NPB filter.  I even prefer the NPB filter on the Veil Nebula in my 18" Dob it gives a much brighter image than the OIII filter under a dark sky.  

 

If you want to see color in nebule, then a big Dob under dark transparent skies is your best bet.

[rfcooley]

You seem to be under the misapprehension that filters will help you see nebula's colors through the eyepiece of a telescope. It doesn't work like that at all. In fact filters make it less likely to see color, by reducing the amount of light entering the eye. And if you were to see color, it would necessarily be the color imposed by the filter rather than the nebula's "natural" color.

For the OP,

 

This where exit pupil can become useful. It will not enhance color as TF stated and other have stated.  The only way I know of to enhance color is with AP.  Being conscious of exit pupil however will allow you to use most  filters to their full potential.

 

RF

[rjacks]

I've never seen a hint of color in the dumbbell - just grayscale.  

 

Looking through other threads on colors visible at the eyepiece, it seems that some people see green in the dumbbell, but this is not common. It is common that there is wide variation in color perception in the eyepiece!

 

Other than that it is large, bright, and conceptually interesting, I don't like the dumbbell visually, basically because it's not pretty. Lame, I know. 

Edited by rjacks, 01 May 2025 - 07:56 AM.

[Whiteduckwagglinginspace]

 

 

Several of the planetary nebulae show color. Off the top of my head, Ghost of Jupiter, IC 415, Ring, Cat's eye, blue snowball. An object has to be quite bright to show color. Filters won't bring out color on any of these objects. Dumbbell has no color, FYI.  

 

 

 

I searched for IC 415 on the internet, but found a galaxy in Lepus. I think you were referring to another IC-number?

[NinePlanets]

The Dumbbell is one of the greenest to my eye.

 

It's very interesting to see the wide differences in perceptions people have. Different eyes, different scopes, different conditions...

[rjacks]

I searched for IC 415 on the internet, but found a galaxy in Lepus. I think you were referring to another IC-number?

Sorry, IC 418. Going off the top of my head doesn't always work out. It's a small bright planetary in Lepus below Orion (now gone for a while).

[bphaneuf]

The Dumbbell is one of the greenest to my eye.

It's very interesting to see the wide differences in perceptions people have. Different eyes, different scopes, different conditions...

Indeed. I’m interested to see the differences post cataract surgery. Big change in color perception. I didn’t realize until the first eye was done how much of a yellow cast my vision had.

[azure1961p]

For me a UHC. A standard deepsky filter is so weak from all I've read on galaxies for example you'll spend the rest of your years debating whether it offers anything all in terms  of new details.

 

UHC Lumicon all the way.

 

Pete

[azure1961p]

It seems to have a greenish tinge to me, and it isn't particularly difficult to see. I've always found the Dumbbell to be one of the more colourful nebulae.

NGC 3242 is even more green.

 

Pete