| |
Main
Date: 30 Aug 2007 07:44:07
From:
Subject: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
Hi Group,
Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
Thanks in advance,
Scott
|
|
| |
Date: 03 Sep 2007 11:56:14
From:
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
On Sep 2, 11:50 pm, David Knisely <KA0...@navix.net > wrote:
>
> I would have to differ a little here. With proper dark adaptation and
> the use of the right power, narrowband and line filters can be used with
> some rather small apertures with good results (certainly a lot smaller
> than 8 inches).
Agreed. Similarly, some of the color filters can also be effectively
used with smaller telescopes -- certainly smaller than the
recommendations given on some websites. When it comes to filters,
it's a good idea for each observer to do a bit of experimention on
their own.
Bill Greer
To sketch is to see.
|
| |
Date: 31 Aug 2007 14:59:01
From:
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
On Aug 30, 9:33 pm, "Jim Dubya" <jimdu...@nospam.com > wrote:
> I purchased the two tele vue mars filters during the August 2003 mars
> opposition. I used them in a Celestron 9.25, a 10 inch Teleport, and an AP
> 130EDF. The mars filters were pricey but the level of detail that they
> brought-out was amazine. Must better than the standard Lumicon filter set
> that I previously used.
>
> <scottupno...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1188495671.914467.301130@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On Aug 30, 6:53 am, Chris L Peterson <c...@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:
> >> On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:44:07 -0700, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
> >> >Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
> >> >sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
> >> >make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> >> I don't know about the specific filters in question, but in general,
> >> simple colored filters do enhance planetary views (different colors for
> >> different planets). But the enhancement is subtle... IMO such filters
> >> are best used by otherwise experienced observers willing to spend many
> >> minutes looking at a planet. The difference between filtered and
> >> unfiltered views isn't going to knock anyone's socks off. For that, you
> >> need a webcam <g>.
>
> > Hi Chris,
>
> > Thanks for the reply. I have used the wratten #21 red filter to
> > observe Mars before but what I was referring to as a "Mars observation
> > filter" is the "Mars observation filter" from Orion Telescopes found
> > here:
>
> >http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=28931...
>
> > and Tele Vue's "Bandmate Mars Visual FIlter" found here:
>
> >http://televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=253
>
> > Do these filters provide anything "extra" that the regular colored
> > filters don't?
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > Scott
Hi
For the most part, filters on anything smaller than a 8 inch are not
worth
even trying. For 8 inch i is usually marginal. On a 36 inch, it is
spectacular.
Tracing things like the veil nebula with a O2 filter on a 36 inch was
just breath taking. That same filter on my 8 inch and I couldn't even
find the veil.
Remember filters work by removing light. The amount of light you have
to work
with is related to the size of your scope.
One filter I found that was fun on my 8 inch is to use a sky filter
on
Jupiter. It does enhance the bands. It does nothing for Saturn.
Dwight
|
| | |
Date: 03 Sep 2007 00:50:30
From: David Knisely
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
Dwight wrote:
> Hi
> For the most part, filters on anything smaller than a 8 inch are not
> worth
> even trying. For 8 inch i is usually marginal. On a 36 inch, it is
> spectacular.
> Tracing things like the veil nebula with a O2 filter on a 36 inch was
> just breath taking. That same filter on my 8 inch and I couldn't even
> find the veil.
> Remember filters work by removing light. The amount of light you have
> to work
> with is related to the size of your scope.
> One filter I found that was fun on my 8 inch is to use a sky filter
> on
> Jupiter. It does enhance the bands. It does nothing for Saturn.
> Dwight
I would have to differ a little here. With proper dark adaptation and
the use of the right power, narrowband and line filters can be used with
some rather small apertures with good results (certainly a lot smaller
than 8 inches). I have used my 2" OIII filter just stuck in the front
of my 9x50 RACI finderscope to see both sides of the Veil Nebula. The
North America Nebula from my dark sky site looks very nice in my 100mm
f/6 refractor at between 15x and 25x. It looks nearly as good in the
DGM Optics NPB filter in that same scope. I have even held up
narrowband filters like the NPB up to my unaided eye to see the Rosette
Nebula without other optical aid, and have seen the California Nebula
and Barnard's Loop using the H-Beta filter held up to my eye as well.
To get the most out these filters, they should be used at between 3.5x
per inch of aperture and 9.9x per inch of aperture. The observer should
also be well dark adapted and use averted vision, as many of the details
which these filters enhance the most are rather faint. However, the
"myth" that these filters are useless in apertures smaller than 8 inches
is just plain not true. Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely KA0CZC@navix.net
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/
**********************************************
* Attend the 14th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 15th-20th, 2007, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************
|
| | |
Date: 31 Aug 2007 17:10:48
From: Marty
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
Some years back, I bought a set of basic color filters from Orion for my
C8. I never really got much out of them because they simply filter out
TOO much. If you have an 8 inch scope, go for a set of LIGHT filters...
I'd expect that would work better.
And HOWDY Sketcher! Nice "hearing" from you again!
Marty
|
| |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 19:34:54
From:
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
On Aug 30, 8:44 am, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
Hi Scott,
First the bad news: I have no first-hand experience with any of the
relatively new Mars filters.
On the other hand, I've experimented a bit in the past with a variety
of color filters during a few of the last Martian oppositions. As
others have stated, those filters *can* make a difference. As a
matter of fact, *most* of my relatively recent Mars observations have
been made with the aid of color filters. The Orion Mars filter looks
to have a somewhat similar light transmission profile as that of the
Baader Moon-SkyGlow filter (which I do have; but haven't yet tried on
Mars).
For the price, the new Mars filters look to be worth a try; but I'll
hold out to see how my MSG filter performs with and without various
color filters.
In my opinion some of the color filters have the benefit of enhancing
one type of feature at the expense of all other features. The
specialized Mars filters *might* provide a better overall view than
any one of the relatively inexpensive, traditional color filters; but
I suspect that it might be easier to tell what type of feature one is
seeing when one is using the various color filters. In other words,
the Mars filters might be better suited to showing Mars to the general
public while the color filters might be better for use by the more
experienced amateur observer. This is all just educated speculation
on my part.
The Orion filter wheel, if well made, looks to be a very practical and
useful tool provided one's focuser has the necessary range of travel.
I would expect this device to be more practical (with color filters)
than any of the Mars filters.
On the more selfish side of this posting: This is my first posting to
saa since my ISP dropped newsgroups. As such, it's my first saa
posting via Google Groups. I would be interested in hearing from
others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
news readers. Does everything look good as is? Should I attempt to
change anything -- assuming I could figure out how to make the
change(s)? An email from Jan Owen helped in my re-consideration of
the Google option. Thanks Jan!
Hopefully someone can eventually provide Scott with the information
he's really after . . .
Bill Greer, aka "Sketcher"
|
| | |
Date: 31 Aug 2007 16:53:49
From: Bill Becker
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
<AstroSketcher@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1188527694.777136.309360@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 30, 8:44 am, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
>> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
>> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> Hi Scott,
>
> First the bad news: I have no first-hand experience with any of the
> relatively new Mars filters.
>
> On the other hand, I've experimented a bit in the past with a variety
> of color filters during a few of the last Martian oppositions. As
> others have stated, those filters *can* make a difference. As a
> matter of fact, *most* of my relatively recent Mars observations have
> been made with the aid of color filters. The Orion Mars filter looks
> to have a somewhat similar light transmission profile as that of the
> Baader Moon-SkyGlow filter (which I do have; but haven't yet tried on
> Mars).
>
> For the price, the new Mars filters look to be worth a try; but I'll
> hold out to see how my MSG filter performs with and without various
> color filters.
>
> In my opinion some of the color filters have the benefit of enhancing
> one type of feature at the expense of all other features. The
> specialized Mars filters *might* provide a better overall view than
> any one of the relatively inexpensive, traditional color filters; but
> I suspect that it might be easier to tell what type of feature one is
> seeing when one is using the various color filters. In other words,
> the Mars filters might be better suited to showing Mars to the general
> public while the color filters might be better for use by the more
> experienced amateur observer. This is all just educated speculation
> on my part.
>
> The Orion filter wheel, if well made, looks to be a very practical and
> useful tool provided one's focuser has the necessary range of travel.
> I would expect this device to be more practical (with color filters)
> than any of the Mars filters.
>
> On the more selfish side of this posting: This is my first posting to
> saa since my ISP dropped newsgroups. As such, it's my first saa
> posting via Google Groups. I would be interested in hearing from
> others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
> news readers. Does everything look good as is? Should I attempt to
> change anything -- assuming I could figure out how to make the
> change(s)? An email from Jan Owen helped in my re-consideration of
> the Google option. Thanks Jan!
>
> Hopefully someone can eventually provide Scott with the information
> he's really after . . .
>
> Bill Greer, aka "Sketcher"
>
It's great to see you back home, where you belong, Sketcher!
----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
|
| | |
Date: 31 Aug 2007 18:32:59
From: Esmail
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
AstroSketcher@gmail.com wrote:
>
> On the more selfish side of this posting: This is my first posting to
> saa since my ISP dropped newsgroups. As such, it's my first saa
> posting via Google Groups. I would be interested in hearing from
> others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
> news readers. Does everything look good as is? Should I attempt to
> change anything -- assuming I could figure out how to make the
> change(s)?
Everything looks great, good to have you back "Sketcher"
Esmail
|
| | |
Date: 31 Aug 2007 15:58:56
From: Steve Paul
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
<AstroSketcher@gmail.com > wrote in message
> posting via Google Groups. I would be interested in hearing from
> others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
> news readers.
I post from my ISP at home, from my work usenet account, sometimes from
TeraNews if the work server is on the fritz (no guarantees with that one),
and from Google, all depending on something or other.
Google has improved and done a decent job at formatting a post like a
generic usenet newsreader without a lot of effort for the poster. My posts
all format fine and appear the same from every source.
The only downside to Google is on the web based reader side of things (IMO)
but I use it without much complaint and am glad to have it available when
I'm a guest on someone else's machine, working in the lab, at the public
library, a hotel lobby with a public PC..., etc.
I use gmail too. Nice to have a web based email package that accepts
forwarded messages from your ISP account. I just auto-forward everything
from my ISP and read it in gmail when I'm on the road or at the office
(where I can't access my ISP without logging onto there somewhat arcane
email web access page).
Welcome back Sketcher....
-Steve Paul
|
| | |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 20:21:44
From: Howard Lester
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
<AstroSketcher@gmail.com > wrote
> I would be interested in hearing from
> others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
> news readers. Does everything look good as is? Should I attempt to
> change anything -- assuming I could figure out how to make the
> change(s)?
Looks perfect down here, Bill.
Howard
|
| | |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 19:53:00
From: Jan Owen
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
<AstroSketcher@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1188527694.777136.309360@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 30, 8:44 am, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
>> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
>> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> Hi Scott,
>
> First the bad news: I have no first-hand experience with any of the
> relatively new Mars filters.
>
> On the other hand, I've experimented a bit in the past with a variety
> of color filters during a few of the last Martian oppositions. As
> others have stated, those filters *can* make a difference. As a
> matter of fact, *most* of my relatively recent Mars observations have
> been made with the aid of color filters. The Orion Mars filter looks
> to have a somewhat similar light transmission profile as that of the
> Baader Moon-SkyGlow filter (which I do have; but haven't yet tried on
> Mars).
>
> For the price, the new Mars filters look to be worth a try; but I'll
> hold out to see how my MSG filter performs with and without various
> color filters.
>
> In my opinion some of the color filters have the benefit of enhancing
> one type of feature at the expense of all other features. The
> specialized Mars filters *might* provide a better overall view than
> any one of the relatively inexpensive, traditional color filters; but
> I suspect that it might be easier to tell what type of feature one is
> seeing when one is using the various color filters. In other words,
> the Mars filters might be better suited to showing Mars to the general
> public while the color filters might be better for use by the more
> experienced amateur observer. This is all just educated speculation
> on my part.
>
> The Orion filter wheel, if well made, looks to be a very practical and
> useful tool provided one's focuser has the necessary range of travel.
> I would expect this device to be more practical (with color filters)
> than any of the Mars filters.
>
> On the more selfish side of this posting: This is my first posting to
> saa since my ISP dropped newsgroups. As such, it's my first saa
> posting via Google Groups. I would be interested in hearing from
> others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
> news readers. Does everything look good as is? Should I attempt to
> change anything -- assuming I could figure out how to make the
> change(s)? An email from Jan Owen helped in my re-consideration of
> the Google option. Thanks Jan!
>
> Hopefully someone can eventually provide Scott with the information
> he's really after . . .
>
> Bill Greer, aka "Sketcher"
>
I was so glad to see you got everything sorted out with Google that I forgot
to mention (at this age, I do that a LOT) that your post came through just
fine, and looks perfectly normal in all respects...
Well done!!!
--
Jan
To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.6
Longitude: -112.3
http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21
|
| | |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 19:48:07
From: Jan Owen
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
<AstroSketcher@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1188527694.777136.309360@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 30, 8:44 am, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
>> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
>> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> Hi Scott,
>
> First the bad news: I have no first-hand experience with any of the
> relatively new Mars filters.
>
> On the other hand, I've experimented a bit in the past with a variety
> of color filters during a few of the last Martian oppositions. As
> others have stated, those filters *can* make a difference. As a
> matter of fact, *most* of my relatively recent Mars observations have
> been made with the aid of color filters. The Orion Mars filter looks
> to have a somewhat similar light transmission profile as that of the
> Baader Moon-SkyGlow filter (which I do have; but haven't yet tried on
> Mars).
>
> For the price, the new Mars filters look to be worth a try; but I'll
> hold out to see how my MSG filter performs with and without various
> color filters.
>
> In my opinion some of the color filters have the benefit of enhancing
> one type of feature at the expense of all other features. The
> specialized Mars filters *might* provide a better overall view than
> any one of the relatively inexpensive, traditional color filters; but
> I suspect that it might be easier to tell what type of feature one is
> seeing when one is using the various color filters. In other words,
> the Mars filters might be better suited to showing Mars to the general
> public while the color filters might be better for use by the more
> experienced amateur observer. This is all just educated speculation
> on my part.
>
> The Orion filter wheel, if well made, looks to be a very practical and
> useful tool provided one's focuser has the necessary range of travel.
> I would expect this device to be more practical (with color filters)
> than any of the Mars filters.
>
> On the more selfish side of this posting: This is my first posting to
> saa since my ISP dropped newsgroups. As such, it's my first saa
> posting via Google Groups. I would be interested in hearing from
> others how this post (and any related items)appears in their various
> news readers. Does everything look good as is? Should I attempt to
> change anything -- assuming I could figure out how to make the
> change(s)? An email from Jan Owen helped in my re-consideration of
> the Google option. Thanks Jan!
>
> Hopefully someone can eventually provide Scott with the information
> he's really after . . .
>
> Bill Greer, aka "Sketcher"
>
BINGO!!!
You MADE it!!!
GREAT!!!
Hope to see lots more of you now!!! WELCOME HOME!!!
--
Jan Owen
To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.6
Longitude: -112.3
http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21
|
| |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 10:41:11
From:
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
On Aug 30, 6:53 am, Chris L Peterson <c...@alumni.caltech.edu > wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:44:07 -0700, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
> >Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
> >sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
> >make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> I don't know about the specific filters in question, but in general,
> simple colored filters do enhance planetary views (different colors for
> different planets). But the enhancement is subtle... IMO such filters
> are best used by otherwise experienced observers willing to spend many
> minutes looking at a planet. The difference between filtered and
> unfiltered views isn't going to knock anyone's socks off. For that, you
> need a webcam <g>.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the reply. I have used the wratten #21 red filter to
observe Mars before but what I was referring to as a "Mars observation
filter" is the "Mars observation filter" from Orion Telescopes found
here:
http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=289311&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=6&iSubCat=22&iProductID=289311
and Tele Vue's "Bandmate Mars Visual FIlter" found here:
http://televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=253
Do these filters provide anything "extra" that the regular colored
filters don't?
Thanks,
Scott
|
| | |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 21:33:01
From: Jim Dubya
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
I purchased the two tele vue mars filters during the August 2003 mars
opposition. I used them in a Celestron 9.25, a 10 inch Teleport, and an AP
130EDF. The mars filters were pricey but the level of detail that they
brought-out was amazine. Must better than the standard Lumicon filter set
that I previously used.
<scottupnorth@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1188495671.914467.301130@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 30, 6:53 am, Chris L Peterson <c...@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:
>> On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:44:07 -0700, scottupno...@yahoo.com wrote:
>> >Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
>> >sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
>> >make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>>
>> I don't know about the specific filters in question, but in general,
>> simple colored filters do enhance planetary views (different colors for
>> different planets). But the enhancement is subtle... IMO such filters
>> are best used by otherwise experienced observers willing to spend many
>> minutes looking at a planet. The difference between filtered and
>> unfiltered views isn't going to knock anyone's socks off. For that, you
>> need a webcam <g>.
>
> Hi Chris,
>
> Thanks for the reply. I have used the wratten #21 red filter to
> observe Mars before but what I was referring to as a "Mars observation
> filter" is the "Mars observation filter" from Orion Telescopes found
> here:
>
> http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=289311&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=6&iSubCat=22&iProductID=289311
>
> and Tele Vue's "Bandmate Mars Visual FIlter" found here:
>
> http://televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=253
>
> Do these filters provide anything "extra" that the regular colored
> filters don't?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott
>
|
| |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 12:25:46
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
A woman in our club has tried a Sirius Planetary Contrast filter on Mars,
and she and the few others (not me) who observed with it were not impressed.
I and others I observe with have always found a Wratten #85 (salmon) filter
to work very well on Mars, and other colors are also effective on bringing
out different kinds of detail. However, the filters aren't magical and don't
make a bad view good.
Dennis
|
| |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 15:32:54
From: Mk2
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
It seems to me that larger aperture scopes would benefit more from these
filters.100 mm or more probably due to the ability to attain high
magnification with
good resolution.
<scottupnorth@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1188485047.341454.79510@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi Group,
>
> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Scott
>
|
| |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 15:27:26
From: Mk2
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
It seems to me that larger aperture scopes would benefit more from these
filters.
100 mm or more probably due to the ability to attain high magnification with
good
resolution.
<scottupnorth@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1188485047.341454.79510@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi Group,
>
> Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
> sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
> make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Scott
>
|
| |
Date: 30 Aug 2007 08:53:04
From: Chris L Peterson
Subject: Re: Mars observation filters: Do they work?
|
On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:44:07 -0700, scottupnorth@yahoo.com wrote:
>Do those Mars observation filters work? I'm thinking about the one
>sold by Orion Telescope and I think Televue has one as well. Do they
>make a difference? Any advice on whose to buy?
I don't know about the specific filters in question, but in general,
simple colored filters do enhance planetary views (different colors for
different planets). But the enhancement is subtle... IMO such filters
are best used by otherwise experienced observers willing to spend many
minutes looking at a planet. The difference between filtered and
unfiltered views isn't going to knock anyone's socks off. For that, you
need a webcam <g >.
_________________________________________________
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
|
|
