Telescopes & Binoculars

Question:

I am new to astronomy. What is the all-around best filter?

Answer:

Unfortunately, there is no all-around best filter for everyone. The optimum filter depends on your telescope / equipment, seeing conditions and objects wanting to view. There are three basic categories of celestial objects that can be enhanced with filters: lunar viewing, planetary viewing and deep sky objects (faint objects like nebulae). There is no filter that will do it all.

For observing the moon, the primary requirement is to reduce the light intensity and enhance contrast for easy viewing. This can be done with a Neutral Density or Polarizing filter.

For planetary observing, color filters bring out the most detail because planets are naturally colorful. Different colors bring out different details of the planet you are viewing.

Always remember that you want to use the darkest filter your telescope will handle. Most small telescopes up to about 5″ in aperture use the light colors. The larger the telescope, the darker your filter can be.

Color filters can sometimes be used in conjunction with a Neutral Density or Polarizing filter to aid in glare reduction. The more you use your filters the more you appreciate them and their affect.

Lumicon Filters