Quote:
Originally Posted by Starkler
I find that throwing away light merely reduces the eyes ability to see fine details.
I have a vari polariser and used it twice only before deciding that such filters dont help me at all.
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The 1st person that has posted the "totally" correct answer IMO. Whatever filter you use will reduce the amount of visible detail. A 9" scope is not large and it doesn't need a glare reducing filter IMO.
If you're going to observe a planet with a Neutral Density filter you may as well save yourself the expense of the filter and just wear your sunglasses at the eyepiece.
One possible option that "has" been mentioned that works reasonably well is the light blue filter that Robert mentioned. The correct "wratten number" for this filter is an 80A light blue. This filter will reduce the glare a little without reducing too much detail. It will enhance some surface features and reduce others. It will however render unnatural colours to all the features.
Another filter that works "reasonably well" is the Sirius Optics "planetary contrast" filter. This filter cuts the glare a little and gives a similar view to the 80A light blue, but doesn't "dampen" the image quite as much as the 80A. Its not a bad option but the filter is a "surface coated" filter and quite delicate. I think Baader also have a planetary filter that probably works ok but I havent tried it.
I actually own lots of filters suitable for planetary observing including 12, 2" Hoya colour filters, a 2" Variable polariser, a Sirius Optics planetary contrast filter and at the end of the day I never use any of them on Jupiter or the moon in my 10" scope, nor in larger scopes for that matter.
CS-John B