Quote:
Originally Posted by Allan
Richard, you should try observing the moon with some ambient light around, such as house lights or outdoor lights, so your eyes don't get fully dark adapted. Then you will be able to observe without using your moon filter. Filters, no matter how good they are, will rob you of some of the small, fine surface detail.
Same applies to planetary observing. Some of the clearest, most colourful observing I have done has been in the evening and morning twilight when my eyes aren't dark adapted.
|
Really? Observe the moon without a filter with a 12" scope? Mirror seeing, and local atmospheric conditions will rob detail from the moon before a moon filter does. If anything a moon filter dulls the brightness so you can concentrate to actually look for lower contrast features better. Even if your eye's are not dark adapted, a 40% moon without a filter is temporary retina burning material.