Hi from Newbie not sure about filters

[Kirky]

Hi to Everyone
This is a great site you have here.
I have just bought a 150mm Skywatcher on eq3 mount.
I have been using star atlases and reading everthing I can.
What filters would you guys recommend I get first? Are there types to avoid?
Cheers from the cloudy Gold Coast

[rmcpb (Rob)]

DO NOT GET a solar filter that goes on your eyepiece. The only solar filters to use go over the front of your scope otherwise all the energy is concentrated in the filter and they can break. Tread carefully with solar observing.

In the beginning of your observing career I would say to only get a moon filter (preferably a variable polarising one). This will make observing the gibbous moon much more pleasant.

As for the coloured filters, UHC and OIII, I would hang off for a while and get to know what you like looking at and take it slowly, then you don't end up with expensive paperweights.

BTW welcome to IIS

[74tuc]

Hi Kirky,

From my experience with various types of refractors:

1. I would get a set of 3 moon filters, definitely!

2. A UHC filter (quite expensive) should be on your list. These can produce amazing results on nebulae.

3. A minus violet filter (expensive) but I'm not overly impressed with them they work but alter the colour balance too much.

4. Get a yellow filter - when you use it (or any other colour filter) you do not need a minus violet filter.

5. Use a green filter to take B&W pictures - your 'scope should produce very good results.

Thats my 2 bobs worth.

Regards,

Jerry.

[neB]

Ay Capt,

Welcome aboard[/cliche],

I'm a newbie also (6 months or so).

I got a moon filter, blue and yellow filters after a couple of months.

Gets me by for moon and planetary stuff.

Just starting to look at OIII filters for the future as I move further into space...

So I agree with the advice above. Listen to these guys, they know there stuff. Kinda spooky really.

Cheers,
neB

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

If your scope is a refractor, the only one I'd get is a minus violet to tame the colour fringing. If the brightness of the Moon really bothers you, a neutral density filter will help, but with a 6" you will get used to the bright Moon soon and you can see more without the filter. I would not bother with nebula filters with 6" of aperture. Colour filters are also mostly useless ie unused IME.

If the scope is a refractor, (and maybe even if it's not) I'd seriously consider upgrading the mount to at least an EQ5 or better.

[stephenmcnelley]

Bintel seel basic color filter sets for planetary viewing, they are about $10 each and a reasonable start, moon the same$10-$20. Better ones from lumicon etc will be a bit more.
A polarising filter is sometimes useful for big bright stuff, and i mean large local objects and daytime.

After that a UHC or UHCS is the next step, it is the all round nebula filter going for about $120-$200 new. Our club has two 150mm newt reflectors and the UHC filters work well with the brighter nebula.

After that you are tending to specialise in certain types of objects and planet details, plus your local light conditions and pollution. With only 6' of apeture though if you have a lot of local LP then most filters will only cut down overall light transmission from above.

The buy and sell sections of this forum, SCP.org.au and aussie astro buy and sell can be worth poking through for bargains.

Here is a bit of a link, hope it might be of some use with choosing color filters;

http://sciastro.net/portia/advice/filters.htm

steve

[74tuc]

Hi Kirky,
While your'e in the mood of buying filters and with winter in a few short months here's a challange for you if you have a 6" refractor:

Have a go at splitting Antares using a purple filter - enjoy the colours!!!

Jerry

[stephenmcnelley]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

If your scope is a refractor, the only one I'd get is a minus violet to tame the colour fringing. If the brightness of the Moon really bothers you, a neutral density filter will help, but with a 6" you will get used to the bright Moon soon and you can see more without the filter. I would not bother with nebula filters with 6" of aperture. Colour filters are also mostly useless ie unused IME.

If the scope is a refractor, (and maybe even if it's not) I'd seriously consider upgrading the mount to at least an EQ5 or better.

What planet are you on steve.. only joking mate, no harm

[mickoking]

Kirky, I recommend an OIII filter

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Here is an excellent article about filters.
Best of all is a comparison chart with a score for each filter on how well it worked on a specific DSO.

http://www.spacegazer.com/deep-sky-filters-g.asp