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Old 10-01-2008, 01:58 PM
§AB
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Iceland
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Astronomik CLS filter...is it good for galaxies?

Thinking of picking up Astronomik's O-III and CLS filters for deepsky work in my light polluted backyard. Astronomik's website claims that the CLS filter will improve contrast of galaxies and clusters. Is this true? Has anyone tried it?
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Old 10-01-2008, 10:34 PM
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wavelandscott (Scott)
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ridgefield CT USA
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I own an Astronomics CLS filter...I also own a DGM Optics NPB (narrow pass band) and a DGM OIII filter. I have used/do use them all...

The Astronomics CLS filter is optimized to filter out specfic light that is often produced by streetlights...it does this.

Do I think that it improves the view of DSO objects from my backyard... (long pause) technically yes, but it works much better (as do all filters) from a dark sky spot.

It does work in my backyard, but I am not sure that it is a good "value" buy...

If I was going to own only one filter it would be the DGM NPB over the CLS and/or OIII.

No filter will ever help your light polluted backyard become a great place to view DSOs. Even as the filter blocks the offending light pollution (and they do this), the extra ambient light has another (and I think even worse) impact in that it never really lets my eyes "dark adapt"...therefore, I am never able to pick out the "faint fuzzies" filter or not.

It is my impression from my backyard that I get nearly as much benefit from increasing magnification as I do from the CLS in my backyard...(not quite but it is not as different as I had originally hoped when I bought mine)...at dark sky spots however, the filters really come into their own in my opinion (although this may sound counter intuitive, I've found it to be true).

If you are looking for the "magic bullet" to improve your backyard I think that you will be a bit disappointed in its performance...a CLS filter like the Astronomics will be an improvement over no filter at all but, I'm not sure it is a purchase I would repeat for use in the backyard.

I find moon and planets to be great targets from home...and the big named nebulas and such are not too bad from home (filter or more magnification) ...but, if I am truly looking for the deep and faint stuff, I wait until I am going to be at a dark spot...planning this way saves me frustration at home and gives me more motivation to get out of town to truly see things in the night sky.

Good Luck and Clear Dark Skies to you!
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