Filter for Small Telescopes

Lucas Barcat:
Hello everyone!!

What are the best filters for smaller refracting telescopes for images of planets? I have an SV105 and Celestron PowerSeeker 70mm.

Thanks!

Clear sky

Hi,
Do you use this gear for live observations (planetary, other bright objects), or for astrophotography of DSO (long exposures) ?
And if for astrophotography, do you live in a light polluted area ? And what would be your targets (emission nebulas, reflection nebulas, planetary nebulas, galaxies....).
Depending on your intended use, you may need different filters...

Well for exclusive planetary use, UHC filter isn’t necessaRy (used to create contrast with emission nebulas mainly).
UV filter is to be used when you have a sensor that doesn’t already have one (unfiltered astro camera, modified DSLR sensors etc…).

Now for planetary (moon / planets) you may want some IR pass filters (because red wavelengths / light is less sensitive to atmospheric turbulence - that is the main factor affecting the « seeing »). There are also some filters that may helps you get contrast on the atmosphere of certain planets (methane, etc…)

Check astronomik website : https://www.astronomik.com/en/infrarot-passfilter-infrared-pass-filters/proplanet-642-bp-ir-passfilter.html
Or astroshop : https://www.astroshop.eu/filters/planetary-comet-filters/15_15_15?sort=0&size=2

At some point you may as well use an atmospheric dispersion corrector etc… 

Anyway, unless you have a bigger telescope, I am not sure you will benefit from all of that : maybe IR pass filter on the moon. I am not an expert…

You should buy a dedicated book on planetary astrophotography or read the forums dedicated to that question :
https://www.astrobin.com/382079/?q=%2210.30%22
https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/astrophotography/solar-system/what-ir-pass-filter-do-you-use-685nm-or-742nm/

Hope this helps a bit

I had pretty good luck with a Baader Moon and Sky Glow filter with my 105T. Used an ASI 120MC camera.

Dave