Andromeda in a bortle 6, should I use a light pollution filter ?

2 replies•237 views

Topic starter

Dec 1, 2023

Hello forum,

I am planning on shooting Andromeda next week. It will be my first attempt at a galaxy. I recently bought a Optolong L-Pro but haven't had a chance to try it yet so I really have no idea how it will affect my subs.

I am wondering….. Should I use it for Andromeda under bortle 6 or would I be better off with no filter at all ?

I could also use advice on acquisition technique, particularly exposure time. So far I have only done emission nebulae. I have been doing 5 minutes exposure since I started guiding.

Would that work for galaxies as well or is there a different set of "rules" ?

Engaging

Alan Brunelle

Dec 1, 2023

Are you doing OSC?

At Bortle 6 you will be operating with a considerable amount of city/suburban light pollution. So you should see considerable benefit. The down side is that galaxy light is broad band, so you will lose some photons. But the l-pro is pretty generous, so it should work well and it will calibrate to true color (for OSC images).

I am in low Bortle 4 skies. My camera has no integral UV/IR cut window, so the L-pro lives in my filter drawer full time. It does double duty very well. Even used it in Bortle 1 in New Mexico. My OSC always calibrates with hardly a color shift. If you don't use the L-pro, were you going to use a UV/IR Cut?

Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging Supportive

wsg

Dec 1, 2023

Eric.

This is a link to every image of M31 in the history of Astrobin that has won a TPN, TP or IOTD.

https://www.astrobin.com/search/?q=M31&d=i&subject=&telescope=&camera=&date_published_min=2011-11-09&date_published_max=2023-12-01&award=iotd%2Ctop-pick%2Ctop-pick-nomination&sort=

You- can search the acquisition details of the nearly 600 images to see every available detail of how they were captured.
You- can find equipment similar to your own, along with what filters, if any, were used and also the integration time and exposure it takes to capture M31.

Helpful Engaging Supportive

Related discussions

Seeking advice for shooting Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118)

I am gradually getting more involved in amateur astrophotography. I've done some nice acquisitions (haven't had time to upload more, I just have one uploaded now). I really like the Witch Head Nebula ( IC 2118 ). I want to make IC 2118 my nex...

Light pollution filter advice relevant to nebula imaging acquisition planning.

Feb 17, 2022

Would you replace the Built in UV/IR cut on a 2600MC with AR glass?

Hello All, I am looking to replace the built in UV/IR cut window on a 2600MC-Pro with AR window and using a better UV/IR cut filter with better cutoffs in the UV and IR (Baader cmos optimized UV/IR cut filter) so i get less UV and IR and better glass...

Filter optimization for deep-sky imaging with light pollution filters.

Sep 18, 2025

Exposure time recommendations for my setup

Hello everyone. First let me list my equipment: Telescope: William Optics RedCat 71 WIFDCamera: ZWO ASI585MC ProMount: ZWO AM5NGuiding: ZWO 30mm Guide Scope (120mm) + ZWO ASI120MM MiniAccessories: ASIAIR PlusFilter: Antlia Quad Band Light Pollution F...

Exposure time recommendations directly address author's acquisition technique question.

Jun 5, 2025

Filter advice for reflection nebula and the dark & dusty

Hi all, My photography so far has really just focused on emission nebula. My L-Enhance hasn't left my imaging train since I bought it. Inspired by the some of the amzaing images of dark dusties from the likes of Yizhou Zhang and Richard Sweeney, ...

Author asking about light pollution filters for deep sky targets, directly relevant to poster's filter question.

Dec 15, 2021