Telescope Filters Guide

Telescope Filters Guide

If you love the Universe as we do, and already own a telescope, perhaps with the time you have lost some of your enthusiasm. Most likely that’s because you’ve seen all what you have ever dreamed of. If you still didn’t try various filters, then we have good news for you. You can forget everything you have seen until now and rediscover the night sky again. And now – from very new perspective. This time with much more colors, sharpness and contrast. Whether this will be the polar caps of Mars, or some distant nebula, looking through telescopic filters will definitely enhance your midnight experience.

Like photographic filters, these for telescope increase detail and improve contrast. They do it by removing unwanted color of the wavelength of light. let’s have a look to the most popular ones:

 Telescope Filters Guide: Light Pollution Filters

The most common “junk” light is the one comes from the city lights. If you are an amateur astronomer and live in a city you probably know what I mean. Unfortunately, light pollution can kill your enthusiasm even if you’re miles away from the downtown.

Fortunately, there are filters that magically will clear the image from light pollution do not cost a fortune, and they gonna make you love your telescope much more!

Order now, and while you are waiting the little thing to get delivered, start getting out the Telescope from the closet. We did research and here are the top five filters removing light pollution on the market  today:

Bestseller No. 1

SVBONY SV220 Telescope Filter, 2 inches Dual-Band Nebula Filter, H-Alpha...

• SV220 dual band filter can reduce the light pollution; enhance the contrast when imaging nebulae
• For deep sky photography; use the dual-band filter to enable deep-sky photography in light-polluted cities or under a full moon
• Easy to use; the dual-band filter can simplify the tedious post-processing process for users
• SV220 filter can achieve a single exposure to capture large size images

$159.99

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Bestseller No. 2

SVBONY SV220 Telescope Filter, 1.25 inches Dual-Band Nebula Filter, H-Alpha...

• Reduce light pollution; SV220 telescope filter can greatly reduce the interference from natural light sources such as moonlight or artificial light pollution such as street lighting
• Astrophotographic;the filter enhances contrast during visual observation of gaseous and planetary nebulae in all sky conditions; the filter allows high-contrast imaging even in areas with strong light pollution
• Wide range of application; the 1.25 inch dual band filter can be used with most cameras and filter wheels; no worry about not applicable
• Improving contrast; an increase in contrast can be perceived as an increase in brightness; the filter makes the contrast of the nebula and sky background increase; not the nebula brighter
• Strong applicability; the filter applicable to SVBONY's electronic cameras and astronomical cameras which the apertures are 1.25-inch; but for the different telescopes and cameras; the installation order of filters is also different

$109.99

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Bestseller No. 3

Starboosa 1.25 Inch Moon Filter Aluminum Frame Light Pollution Filter for...

• Starboosa 1.25 Inch Moon Filter Aluminum frame Light Pollution Filter for Telescope Eyepieces
• Optical glass reduces moon brightness, enhances contrast and ability to discern moon surface details.
• Easy to install, both sides are universal standard 1.25 "threaded interface, can be connected with any 1.25" telescope eyepiece.
• Aluminum alloy frame and optical glass. Durable, rust-proof surface, can be used for a long time.
• Completely packaged to prevent filter wear during using and shipping.

$5.49

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Bestseller No. 4

638 Reviews

SVBONY Telescope Filter 1.25 inches UHC Filter Astrophotography to Improve...

• UHC filters or light pollution reduction filters are designed to selectively reduce the transmission of certain wavelengths of light;especially those produced by artificial light
• Sky background is darker;and contrast of emission nebulae are noticeably improved;the perfect filter for viewing nebula from light polluted skies;or for boosting the contrast of nebula from dark sky sites
• Due to its ability to produce exceptionally sharp and clear images;this UHC filter is considered one of the most popular astronomy accessories;it can be used not only for celestial observations but also for astrophotography
• 1.25'' barrel diameter simply attach to eyepiece cased in a sturdy transparent case;standard filter thread for 1.25" eyepieces and other accessories
• Optical glass lens;aluminum frame;significantly reduces light pollution;great for city and suburban observation

$28.99

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Bestseller No. 5

229 Reviews

SVBONY Telescope Filter 1.25 inches CLS Filter City Light Pollution...

• Evaporation with Ion assisted deposition coating technology for durability and resistance to scratching;as well as stability on CWL (central wavelength) no deviation affected by temperature change
• Planetary rotation system offers precision and homogeneity of coatings ensuring high value on transmission of pass-band and Optical density of off band
• 90% transmission of main nebula emission lines;such as Ha 656nm;OIII 496nm;500nm;SII672nm and H-beta 486nm
• 0.1% transmission of off-band;specifically the major emission lines of artificial light pollution;such as Na 589nm;Hg 435nm and 578nm
• Suitable for color CCD cameras and unmodified DSLR Urban optical filter can effectively suppress urban harmful light and improve the contrast of shooting target

$29.99

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 Telescope Filters Guide: Moon Filters

Moon – the closest object to Earth, and why not the most frequently observed is also looking far more beautiful if you see it in details with Polarizing Filters for Observing the Moon. Did’t try yet? Well, believe me, you’ll be surprised how much you missed. Due to the brightness, your pupil shrinks, the less light reaches your eyes. And you know best – less light, less detail!

Information about what makes this type filters can be found in the video below:

Here are top 5 Moon Filters Selling by Amazon

Bestseller No. 1

2,605 Reviews

Celestron – Neutral Density Filter for Telescope Eyepiece – Moon Filter...

• Reduces brightness and cuts glare, increasing clarity of the moon, Venus, and bright double stars
• 13% light transmission
• Provides a true Color image
• Threads on to any Celestron 1.25” eyepiece

$18.95

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SaleBestseller No. 2

Celestron – Moon Filter Kit – Fits 1.25" Telescope Eyepieces –...

• Three neutral Density (ND) Filters with different levels of light transmission (13%, 25%, and 50%) allow you to choose the perfect filter for your viewing conditions
• Moon & Sky glow filter provides high contrast views of the lunar surface and enhances observation of deep sky objects from light Polluted Skies
• Aluminum filter cells provide a rigid, durable housing for the filter glass and are threaded on top and bottom for stacking
• Kit Includes a plastic carrying case with moon map and legend for identifying the most popular lunar features

$54.95 −$7.45 $47.50

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Bestseller No. 3

1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter - Fits 1.25 Inch Telescope...

• The Orion 1.25 inch 13 percent Transmission Moon Filter reduces glare so you can see more lunar detail and surface features with your telescope
• Metal filter cell threads directly into the 1.25 inch barrel of your telescope eyepiece
• Especially useful for large aperture telescopes through which the light of the Moon can be extremely overwhelming
• Telescope eyepiece filter transmits only 13 percent of the incoming light, boosting contrast and ability to discern detail on the Moon
• Perfectly neutral color will not alter the natural color of the Moon

$19.99

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Bestseller No. 4

SVBONY SV139 Telescope Filter Moon Filter 1.25 inch 12.5 Percent...

• Neutral Density ND Filter; giving great versatility in changing light; reduces the amount of light without effecting color balance; perfectly neutral color will not alter the natural color of the moon
• High-quality optical lenses; made by completed professional optical glasses; Multi-layer coating; ND8 filter transmits only 12.5% of the incoming light; it has outstanding image sharpness and perfect colour neutrality
• 1.25'' barrel diameter; metal filter cell threads directly into the 1.25 inch barrel of your telescope eyepiece; useful for different caliber astronomical telescopes through which the light of the moon can be extremely overwhelming
• Great Filter Frames; Filter Frames made by aluminum alloy; the serrated design of the edge of the frame makes it easy to install;Increase surface durability
• Extend shooting time; such as wanting to shoot misty flowing water in very bright places; Exposure time can be greatly extended to blur pedestrians or even completely

$10.99

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Bestseller No. 5

SVBONY Telescope Filter, 1.25 inches Planetary Filter for Astronomy...

• 1.25" moon and skyglow filter is a multi band pass filter transmitting a high percentage of light in the visual spectrum;the filter enhances contrast when observing brighter objects including the moon and planets
• Telescope eyepiece cutting light pollution;the filter has a mild effect of darkening the background of the night sky so that the fainter objects are more clearly seen contrasted against the blackness of space
• The filter effectively filters out selective wavelengths of low pressure sodium and other man made sources typically used in street lighting;although it is not a nebula filter;it enhances the views of deep sky objects by increasing the contrast of these objects against the background sky
• Premium quality metal rim and thread with blue glass lens;the filter will fit all standard sized 1.25" eyepieces and accessories;it is mounted in a nicely anodized housing
• Standard filter thread for any 1.25” telescope eyepiece and other accessory;comes with a plastic box to keep it safe and clean when not in use;It's a great birthday christmas gift

$14.99

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 Telescope Filters Guide: Planetary Filters

An important role plays the filters for observations Planets and objects in Deep Space. You might argue about filtering of light – you gave a lot of money for large aperture exactly to gather more light. But in Astronomy not every light is helpful.

Certain wavelengths of light coming from, for example, a nebula, do not contribute to detail. If you remove them, the image that remains is much sharper and have better contrast.

Telescope filters do just that: eliminate light that does not add any detail to the object. What remains is a much cleaner image, that lets you see the finer details with better contrast.

Different objects require different types of filter to see them best.  Jupiter’s Great Red Spot needs a different filter than this for polar regions of Mars or Venus’s clouds. In the chart below you can find the appropriate filters for the various objects and the top 5 Planetary Filter Sets on the market today.

Bestseller No. 1

NEEWER 1.25” Telescope Eyepiece Filter Set (10 Pack), 5 Planetary Color...

• 【5 Planetary Color Filters】 5 planetary filters in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue reveal details, emphasize features, and sharpen the contrast of Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Moon, and other celestial objects
• 【Variable Polarizing Filters】 Two rotating variable polarizing filters change light transmission from 40% to 1%. They reduce reflection and glare, darken the sky background, and boost visual contrasts to make planets and stars stand out. No chromatic aberration.
• 【Combine to Get a Variable ND Filter】Stacking two polarizing filters together will give you a variable ND2-2000 ND filter, which can be used freely on the telescope without affecting the focal length at all, helping you to capture more brilliant star rivers. Note: The thinner polarizing filter needs to be mounted underneath the ringed polarizing filter.
• 【UHC Filter & Lunar Filters】 UHC (Ultra High Contrast) filter minimizes manmade light pollution like streetlights for sharp nebular viewing in urban and rural areas. The 13% transmission lunar filter allows only 13% light transmission to boost contrast and emphasize lunar features like craters, mountains, and valleys. The lunar & starglow filter can block unwanted 589nm wavelengths of light, and improve observation of the night sky in urban and rural areas.
• 【10PCS Telescope Filter Set】 This telescope eyepiece filter set includes 5 x Planetary Color Filter, 2 x Variable Polarizing Filter, 1 x UHC Filter, 1 x Lunar & Starglow Filter, and 1 x 13% Transmission Lunar Filter to enhance astronomical observation & photography

$61.10

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Bestseller No. 2

SVBONY Telescope Filter 1.25 inches Moon Filter CPL Filter Five Color...

• 7pcs filters set include most popular color planetary and moon telescope eyepiece filters;moon filter;CPL filter;5 color filters with 23A bright red;21 orange;12 yellow;56 bright green;82A bright blue
• CPL filter is mainly used for elimination of polarized;and enhances the contrast of the moon and planets in photographic images
• 5 color filters are an essential tool of the lunar and planetary;with red;green;blue;orange and yellow highlight features on Mars;Jupiter;and Saturn
• High quality aluminum alloy frame and optical glass with standard 1.25” filter threads suitable for 1.25” eyepieces and other accessories
• Moon and skyglow filter;Cuts down glare and brings out much more surface detail and gives you better contrast; It is a multi-band pass filter transmitting a high percentage of light in the visual spectrum; Effectively filters out selective wavelengths of low-pressure sodium and other man-made sources typically used in street lighting

$32.99

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SaleBestseller No. 3

Neewer 1.25 inches Telescope Moon Filter, CPL Filter, 5 Color Filters...

• PLEASE NOTE: The telescope is not included. Kit includes: (1)Lunar & Starglow Filter; (1)CPL Filter; (5)Color Filters: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue; Designed to reduce glare and light scattering, increase contrast through selective filtration, increase definition and resolution, reduce irradiation and lessen eye fatigue
• LUNAR & STARGLOW FILTER: Cuts down glare and brings out much more surface detail and gives you better contrast; It is a multi band pass filter transmitting a high percentage of light in the visual spectrum; Effectively filters out selective wavelengths of low pressure sodium and other man-made sources typically used in street lighting
• CPL FILTER: By utilizing a CPL filter, which filters out scattered light, you are able to cut through those reflections and see the detail behind it; Enhances the contrast of the moon and planets in photographic images
• STANDARD 1.25" THREAD SIZE: 1.25 inches/ 3.17 centimeters thread size, fits most telescopes; Color filters have the grooves needed to be softly screwed into the eyepieces lens easily
• 5 COLOR FILTERS: Includes Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue; Red: Helps make Mercury and Venus stand out from the blue sky when viewed during the day; Orange: Helps increase contrast between light and dark areas, penetrates clouds; Yellow: Helps greatly in viewing Mars by bringing out the polar ice caps; Green: Enhances frost patches, surface fogs, and polar projections on Mars; Blue: Helps split the binary star Antares when at maximum separation

$35.24 −$3.53 $31.71

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Bestseller No. 4

30 Reviews

SVBONY SV127 Telescope Filter Eyepiece Filter Set 1.25 Inch for Telescope...

• SVBONY SV127 1.25 Inch four color eyepiece filter with M28.5*0.6 thread standard; you can use color filters to accentuate subtle details on planets, comets, and the Moon by selectively increasing contrast between features and markings of different hues
• #15 Deep Yellow Planetary Filter; Boosts contrast of lunar features;accentuates red and orange features on Saturn; Jupiter;and Mars; reveals low-contrast cloud detail on Venus
• #25 Red Planetary Filter; Enhances Martian surface details in large telescopes; reveals cloud definition on Venus;accentuates bluish cloud regions on Jupiter and Saturn
• #58 Green Planetary Filter; Enhances contrast of blue and red structures on Jupiter (including Red Spot);melt lines around Martian polar ice caps, accentuates Saturn's cloud belts
• #80A Medium Blue Planetary Filter; Enhances details in Jupiter's belts and Red Spot; high clouds and polar caps on Mars; lunar surface details; Venus cloud features

$24.99

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Bestseller No. 5

178 Reviews

Solomark 1.25 Inch 7pcs Telescope Filters Set - 5 Color Filters,...

• 7pcs Filter Set Include Moon&Skyglow Filter, Polarizing Filter #3, 5 color filters: No.56 Green, No.12 Yellow, No.23A Red, No.21 Orange and No.82A Blue.
• The five color filters (Red, Blue, Green, Orange & Yellow) highlight features on Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
• All filters with Metal Frame and Optical Glass, and everyone in individual plastics case.
• Moon&Skyglow Filter-----Enhance Lunar Planetary Views - Eliminating the Street Light Smog.
• Polarizing Filter #3-----Enhances the contrast of the moon and planets in photographic images.

$35.99

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Solar Filters for Telescopes

If you are looking to buy a solar filter for your telescope, then let me tell you that it is almost impossible to find the right one for you. The reason is that unlike other filters, solar one does not apply into a standard 1.25 inch eyepiece, but should be put front of the tube, where all light gets in. Now days there is countless types of telescopes in the market with different sizes and solar filter should fit perfectly on your telescope.

Something very important !!!! Never Ever point your telescope to the Sun without sun filter and never look through the eyepiece. You risk losing your eyesight, and damage the telescope.

So, after it became clear that it is difficult to find a ready solar filter for your telescope model, the next thing you can do is to create one. Idid it, and that means everybody can do it too!

If you are from those who are not very handy, it means we are much alike. I’m not that “always creating something” person, but my desire to look at the Sun was so big that I couldn’t resist.

For my big surprise making a Sun filter  was not only easy but also very enjoyable work.

After a thorough study on youtube videos I chose the one that most clearly and accurately explain what is needed and what should be done. There it is:

 What you need is:

• Solar Filter Sheet for Telescopes
• Pensil 
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Scotch tape
• Enthusiasm

The solar sheet can be ordered by the review further down in this page. For my 6 inch telescope, 10 inch square perfectly matched the filter which I made.

Follow the steps in the video and you will succeed. Here are some pictures from my personal experience with the preparation of the filter. And the prize? Well, you will have to look at the Sun with the telescope.

SaleBestseller No. 1

BP-1212 - Silver-Black Polymer Solar Filter Film Sheet (12" x 12") - 1 ea

• Silver-Black polymer is the most common filtering material for observing sunspots and granulation, through telescopes and binoculars.
• These sheets are a quality product of Thousand Oaks Optical, Arizona, a manufacturer of safe solar filters for over 30 years. "Stronger than Mylar with the filtering properties protected within the substrate. Guaranteed five years."
• Make a filter on your own for any telescope / binoculars / camera, and for a fraction of what factory made filters cost.
• The sun will appear in a natural orange color when viewed through your telescope using this filter.
• WARNING: ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE FILTER IS WELL ATTACHED TO THE TELESCOPE/BINOCULARS, USING STICKY TAPE, TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING WHILE OBSERVING!

$29.99 −$3.00 $26.99

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Bestseller No. 2

Gravitis AstroSnap: DIY Solar Filter Sheet Variants for Enhanced Sun...

• Tailored Variants for Every Need: multiple size offer unparalleled customization for telescopes, binoculars, and cameras, ensuring the perfect match for every solar observation and photography requirement.
• Superior Optical Quality: High-grade materials and an ultra-fine optical coating deliver crisp, clear images of solar phenomena, enhancing your viewing experience with exceptional detail and safety.
• DIY Customization and Ease: Designed for easy customization, these filter sheets allow you to craft the perfect fit for your specific equipment, offering a snug, secure, and highly effective solar viewing setup.
• Advanced Protection: Our solar filters block harmful solar radiation, safeguarding your eyes and equipment without compromising on image quality, making them ideal for both professional and amateur astronomers.
• Explore Solar Wonders: From sunspots to solar eclipses, the Gravitis SunSeeker transforms your solar photography into a captivating exploration of the sun's dynamic beauty, elevating your celestial observations to new heights.

$24.85

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Bestseller No. 3

Baader AstroSolar Visual Solar Filter Film (ND 5) - A4 Sheet 20x29cm...

• 1 Sheet AstroSolar Safety Film 7.9" x 11.4"
• AstroSolar Safety Film 5.0 for solar observation and photography at high magnification, telescope quality, Optical Density (OD) = 5.0
• Safe for visual solar observation (with additional optics) and imaging
• This highest precision film consistently produces strehl ratios of 94 to 96 percent at interferometric tests thus it performs optically like a Fluorite Triplet Lens by Carl Zeiss or Astro Physics
• AstroSolar Safety Film is best suited for precision work with all astronomical telescopes and binoculars just as well as for all photographic camera- and tele-lenses

$41.50

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