For those who have waited with bated breath, here's my review of the efficacy of the new Celestron Mars filter.
Contrary to the misidentification of the filter on that other website as being orange, the color of the filter is, indeed, magenta. While I haven't tested an Orion Mars filter, two so-called reviews of the latter went like this: 1. I gave it four stars instead of five because I haven't tested it on Mars yet! 2. Four or five stars because I don't use it on Mars and I think it somehow resembles a DGM galaxy filter so I use it on Andromeda in my backyard. Er, ahh, I kid you not! Those "reviews" are consistent with what I'd expect to read on that other website, AKA "vendor heaven", the site that others flock to for their "information", perhaps when the nights are cloudy.
Now for my report. First, June 22 , in my neck of the woods, found Mars rising above the horizon around midnight as it shone at -1.87 magnitude. I had excellent transparency which allowed me to observe numerous DSOs, despite the presence of a 3/4 quarter moon. Utilizing a ES 14 2" eyepiece with a 100 degree AFOV in combination with a CLS filter, I was able to penetrate down to about 13th magnitude, allowing me to observe 90% of the DSOs I desired to see despite moon light and the moderate light pollution around my home. The transparency was so good that I could see the milky way in Cygnus with the naked eye before it reached the zenith.
To observe Mars, I used my 16" f4.5 dob which does have exceptional optics in combination with a paracor and three eyepieces and two filters. Mars in it the midst of a massive dust storm and my previous check on the web indicated it was the size of north America and is apparently going global. Nevertheless, I could still see detail at this time.
First up, a visual check without a filter revealed surface markings and a polar cap. I subsequently inserted the Celestron Mars filter into my pentax 10.5mm lx eyepiece for ease of tracking and very good contrast. Ditto for my 10mm Ethos eyepiece with excellent contrast and my venerable 6mm UO ortho. Here's the deal, if you like finding a polar cap, you've found your filter. It significantly enhances the appearance of a polar cap, defining it crisply and clearly. There is mild enhancement of the markings on Mars with this filter but nothing outstanding or dramatic. Contrast this is an unusual application of an old 0111 filter in my collection that bleeds red wavelengths like a sieve. Some veteran observers know about this use and apply it for outstanding views of Mars that dramatically enhances the surface details of the planet along with the polar caps. Newer 0111 filter likely will NOT do so but if you've got an older 0111 filter, perhaps 10 years old or more, give it a try and see what you think.
Would I recommend a Celestron Mars filter? Yes, with some caveats. If you're going to use, for example, a 10" f5 reflector which will likely show Mars with an image scale equivalent to an ant, forget it it. The filter seemingly won't work and that probably accounts for the negative "reviews" of Mars filters on that other website, but if you've got a reasonably sized scope, such as a good 12" or above and/or a high end APO or equivalent and the power and seeing behind it, then the filter will do what it's designed to do. Get that thru your heads.
Next up, another review of an ES 12" dob, my own. I took advantage of ES's recent sale on the latter, took another 10% off for signing up on their email offerings and got my idea of an ultimate grab and go scope for $945.00 including shipping and no tax. It's still in the box that arrived the other day so when I get some more sleep and feel up to it, I'll unpack it and place a barlowed ronchi eyepiece in the focuser and check that along with a star test. Alot more to come on that...
Contrary to the misidentification of the filter on that other website as being orange, the color of the filter is, indeed, magenta. While I haven't tested an Orion Mars filter, two so-called reviews of the latter went like this: 1. I gave it four stars instead of five because I haven't tested it on Mars yet! 2. Four or five stars because I don't use it on Mars and I think it somehow resembles a DGM galaxy filter so I use it on Andromeda in my backyard. Er, ahh, I kid you not! Those "reviews" are consistent with what I'd expect to read on that other website, AKA "vendor heaven", the site that others flock to for their "information", perhaps when the nights are cloudy.
Now for my report. First, June 22 , in my neck of the woods, found Mars rising above the horizon around midnight as it shone at -1.87 magnitude. I had excellent transparency which allowed me to observe numerous DSOs, despite the presence of a 3/4 quarter moon. Utilizing a ES 14 2" eyepiece with a 100 degree AFOV in combination with a CLS filter, I was able to penetrate down to about 13th magnitude, allowing me to observe 90% of the DSOs I desired to see despite moon light and the moderate light pollution around my home. The transparency was so good that I could see the milky way in Cygnus with the naked eye before it reached the zenith.
To observe Mars, I used my 16" f4.5 dob which does have exceptional optics in combination with a paracor and three eyepieces and two filters. Mars in it the midst of a massive dust storm and my previous check on the web indicated it was the size of north America and is apparently going global. Nevertheless, I could still see detail at this time.
First up, a visual check without a filter revealed surface markings and a polar cap. I subsequently inserted the Celestron Mars filter into my pentax 10.5mm lx eyepiece for ease of tracking and very good contrast. Ditto for my 10mm Ethos eyepiece with excellent contrast and my venerable 6mm UO ortho. Here's the deal, if you like finding a polar cap, you've found your filter. It significantly enhances the appearance of a polar cap, defining it crisply and clearly. There is mild enhancement of the markings on Mars with this filter but nothing outstanding or dramatic. Contrast this is an unusual application of an old 0111 filter in my collection that bleeds red wavelengths like a sieve. Some veteran observers know about this use and apply it for outstanding views of Mars that dramatically enhances the surface details of the planet along with the polar caps. Newer 0111 filter likely will NOT do so but if you've got an older 0111 filter, perhaps 10 years old or more, give it a try and see what you think.
Would I recommend a Celestron Mars filter? Yes, with some caveats. If you're going to use, for example, a 10" f5 reflector which will likely show Mars with an image scale equivalent to an ant, forget it it. The filter seemingly won't work and that probably accounts for the negative "reviews" of Mars filters on that other website, but if you've got a reasonably sized scope, such as a good 12" or above and/or a high end APO or equivalent and the power and seeing behind it, then the filter will do what it's designed to do. Get that thru your heads.
Next up, another review of an ES 12" dob, my own. I took advantage of ES's recent sale on the latter, took another 10% off for signing up on their email offerings and got my idea of an ultimate grab and go scope for $945.00 including shipping and no tax. It's still in the box that arrived the other day so when I get some more sleep and feel up to it, I'll unpack it and place a barlowed ronchi eyepiece in the focuser and check that along with a star test. Alot more to come on that...
