Moon Filters

Hi,

I am getting back into astronomy after foolishly selling my stuff a couple years ago. I want to get a moon filter but thought that I might well benefit from the experience of others. I saw an Antares filter on Scope Stuff that actually used two polarizing filters in tandem to vary the brightness/contrast of the view. Seemed like a nice idea but I was concerned about putting too much extra glass in the light path. Any recommendations for a good filter?

Best,

Paul

Sorry about not answering your question directly! I've used netural density filters so I can't comment on the two polarizing filter...but I wanted to share my humble thoughts no the less.

Do you think you even need one? Personally, the full moon's detail is a tad 'washed out" because sunshine is directly on the surface, casting few shadows. I'm not sure any filter would tease out greater detail by killing glare....I get a thrill observing the moon, but I find I don't use my moon filter at all: I just move to high powers, and the brightness automatically subsides! I guess I hate putting another layer of glass to disturb those photons anymore than they have to such as to cause any further loss of detail.

And concentrating observing at the terminator, where night and day meet, I find the brightness subdued anyway. Just my 2cents.

Great that you're getting back into this fasinating hobby!!

Hey Paul,

The polarizing filter is good for several things, not
just the moon. It is necessary to look at the moon at
several image scales to study topographical features
that are small and large scale. 'Resolution' of fine
altitude and shape features require no filter, the eye
will adjust for brightness level. 'Albedo' features can
be hidden in glare without discreet filtering you can
achieve with a variable polarizer.
Transitions of surface albedo is sometimes the only
way to determine morphology.

Thanks, John

I have both polarizing filters and neutral density filters. I have used both on the Moon, but I really don't like them. The Moon has nice bright, white areas and very dark, black shadows. The filters make the whites a bit muddy and lessen the darkness of the shadows.

If you do a lot of lunar observing you'll get used to the brightness level, and it will cease being a problem. Heck, new folks often complain that Jupiter is too bright.

Clear skies, Alan

I find that the moon is uncomfortably bright in my 8" Dob. I find that using a neutral density filter helps me concentrate on features that I otherwise would miss because of the overwhelming glare. Of course, everyone is different and no particular approach is the "right" one. My suggestion is to try observing the moon with and without a filter, and just stick to whatever feels more comfortable to you. You can get all the opinions you like, but in the end it's what works for _you_ that matters, not what works for everyone else.

Anyway, neutral density filters are cheap and you can sell it without taking a big hit if it turns out that you don't like it.

Whoa.. I did not realize that this would be such a fertile topic. I think that I fall into the category of overly sensitive eyes. I find it hard to view a bright moon very long even with adaptation. I even have to view the moon last in a session because it destroys my night vision... I am sure this is common however. I will buy a filter and give it a try. I really do enjoy long views of the moon and in my profoundly light poluted location it is often the most satisfying object in the sky. I am going to The Big Island of Hawaii next month and hope to get a dark sky fix.

Thanks for all of the input..

Paul