Recipe for a surprisingly effective Light Pollution Reduction Filter you can make yourself from commonly available materials.
Materials needed:
dishsoap solution, cotton balls, tincture of Merthiolate, Kodak Pan X B&W film ISO 35, and a darkroom. (other B&W films may work just as well... the slower the film speed the better).
First mix a drop or two of dishsoap in a half cup of warm water. (No exacting measurements required -it's just a wetting solution).
Next, mix one part of the wetting solution with one part merthiolate.
Now take your solution, cotton balls and film to a dark place, pull the film from it's spool and mop it down with the merthiolate solution. Hang the film, or let it stand on edge to dry for an hour or more before removing it from the darkroom.
Once it's dried you can bring it out and rinse off any residue under tapwater. Instead of turning dark like exposed film, it should now have a nice transparent metallic pink appearance. Cut a circle of it to fit in the filter end of your favorite eyepiece and try it out!
Would you believe this works as well as my Ultrablock narrowband filter on emission nebula, and enhances comets too??
Would you believe it provides brighter planetary images with more detail, even in a 60mm DS refractor?? Would you believe I can now see the horsehead from my suburban front yard?? Under a full moon?? Before sunset??
Would you??
Materials needed:
dishsoap solution, cotton balls, tincture of Merthiolate, Kodak Pan X B&W film ISO 35, and a darkroom. (other B&W films may work just as well... the slower the film speed the better).
First mix a drop or two of dishsoap in a half cup of warm water. (No exacting measurements required -it's just a wetting solution).
Next, mix one part of the wetting solution with one part merthiolate.
Now take your solution, cotton balls and film to a dark place, pull the film from it's spool and mop it down with the merthiolate solution. Hang the film, or let it stand on edge to dry for an hour or more before removing it from the darkroom.
Once it's dried you can bring it out and rinse off any residue under tapwater. Instead of turning dark like exposed film, it should now have a nice transparent metallic pink appearance. Cut a circle of it to fit in the filter end of your favorite eyepiece and try it out!
Would you believe this works as well as my Ultrablock narrowband filter on emission nebula, and enhances comets too??
Would you believe it provides brighter planetary images with more detail, even in a 60mm DS refractor?? Would you believe I can now see the horsehead from my suburban front yard?? Under a full moon?? Before sunset??
Would you??
