Best telescope filters according to redditors
We found 123 Reddit comments discussing the best telescope filters. We ranked the 47 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 123 Reddit comments discussing the best telescope filters. We ranked the 47 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
There is a totally safe solar thin film called “black polymer.” You might have been using that. It makes the sun look a light orange, dark yellow.
For starters, buy it a couple months ago. Don't mean to be snarky, but you are unlikely to find a decent one for sale now, except perhaps at a grossly inflated price.
Thousand Oaks Optical generally makes the best ones. Meade and Celestron also sell them, but might even get them OEM from 1000 Oaks.
Amazon is still advertising fitted filters and sheets, but it's a tossup whether they will actually deliver in time:
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7IFQS/ref=sr_1_1
If you don't have a solar filter yet and would like one, there still is some available in stock at various places if you're willing to pay for expedited shipping!
Agena Astro - Baader Astrosolar Sheet 7.9”x11.4”Agena Astro - Baader Astrosolar Sheet 5.5”x6.1”Cloud Break Optics - Baader Planetarium Filter (see drop down for sizes)Cloud Break Optics - A4 size sheetCloud Break Optics - Star Guy Slip Filter (see drop down for sizes)Cloud Break Optics - Threaded Camera Filters (see drop down for sizes)Cloud Break Optics - Vixen Threaded Camera Filters (see drop down for sizes)Amazon - Baader Astrosolar sheet 5.5”x6.1”Amazon - Baader Astrosolar sheet 7.9”x11.4”Amazon - Thousand Oaks Optical 4”x4” sheetLet me know if any of these sell out and I'll remove them - I'll try and update with new ones if I come across any!
Edit: Well looks like they're all sold out!
I ordered this cheap filter and just fit it to the size of my telescope with cardboard, tape, glue, and aluminum foil.
I'm from Barcelona and I will try to take pictures of this eclipse. I bought this to put it in my camera http://www.amazon.es/Baader-Planetarium-AstroSolar-Filtro-solar/dp/B002SYD2EM
I have read that you need a big stopper to photoprah an eclipse (ND 10 or more) and you should think that it is protecting your sensor but if you look at the visor you are going to damage your eyes.
The ND filter isn't dark enough to safely take pics of the sun. You want a solar filter, something like this:
https://www.amazon.ca/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7S52W
Not sure what your budget is, but you could get a 4"x4" Solar Filter Sheet from Amazon for $14 and try to rig up a filter for your lens.
Honestly, I wouldn't sweat viewing conditions. If you're getting a starter scope, it'll be good for observing the moon, planets, binary stars, and open clusters like the Pleiades. That will keep you and the kids busy for a while, and all of them can be seen pretty easily even in light-polluted skies. Besides, from personal experience, kids prefer immediate gratification and convenience. They're not going to want to drive out to the country.
However, if light pollution proves to be a problem, just get one of these...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LGZNMGG
It screws on the eyepieces and selectively removes the light from vapor lamps.
Look for a skyglow filter to fit your lens. I got this one at 2" diameter, but it was to fit an attachment for my camera to my telescope, but you may be able to find one in more traditional sizes.
edit: or find an adapter maybe?
Hello :-)
If you can't find one - Make one. I was sceptical, but it really was easy to do. See
http://astrosolar.com/en/information/how-to/
Get some brand name filter such as Baader Solar / Astro Solar, Thousand Oaks. For visual. Do not get cheap Chinese or no-name filters.
A sheet of solar filter is usually enough for your filter, some smaller ones (e.g. binoculars) and material to spare (e.g. when the telescope filter gets damaged - holes, scratches).
(check shipping times / availability. Make sure it's for visual use, not for imaging, as that is more transparent).
Celestron has cheap filters, but most just have a small opening with a tiny bit of solar filter.
Clear skies! :-)
Yes, and many people do so. You need to purchase some solar film material and then construct a frame for it using tape and posterboard/cardboard.
If you live in the US and have amazon prime, you can get some Thousand Oaks optical film (this will produce an orange image, instead of white) delivered before Monday if you order soon.
Edit: Just in case, I should specify this filter needs to cover the front opening of the telescope.
I found a cheaper alternative to expensive solar lens filters. Great to use over telescopes and high power cameras to view the sun.
Thousand Oaks Optical 6"x6" Solar Filter Sheet for Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01770FDAC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oNKWDbDVDBPJR
Unfortunately, it is supposed to snow for us on Monday. I hope you have better weather!
You have to have a solar filter. To save money you can buy the solar filter sheets like - https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7IFQS and cut your own filter and mount on like a UV filter...
The price keeps fluxuating, but says in stock the 16th with prime shipping.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/ol/B00DS7S52W/ref=mw_dp_olp?ie=UTF8&condition=new
I just ordered a moon and skyglow filter from Astromania on Amazon. All of the pictures show it being blue/green colored, but the one I received is red. I wanted the blue/green to counteract the red/orange color I get taking long exposures. Any idea why I would have gotten a red filter? It still says it's a moon/skyglow on the threaded ring, but I don't think this will do what I want it to.
edit: Well color me an idiot.. neodymium glass can apparently look different colors in different light. Why did I not know that?
Just my opinion. It's $20 over your budget but it will give you a solid, portable beginners setup perfect for moon and planets.
Orion Skyquest 4.5 - $260
Moon filter - $20
2x Barlow - $40
It's just lens flare. If you try the same experiment with a solar filter, you will see that the size of the sun does not change. Getting a solar filter is not expensive, either. So why not try this experiment and see if you can prove us roundies wrong?
If you've already got the ring, you can get an 8x8 sheet from Amazon for $47 and just cut it.
An ok scope on a flimsy/shaky tripod will annoy you real fast. And a shaky equatorial mount is doubly annoying. The scope you list may be ok but their mounts are suspect.
You should leave some room in your budget for additional decent eyepieces (think plossl), a moon filter, and maybe a 2x barlow (don't go crazy with 5x.. you won't be happy). An ok zoom eyepiece may be pleasing to start.
Dobsonians have a sturdy base and are great suggestions. You may need to columnate them now and then and they can be bulky so travel is tough even sometimes getting it in and out of house/apt especially if stairs are involved.
Consider a small Maksutov such as Celestron c90 on a sturdy photo tripod. That should leave you plenty of room in your budget for accessories.
The c90 comes with erect image finder and diagonals so you can use this system during the day, too, for bird watching or whatever.. increasing its usefulness.
https://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-52268-Spotting-scope-Black/dp/B0038QYRDO/
https://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-93230-24mm-1-25-Eyepiece/dp/B0007UQNV8/
https://www.amazon.ca/Gosky-Variable-Polarizing-Telescopes-Eyepiece/dp/B010UH5SL8
https://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-Omni-2X-Barlow-Lens/dp/B00008Y0TM
edit:
Don't forget to save some budget for a solar filter such as....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OXKGUS4
I caught that much so far, but I'm still researching... Maybe you could answer a question for me? I've found two candidates so far:
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-07733-4-10-Inch-Aperture-Telescope/dp/B0000XMW9O/ref=pd_sim_p_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1SH790ZWGX7W90QHD451
http://agenaastro.com/agena-110mm-visual-baader-solar-filter.html
I think I'd prefer the 2nd, and it's less expensive. But the first specifically mentions that it works with my telescope, while the 2nd seems to be better suited for refractor telescopes, without the secondary mirror. If I understand correctly, my 29mm secondary mirror will block 17% of the filter's 70mm aperture. I don't know how much of a negative impact that will have...
Anybody know where/if I can find some solar film to make a filter for my telescope? Something like this
You could get a solar film kit and make your own. Then the size doesn't matter quite as much since the film itself doesn't need to cover the full aperture (obviously the cardboard or whatever you're using to frame it still does).
Shipping depends on where you live - for me the 4" version of this Thousand Oaks Optical is the only one that says it will be delivered before Monday, but YMMV. I ordered the 8" version of that yesterday thanks to someone else posting about it, and should arrive tomorrow.
There's two main kinds of interest here...
The kind that'll screw on to the end of your camera:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hoya-58mm-HMC-NDX400-Filter/dp/B001197322/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1503302909&sr=8-7&keywords=camera+solar+filter
The kind that comes as a sheet that you look through:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baader-Planetarium-AstroSolar-Filter-Observation/dp/B002SYD2EM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503302909&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+solar+filter
With the second one, you'll have to hold it in front of your lens whenever your camera is pointed at the sun...
I am using autofocus, but sometimes it doesn't want to focus. When that happens, I manually focus as close as I can get and then autofocus and it works out.
I am using this filter but I don't know how many stops that equates to. I cut out a circle of it and applied it to one of the cheap Vivitar UV filters. I haven't done anything with white balance; the only things I have adjusted are the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.
I am brand new to this, coming from phone cameras, so my knowledge is based on a 12 minute youtube video and some light googling.
Here ya go!
I picked up a solar filter that simply attaches to my lens hood so that when it's time to shoot the Corona, I can just pop off the hood. Take a look on youtube and there are a few decent videos. Here is one that I like. You'll also want to do some bracketing to ensure good coverage since you only get 2 minutes to shoot. Check your tripod out too, make sure you can shoot at a 63degree angle since that will be the angle for the path of totality. You want to make sure your tripod arm doesn't get stopped at a less angle against the legs. Definitely practice now with the sun. But make sure you have a solar filter.
Solar filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OXKGUS4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_36fzzReeddTDO
Vids
https://youtu.be/u0ZofAlT5TU
https://youtu.be/P4udTzWUAtQ
https://youtu.be/tsA7wSXePeM
I ordered this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DS7S52W
At this point it's a bit of a "good luck getting them" thing it seems as nearly everything is out of stock or absurdly priced.
I'm confused...I've been trying to do my own homework and figure out what filter I need but I'm lost...
I have a Nikon D3100 and I plan to shoot the eclipse with a 55-200 kit lens. Would anyone be kind enough to link me a filter that would be sufficient? Also, it might look a little bootleg but could I get some of the solar filter sheet material and rubber-band it to the lens?
I would like to point this out:
>And don’t settle for a 99% partial eclipse just outside the path. “There’s no comparison between partial and total solar eclipses when it comes to sheer grandeur and beauty,” Michael Zeiler, longtime eclipse chaser and creator of the Great American Eclipse website told Universe Today. We witnessed the 1994 annular solar eclipse of the Sun from the shores of Lake Erie, and can attest that a 99% partial eclipse is still pretty darned bright!
Do yourself a favor and make the short trip up to the Nashville area where you can see "Totality" for up to 2 minuites and 40 seconds.
I also recommend a good pair of solar sunglasses and maybe a good pair of binoculars with a solar filter.
Do not ever stare directly at the sun without protective gear on
With my ETX 90 (just the optical tube)being a grab and go, sitting by the door,scope, I was set up for visual viewing, so when I threw on the eyepiece point and shoot camera mount, the moon filter was already on the Meade 26MM Super Plossl LP I had set up and focused for a quick moonie session. My 8 inch Dob is extremely bright, and I use the same eyepiece for moon viewing, but it is blinding, so, hence the Moon filter shot.
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-05662-1-25-Inch-Percent-Transmission/dp/B0000XMUWS/ref=pd_cp_p_0
13 % Transmission reduction of light, bright white light, bouncing off that rock up there.
I will be in the path of totality for the solar eclipse and would like to photograph the stages of the eclipse. I looked up solar filters for my camera and the cheapest I could find was around US$70, which is far out of my price range (I was hoping to spend no more than $30.) Would something like this sheet work, if I affix it to my camera somehow? https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7S52W
I have a Canon Powershot SX400 IS for reference. I am not a huge fan of this camera but I was able to get some beautiful, high res images of the lunar eclipse with it. Also, any tips on photographing a solar eclipse are very welcome as I am by no means a photographer!
Use solar filter paper - you can get an A4 sheet for £25 from Amazon, then make your own frame to fit over your camera lens.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baader-Planetarium-AstroSolar-Filter-Observation-x/dp/B002SYD2EM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498581867&sr=8-2&keywords=solar+filter
I can't seem to find any for my z8 specifically. The orion one's I found seem to only fit that brand.
I did find this from telescope plus but I'm not sure which one would be the best fit for mine.
EDIT:
Or can I just as easily use this material safely and rig something up?
I use this one and it works as expected. You can make the imagine brighter or dimmer simply by rotating the attachment.
For stuff like the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn, a ~$100 telescope is fine to start with. Some people will say to get binoculars, but I think that it is horribly outdated advice.
Do you have a local astronomy club? If so, it might not be a bad idea to visit one of their public observing nights and check some stuff out.
Even in the middle of light polluted Phoenix, I have no trouble doing sidewalk astronomy on planetary objects, and even a few of the brighter nebulas.
My daughter is just barely out of the "toddler" stage, and uses this telescope on her own to look at the moon: http://www.amazon.com/iOptron-6004-iExplore-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B009S0VT62/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1394183296&sr=1-4&keywords=telescope
I'd never recommend that telescope to anyone though, but it was a gift from an astronomer friend, and it's cheap enough to where if she breaks it, I'm not out much. Maybe in a couple more years she can start using my 8" dob.
For a telescope suggestion, I'd stay away from any equatorial mounts. Cheap equatorial mounts are more frustrating than anything.
If $100 is your budget, Orion has a nice table-top dob that would make a nice starter scope. http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10012-SkyScanner-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIIU/ref=sr_1_6?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1394183296&sr=1-6&keywords=telescope
The problem with the table-top scopes is sometimes it's hard to use the finder scope. Once your daughter becomes familiar with the scope though, she shouldn't have trouble hitting the moon, and Jupiter.
If she plans on looking at the moon a lot, I'd suggest a lunar filter (about $20). http://www.amazon.com/Orion-05662-1-25-Inch-Percent-Transmission/dp/B0000XMUWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1394183584&sr=1-1&keywords=lunar+filter
I know that pushes things up to ~150, but upping your budget a bit will pay off well. The toy scopes under $50 aren't really worth bothering with.
If your budget is limited, you could consider the Celestron Firstscope, which is a 3" table-top reflector. Combine a firstscope with a lunar filter, and you are talking about $60 or $70, and would still make an "okay" starter telescope.
As for keeping here interested in space/astronomy you could download and install stellarium on your computer for her. Stellarium is a free/open source planetarium program. Simply set your location, and you can view everything visible in the night skies of your area.
Also, there are a ton of "citizen science" programs your daughter could participate in.
Check out cosmoquest.org and zooniverse.org
You said you live in the Berkshires, which google says is in Massachusetts, there's a partial solar eclipse which will be visible in your area on August 21 at around 1:30pm and ends at around 4:00.
You can buy a solar filter. Here's a link for one that should cover the aperture.
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7S52W
Be very careful when looking at the Sun, make sure there are no holes in the filter by holding it up and making sure no bright points peek through. Cover up the aperture securely. You might have to aim it by eye and making adjustments with the hand control but use a low power eyepiece and I think it won't be too much trouble.
Set your telescope to tracking Solar, and have a great couple of hours!
Glad you're loving the telescope, I've had the same one for almost a year and I absolutely love it. I'd recommend you get rechargeable batteries because in my experience, it uses them up like crazy, or maybe I just stay out at night for too long. :)
Also, you could buy a camera to attach to it. Decent ones are a few hundred dollars, I'm not sure which would be best for you. It depends on the objects you'd want to photograph.
Anyway, Jupiter and Saturn will be pretty high up in the night sky for the next few months, so you could see those. Although for the next few days the Moon might create a problem.
I used this on the last eclipse. Planning to use it for the mercury transit as well. So far I haven't gone blind, and it's a good scope for the moon as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Day-Night-Telescope-EclipseView/dp/B06ZYHC6S8/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=eclipseview&qid=1571862672&sr=8-1
Actually immediately after I posted this I started wondering if I'd be better off to put a solar filter on my 10x50 binoculars.
Taken using a Celestron NexImage Burst Color with a Celestron Moon Filter attached to it, set into the eyepiece of a Celestron 114 LCM using the software iCap with all settings set to automatic. The first picture was made from a 30 second clip using the software "RegiStax" to process the image and the second one from a minute long clip.
After doing more research I narrowed it to these 3, for a moon filter, planetary viewing and wide-angle viewing to spend around $180. I am open to outside amazon if you know anywhere that has these. Here they are:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000M89H72?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000XMUWS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000XMWXA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
is it this one?. I need to get a cheap filter that just works.
I'm using this solar filter sheet. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DS7S52W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Made a makeshift solar filter from it out of cardboard and electrical tape. My camera is a Nikon p900. Certainly not an sophisticated astrophotography set up, but I make due with what I have.
A polarizing filter isn't nearly dark enough, I use a Mylar solar filter like this one.
No worries, busy time for sure! I'm pretty new to Telescopes myself, my family got me my XT8 for my First Father's day this year. I've done a ton of research since then, and am always excited to share knowledge. Not a lot of people I know share my hobbies, so you can private message me anytime and I'll have fun giving advice or discussing it.
If you don't buy the XT8 off Craigslist, I'd recommend from their [Clearance page](https://www.telescope.com/2nd-Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/p/102342.uts). It's mostly returns that they've thoroughly inspected and come with a 1 year warranty. That's how I got mine and it was in New Condition, usually around 25% off.
Planets like Jupiter and Saturn are easy, they are typically the brightest objects in the sky so you really only need a phone app to tell you what days they will be in the night sky. I really like the Stellarium app, I paid for the full version but I think the free is still really good. Deep space objects (called DSOs) are things like Nebula, Galaxies and Star Clusters. Finding these can be like finding a needle in a haystack with how big our night sky is. For this I would highly recommend the book [Turn Left at Orion]( https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundreds-Telescope/dp/1108457568/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=turn+left+at+orion&qid=1575054480&sr=8-1 ). Apps can help find these things, but looking at a phone can make you lose your night vision and you don't pick up as much detail in these DSOs. It is recommended to only use red light when using a telescope which doesn't hurt your night vision, eventually you'll want a red flashlight, [I use this one]( https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-93588-Astro-Vision-Flashlight/dp/B0000665V5/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=celestron+red+light&qid=1575054716&sr=8-2 ) which works best if you put opaque tape over the clear window in front to diffuse the light.
As far as finding objects goes you'll use a couple of things. Every telescope has a finder scope of some sort. The XT8 has a red dot finder scope, which is a little window you look through on the outside of the scope and it superimposes a red dot on the object you're looking for. So if you put the red dot on the moon say, and then look through your actual eyepiece you should be looking at the moon. It's similar to a rifle scope. For DSOs you will do what is called Star Hopping. You find a bright star that is near by what you are looking for. Then you find dimmer stars that you can still see with the naked eye. Usually I find two stars that are on either side of the object then estimate where the object should be, put my red dot here and then do a little scanning with the telescope until I find what I'm looking for. Use a low magnification lens (like the 25mm) to search. There's more scientific ways to do it, but it works for me every time. Takes some practice. It's also confusing in that if you move the scope one way, it might make the image in the scope move the opposite direction. It takes practice and patience, but with time it becomes 2nd nature.
The included 10mm and 25mm are pretty good for planets and the moon, but will fall short for DSOs. If you're willing to spend another ~$100 dollars right out the gate on accessories I'd buy a [zoom lens]( https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-93230-24mm-1-25-Eyepiece/dp/B0007UQNV8/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=8-24+zoom&qid=1575055505&sr=8-1) that allows you to change the magnification and an [eyepiece that provides higher magnification]( https://www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Telescope-Eyepiece-Accessories-Astronomy/dp/B07JWDFMZ4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=svbony%2B6&qid=1575055611&sr=8-1&th=1) (get the 6 mm option) than the zoom or the provided lenses. Later, if you want to spend another ~$130 on more options at eyepiece I'd by the 9mm option from the 2nd link there and a [wide angle lens]( https://www.amazon.com/Agena-Super-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece/dp/B00YO60I9E/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=agena+32&qid=1575055724&sr=8-2) that makes it easier to find objects by showing more of the night sky. When in comes to eyepieces, make sure you know the math of magnification. You take the Focal Length of the scope, 1200mm for the XT8, and divide it by the number in mm on an eyepiece. I.e. a 12 mm eyepiece would be 1200/12 = 100x magnification. Don't bother with Barlows, a Zoom takes care of that by giving you an infinite spectrum between 50 - 150x and the 6 mm gives your 200x. That is plenty for basically all viewing conditions.
The [Moon Brightness Filter]( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076MP3T66/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) is nice if the Moon hurts your eyes to look at, but it might be worth just looking at the moon first before spending the $20. You can't actually hurt your eyes looking, but it can definitely shock your eye. Also, higher magnification always means dimmer so zooming in can naturally act as a filter. I wouldn't bother with other filters. Most are crap and don't contribute much.
In summary: To really feel prepared when going out for the first time you should have a book that you studied ahead of time for what you want to look for (The book is broken down by Season and what is viewable during that time) and a red light to see the book. The provided 25mm will be okay to search with, and the 10mm will let you see more of it, but you will want something better soon like the zoom or the 6mm Svbony lens. Make sure your Telescope is [collimated]( https://lovethenightsky.com/telescope-collimation-for-complete-beginners/) and your finder scope is lined up with your scope (the Telescope manual walks through this, do it during the day). Bring chairs and warm clothing. Lastly bring your patience. Hope this was helpful with how long it was, and I hope you and your kiddo have a ball!
Here is where I bought mine for the 2017 eclipse. If you have a local welding shop near you, you can use #14 welder's glass too. You can also make your own solar filter glasses by buying solar filter material like this.
I got this one from Amazon.
My gso comes without a moon filter do i need one. Like this? https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01220Z2BW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ugJxDbSJ78QB1
Maybe make a filter cell with this?
http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7SSEW/ref=pd_sim_200_6/180-9195801-0456525?ie=UTF8&dpID=41vp2KLkxGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0M802ZGAKNQ7APXVJSYE
I can understand why it is difficult for Amazon employees to check the returns that closely, especially for people not familiar with photographic equipment.
It's like asking me to tell apart these two 2" astro filters:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-5561-2-Inch-SkyGlow-Astrophotography/dp/B001DGNP4S
https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Transmission-Construction-Telescopes-Increase/dp/B01M5CFYZX/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_421_lp_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M3W274DVHP562WRBYQRJ
One is $150, the other $13. Without the amazon pages in front of me, I wouldn't be able to tell their value apart.
Is this good enough? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DS7S52W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1462740584&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=solar+filter&dpPl=1&dpID=41vp2KLkxGL&ref=plSrch
Would this be a good purchase?
There are a few things you can do. You can get some solar film and rig it up to sit over the front of your lens. You could do this a number of ways, this being more complicated but probably the nicest way: YouTube video.
The problem is that 105mm on a crop sensor will not render a large image of the sun. It'll probably be too small to see Mercury.
The better solution might be to do the solar film on the telescope and rig up your phone camera to it. I've never tried it, but others have gotten good results from it. Other than that, I would suggest looking at renting a lens and doing the solar filter over that.
Don't fret too much if you miss it, I'll likely miss it in my location, the forecast shows clouds and rain all day. It's not like Venus transits; the next one being 100 years from now. The next Mercury transit is in November 2019.
The filter I used is the Orion 7749 Solar Filter:
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-7749-Safety-Reflector-Telescopes/dp/B007XRDU6O
Captured with the Orion XT8 telescope.
I have one made from Baader AstroSolar Film and cardboards. I cut a cylinder of cardboard whose diameter is equal to the outer diameter of my relfector, and placed the Baader Film on it (like clingfilm) and used glue to hold it in place. So you can make your telescope wear it which is just like placing the dew cover/ dust cover. It works fine for me.
Baader Film link: https://www.amazon.ca/Baader-Planetarium-AstroSolar-Filter-Observation/dp/B002SYD2EM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510705763&sr=8-1&keywords=baader+filter&dpID=41AD5CGOL2L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Hey, sorry i'm a little late to the party. I just got the same telescope last week, and it is awesome! I just picked up a couple things.
This One.
and
This One
The moon is still fairly bright with the filter, so you may want to get the 25% instead of the 13%, although im happy with it.
I also got this sky chart, but it's obviously not that necessary. Keep in mind, i'm still a newbie, so take my recommendations with a grain of salt. Have fun! :)
You don't need a filter during totality but you need a special solar filter up to and after totality or you'll fry you camera. I bought this filter and I am making a rig to pop it on and off quickly. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DS7S52W/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_VPFIzbVG6AYXP
This video might also be helpful if you have not shot the sun before
https://youtu.be/S_nnEDwv19k
Have Fun and Good Luck!😊
I got a sheet of filter on amazon from Thousand Oaks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DS7SSEW/
So to basically make a shopping list:
> - There is also [this] (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-25-6mm-9mm-Ultra-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece-Set-Fully-Multi-Coated-for-Telescope-Hot-/322443541463?hash=item4b1321fbd7) one selling both 6mm and 9mm together, but they're as priced much lower than two individually would be and it's a different seller, what do you think?
Anything else that'd be recommended?
Is there a good way to mount a flexible sheet as a filter? I'm talking about something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7S52W/ I'm not super familiar with square filters, but the mounts I see on amazon seem specific to a particular square filter system? Or can you mount any sheet of material that's the proper size in them?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baader-Planetarium-AstroSolar-Solar-Filter/dp/B072XPB9NS I was thinking of this, apparently Baader are quite good make
Thanks! I used a Mylar solar filter that I made out of a sheet. You can get one from here when they become available again: https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7IFQS
Can I use either of these as a solar filter?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1319799-REG/daystar_filters_ulf90_90mm_universal_lens_filter.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1340604-REG/celestron_94220_eclipsmart_white_light_solar_filter.html
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7IFQS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1502359266&sr=1-1&keywords=solar+filter+sheets
> https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Filter-Telescopes-Binoculars-Cameras/dp/B00DS7S52W
Yeah, that stupid moon is SO bright right now. We've gotten some good looks at Jupiter and its moons, but I'm really looking forward to Saturn. What resources are you using to know when Saturn will be high up?
On Amazon. Unfortunately, the price went up and it's not available until 8/20/17.
8"x8" Solar Filter Sheet for Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DS7S52W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_79BLzbQ45T2E8
I also saw this at Fry's Electronics for the same price. I cant wait to buy this one. Why? It accepts 1.25 inch eyepiece, so you can buy nice eyepieces and use them on bigger scopes later if you want.
Meade Day and Night Telescope - 227000 EclipseView 82mm Reflecting with Removable Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYHC6S8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AbG0CbCK07PBC
Be careful that it's not a LPR filter, those are different, broadband intended to deal with older streetlights, leds render them completely useless: ex: https://smile.amazon.com/Gosky-Light-Pollution-Filter-Telescope/dp/B01LGZNMGG = waste of money
I looked and didn't see any at $20, and the one I have is out of stock. (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XKRSH6X) I see a few fake ones on ebay.
For a UHC filter, it's going to have a shiny side and generally purplish tint on the other side.
Of those in stock on Amazon, this one does look ok, but it's $30: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01L8XXZHC/
Get a moon filter for next time - pretty cheap and makes for some fantastic moon-viewing as it reduces a lot of that extra light.
Fun fact that I didn't realize (I was looking at it a couple nights ago) is that the side visible in your photograph actually comprises the locations of the moon landings. Pretty neat!
Yes look into it! We have this one (there are cheaper models too) and they come in 1.25 and 2 inch sizes: Orion 5561 2-Inch SkyGlow Astrophotography Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DGNP4S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5xfJzb2B6W329
A camera shop should have just about everything you'll need to clean up your eyepieces. In particular, look for an alcohol-based lens cleaner (something safe for lens coatings), a Lens Pen (these things are fantastic), and a Rocket Blower.
Use the blower to remove any loose dust, and the Lens Pen to clean up the rest. If there's still dirt/oil/whatever on the eyepieces, spray some of the lens cleaner on an unscented (no aloe or anything) Kleenex, and wipe down the lens. If all the dust is on the outside of the eyepiece, cleanup should be easy!
Aligning the finderscope is pretty easy too. Do it during the day if possible. Aim the telescope first, and point to something easy to find (like a tree on a nearby hill), then tweak the finder to aim at the same object.
You'll probably want to try to buy a lunar filter eventually. A 6" telescope is great for the moon, but the unfiltered light will be uncomfortable to look at.
What sort of eyepieces do you have? What are their focal lengths?
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