Dismiss Notice
New Cookie Policy
On May 24, 2018, we published revised versions of our Terms and Rules and Cookie Policy. Your use of AstronomyConnect.com’s services is subject to these revised terms.

Mars Orion Filter

Discussion in 'Astrophotography and Imaging' started by Orion25, May 6, 2018.

Mars Orion Filter

Started by Orion25 on May 6, 2018 at 3:52 PM

38 Replies 4183 Views 1 Likes

Reply to Thread Post New Thread
  1. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Posts:
    1,895
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Georgia
    Hey, @Dave In Vermont, and everyone, the clouds parted after all! :D:D:D Sooooo, I did a comparison test on Mars with and without the Orion Mars Filter. I'll be doing more as Mars gets closer but here is a preliminary result. I used my "Rolls-Royce" 180mm Mak for this, processed in Registax 6:

    ASTRONOMY - MARS FILTER COMPARISON 5-06-18 SM.jpg

    And as an added bonus, a pic of the Mars/moon apparition:

    ASTRONOMY - MOON & MARS 5-06-18 B SM.jpg

    Reggie;)
     
    Gabby76 likes this.
  2. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It certainly boosted the contrast, but the false-pink is a bit much. Maybe try stacking the Orion Mars with a #8? Worth a test?

    All in all, I'd say it's a success. Now come's fine-tuning.....

    Thanks for the data, Reggie!
     
    Orion25 likes this.
  3. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Posts:
    1,895
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Georgia
    I may do that, the #8. I'll probably try lots of things over the coming weeks. It was a fun test :)
     
    Dave In Vermont likes this.
  4. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2016
    Posts:
    568
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Slovakia
    My favorite Mars filters are still the B+W FL-D filter or a Baader Moon & Skyglow (Neodymium) filter.
     
    Orion25 likes this.
  5. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Have you tried the new Orion Mars Filter yet, Gabby? Or the Sirius Optics 2003 Mars-Filter?

    Mak, Reggie, Nebula, and Yours' Truly all bought the Orion one quite recently, and looks very much like the Sirius O. 2003 - which has been my favorite ever since I got it during that incredible 2003 Mars appoarch.

    Sirius Optics Mars 2003 Filter - PNG.png



    Orion Mars-Filter.png

    A simple test using just a lightbulb and a Canon PowerShot 1000 camera would show they both pass on just about identical spectra, and I'd love to show these images. But they are over the 2MB cut-off for the forum we're on here.

    p.s. - The Sirius 2003 Mars-Filter is no longer made.
     
  6. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2016
    Posts:
    568
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Slovakia
    The Sirius I have tried before but not a new Orion filter.

    Can we upload word documents here?
     
  7. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I don't know about 'Word' as MicroShaft destroyed my copr - that cost me $89 - when I refused to buy their 'New & Improved' version a year or so ago. "You won't buy it?" ZAP! They told me to drop-dead. So.....

    I use the Free & Much better Office Libre instead of Word, and convert the .ODT document (same as Word) into a Pdf. with Sumatra - much better than Adobe. And FREE!

    Like this:

    Orion ® Mars Filter.pdf

    Need a link or two? Just ask - or use Google.
     

    Attached Files:

    Orion25 likes this.
  8. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Posts:
    1,895
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Georgia
    I don't think you can upload Word docs here, Gabby. The Orion filter seems to do a good job at bringing out the darker features on Mars (it's give a VERY pink image as you can see). This is my first specialized planetary filter so I'm learning.
     
  9. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2016
    Posts:
    568
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Slovakia
    I use Libre also, but can we load up documents or only links?
    I have a very good document for you to peruse on filters but a fellow astronomer.
    A bit dry but a lot of very good information.
     
  10. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2016
    Posts:
    568
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Slovakia
    I think I got this to work lol
    Look at that! I had to convert it to a PDF file first!
    This is written by a long time fellow astronomer from Canada.
     

    Attached Files:

    Dave In Vermont and Orion25 like this.
  11. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Am I missing something here? Can't you upload (or open here) the Pdf. I sent above^^^? All of my manuals have been converted into the same sort of Pdf. as above. Many were Word docs. before I turned them into same.

    The one below is 1.56MB - near the maximum size for here:

    Celestron Advanced Series CG5 & CG5GT Mounts Manual.pdf

    p.s. - yes I was missing something - I didn't read the last thing above! :p

    Got your Pdf. here - looks very interesting indeed! Thank you!
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: May 6, 2018
  12. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2016
    Posts:
    568
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Slovakia
    Not a problem Dave, the gentleman that wrote the article designed the MV/IR cut filter that Stellarvue sells.
    I have a 1.25" prototype of it, quite a nice filter actually.
     
  13. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Cool!

    My current hunt is for a # 30 Magenta 1.25" filter. I just hunted Australia - nope. The only one I've found - outside of the Orion 20-filter set for $249 - is the Brandon - sold here in Agena. But it's threaded to only fit the bloody Brandon eyepieces - which are ridiculously over-priced (But it comes in a genuine wood box!! :D). But an adapter-ring is available for a mere $14.00 :eek: :D!

    Robber Barons!

    I want to test a theory: The Orion Mars Filter actually is a Wratten #30 filter. Orion has done this stunt with their so-called Jupiter-Filter, which a photo in their catalog shows Blue 80A stamped on the side. I blew the whistle on them for that - they still sell them - but they dropped their price. The Orion Mars Filter is the same price as the Wratten #30 from Brandon or Vernonscope - $39.95. But the Mars Filter doesn't require an adapter-ring. My guess is they just cut new threads.

    I've been meaning to get one of those thread-cutter sets.....


    p.s. - speaking of re-branded-goods:

    https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/new-tele-vue-optics-bandmate-filters-now-in-stock.5213/


    TeleVue® BandMate Filters (re-branded Astronomik).jpg
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
    jgroub and Nebula like this.
  14. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Posts:
    1,895
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Georgia
    Great article, Gabby. Thanks!
     
  15. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2016
    Posts:
    568
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Slovakia
    Not a problem, hopefully it helps you out.
     
  16. Nebula

    Nebula Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2016
    Posts:
    1,822
    Trophy Points:
    113
    bloody Brandon eyepieces - which are ridiculously over-priced (But it comes in a genuine wood box!! :D). But an adapter-ring is available for a mere $14.00 :eek: :D!

    LOL it's all about the wood box. Could it be possible to use the Brandon glass and install it inside another frame with the right threads?

    ====================================
    p.s. - speaking of re-branded-good:

    https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/new-tele-vue-optics-bandmate-filters-now-in-stock.5213/


    wow wow I guess these will be very good filters.
     
  17. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    They are - they're made by Astronomik. I have them. Excellent! So who needs the TeleVue®?! Unless you're scared that if you put something that didn't say 'TeleVue' into your TV eyepiece-case - you'd set-off a timer ticking-down........


    Atomic Testing.jpg
     
    Nebula likes this.
  18. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Did some research on the Brandon #30 and it's Vernonscope Adapter-Ring. I'll let you read it yourself - an answer to your question is supplied therein.

    These are 'out of stock' - do read Gabby's Pdf. above. It fills in a lot of detailed inside-intel on the 'Hunt For the Perfect Mars-Filter' back around 2003. Very good Pdf. Gabby! Thanks' again!

    Here you go, Nebs -

    Brandon No. 30 Magenta - An Excellent Mars Filter!.pdf
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: May 7, 2018
    Gabby76 likes this.
  19. Ed D

    Ed D Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2017
    Posts:
    852
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sunny South Florida
    Reggie,

    You have been busy imaging and posting some very nice results. I have tried imaging with the Orion Mars Filter, but I like the results better with the Baader Neodymium filter. The Mars Filter is much better for visual. This morning I was using my Meade 60mm f/15 achromat visually on Mars. The Mars filter performed admirably, simultaneously increasing contrast of the dark Syrtis Major and the bright white Hellas Basin. In contrast (pun intended), the Baader Neodymium wasn't as effective on this observing session, although it was still much better than no filter.

    Keep up the good work my friend.

    Ed
     
    Orion25 likes this.
  20. Ed D

    Ed D Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2017
    Posts:
    852
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sunny South Florida
    Dave,

    I read somewhere, can't remember, that the Orion Mars filter isn't a simple colored filter. It actually has different coatings on each side so it has the effect of a red and a blue filter simultaneously. I used it a lot last apparition and found the martian marea and clouds stood out simultaneously. I don't have a Wratten Magenta filter, but would like to add one to my collection one day. Can't have enough filters!

    Ed D
     

Share This Page