Opticstar Filter Set A

Bring out additional detail on the surface of the planets.

  • Planetary Filter Set
  • Four (4) colour filters included
  • Material: optical glass
  • Threaded on both sides
  • Barrel size: 1.25"
  • Storage case
  • UK warranty
Opticstar Filter Set A
  • Product code: FSA
  • Availability: In stock
  • Despatch: 2 business days
  • Retail Price: £ 39.95
Shipping rates
England & Wales
£ 6.00
Scotland Central & South
£ 6.00
Scotland North
£ 6.00
Northern Ireland
£ 6.00
UK islands (from)
£ 6.00
European Union (from)
£ 12.00
Worldwide (from)
£ 18.00

Description

Colour Filters are required to bring out additional detail on the surface of planets that would otherwise be very difficult or impossible to see. For example, filters will bring out contrast in the clouds of Jupiter and Saturn, show fine detail on the surface of Mars and make it easier to observe Venus. The Opticstar Planetary Filter Set consists of four 1.25” mounted filters that come in a screw type plastic case.

These full aperture filters do not suffer from vignetting, like you would get from filters that use small glass filter plates.

Colour filters help overcome image degradation to a fair degree by blocking certain wavelengths and allowing others to reach the eye. As a result, the relative contrasts of Lunar and planetary features are enhanced by increasing hue contrast between areas of different colour and by reducing irradiation in the observer's eye that causes bright colour features to overwhelm adjacent fainter ones.


U.K. WARRANTY

BEGINNER

OPTICS

VISUAL

ASTRONOMY

PHOTOGRAPHY
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The Opticstar 1.25” filters have 26mm of clear aperture, and are mounted in a black anodized aluminium cell that is threaded on the front and back. As such it is possible to stack filters to create different hues. The filters are optically coated to combat reflections and ghosting, and also to protect the filters from scratches.

The filters will screw in the front of 1.25" eyepieces and diagonals that are threaded to accept filters, most modern eyepieces and diagonals are threaded for this purpose. They can also be used with 1.25" type filter-wheels.

Included filters

There are many filters available and it is difficult to decide which filters would prove to be more useful. The Opticstar Planetary Filter Set consists of four planetary filters that have been carefully selected to maximise their coverage and usefulness.

  • #12 Deep Yellow The #12 deep-yellow filter will brighten desert regions and darken ‘blue’ and ‘brown’ features on the surface of Mars thus increasing contrast. It will darken the blue festoons near the North Equatorial belts and Equatorial zone on Jupiter and increase contrast on the blue features of Saturn.

    It can also be used on the Moon, Jupiter and Venus with an achromatic telescope as it will mask blue and violet fringes thus reducing the visible effects of colour aberration present in the telescope’s optics.
  • #21 Orange The #21 orange filter significantly reduces transmission of blue-green wavelengths. It will enhance detail in the belts and Polar regions of Jupiter and Saturn. Sharpens boundaries between yellow/orange areas and blue-green regions on Mars; resulting in a darkening of edge-detail in the Maria.
  • #56 Light Green The #56 light-green filter increases contrast of the red and blue regions in Jupiter's atmosphere and brings out the great Red Spot and cloud bands. It is very well suited for the observation of Martian polar ice caps and yellow-tinted dust storms on the surface of the planet. This filter can also be used to enhance Saturn's rings.
  • #80A Blue The #80A blue filter can bring out detail in the belts and oval clouds of Jupiter, it will also increase contrast within the bright zones on the planet and sharpen boundaries of faint cloud currents.

    The filter will darken reddish features on Mars and show atmospheric clouds over the planet’s surface, limb hazes and also enhance the polar caps. It may also allow you to see high clouds near the limb of Mars. In daytime, it will darken the blue sky background making it easier to observe Venus. When used with a large telescope at high powers you may also be able to see some detail in the clouds of Venus.

Using planetary filters

In general colour filters help to increase the sharpness and detail levels in the atmospheres and surfaces on Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Mars, Uranus and Neptune, as well as on the surface of the Moon. When you first use colour filters you will notice some difference but with practice you will see a lot more detail, especially at higher magnifications.

Colour filters can also be used in conjunction with single Polarising filters to increase contrast on the Moon and planets. They are also useful for splitting close double stars where the bright primary star overwhelms its companion. The Polarising filter diminishes the glare of the primary to an extent so that the secondary becomes visible.

Carries full one year UK warranty.

Opticstar Filter Set A.
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Opticstar Filter Set A
Attribute Specification
Meade Product Code (SKU) FSA
Universal Product Code (UPC) n/a
Warranty 1 year UK warranty
Series Optical Filters
Experience Level Beginner
Filters Included • #12 Deep Yellow
• #21 Orange
• #56 Light Green
• #80A Blue
Material optical glass
Barrel Size 1.25" (26mm)
Assembled Product Weight 3 grams per filter
Assembled Product Dimensions Ø 30mm x 11mm
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