If you had to pick one item/filter for Mars viewing on a budget? Advice please.

[{CP}-Brooker]

Hi All

I have a 8" Celestron Nexstar SCT and can bring Mars in as a substantial object, however I m getting no surface definition and it appears to be jumping around (usually when low in sky so I m guessing this is atmospheric rather than equipment related), especially compared to other bright stars.

To gain definition, and on a budget!, is there any one filter that would help improve definition to see the ice caps for example .

Any advice/help appreciated. I would prefer budget priced filters as I can actually source more expensive filters via a work colleague who travels over from the US but I wont ser her again for a few months.

Regards

CP

[legion48]

First Light Optics has this page which has a lot of info on filters for enhancing various details on Mars:

http://theguidescope.com/2007/10/24/filters-for-planetary-observing/

[John]

My suggestion is free

Check your collimation is spot on. SCT's loose a lot of contrast if the collimation is out, even just a small bit.

Here's a useful link:

http://arnholm.org/astro/collimation/index.html

John

[asteria]

Hi there - when I was observing Mars last weekend I found orange filter was best:

"Best view seemed to be with the 15mm Plossl (120x) plus #21 Orange filter (46% transmission)." See my post on the planetary observation section.

This was through the MAK 150mm/1800mm FL. The effects you were noticing were probably due to seeing conditions. It wasn't until Mars was very high in the sky that my image settled down.

I tried other filters, including a deep red one, but this just made the image too dim.

An orange filter shouldn't be too expensive.

Good luck

Ed

[Talitha]

Different colored filters are used to enhance different features of the Martian surface, so the filter you get will depend on what feature you'd like to view the most. Here's a page with some excellent info: The Use of Filters

[Cloudwatcher]

A blue filter works best for me on the planets. It seems to increase the contrast,a bit like a polarizer filter on a camera.

CW

[radioactive]

JUST TO SHOW EVENTS OF PHOENIX WHEN ITS DUE TO LAND IN MAY 2008

[GazOC]

I like the 23a red filter for bringing out the darker detail on Mars.

[lunator]

The number 15# orange filter works well for me.

Cheers

Ian