Best Mars filters?

[Egregious Philbin]

I've been looking at a few, Televue has 2 specific to Mars filters out, not really sure of the difference.

I have some really old yellow, green and orange filters, but they need to be replaced. I'll get a generic set for the 2" eyepieces and for the 1.25 eyepieces, but does anyone here have any experience with the Televue Mars filters before I shell out the dough?

[torque of the town]

I have never used a specific filter for viewing mars, my favorites are
#80A light blue for surface detail, #56 light green for polar caps along with #25 red, hope this was of use.

David

[Dave Mitsky]

I've heard both positive and negative comments about the Tele Vue Bandmate Mars A and B filters but have never personally used either one of them.

The Sirius Optics Mars filter - http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?pid=5728 - has garned some positive comments on other astronomy fora. Orion (http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=filters/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=05599) is now selling a Mars filter too.

My favorite color filter for Mars is the CC30 magenta. I also like the Wratten #21 (orange) and #80A (light blue) filters.

There is a very brief review of a number of filters appropriate for Mars at http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1246

You may want to have a look at http://sciastro.net/portia/advice/filters.htm and http://jeff.medkeff.com/astro/observing/colorfilter/index.htm as well.

Dave Mitsky

[Egregious Philbin]

I bought a Baeder Moon and Skyglow filter the other day, it helps, but with the full moon so close I didn't have a great testbed.

I've seen the Televue ones, but haven't made the plunge yet, I still gotta get an OIII filter.

[Egregious Philbin]

Even with a near full moon tonite, I ws able to get a great view of Mars.

My best view came with a 30mm 2 inch eyepiece with a 2X barlow and using a Baeder Moon and skyglow filter.

It also helped that Mars was presenting a good face tonite. I saw a good amount of detail and contrast with black features.

All this in a very bright part of town, with a blaring moon.

Can't wait till next week when I take the scope 50 miles out away from all the city lights.

[Dave Mitsky]

I'm afraid that the view won't be appreciably better from a dark site. Bright objects don't require dark skies.

Dave Mitsky