Introduction
Nothing beats the feeling of searching the sky for celestial objects. But finding the right equipment can take a lot of work.
If you’ve ever tried to observe Mars, you know it’s a challenging business. It requires a great deal of practice. Not to mention that Mars will only be visible for a limited period. As a result, finding all of the necessary equipment is essential.
One of the important items for viewing Mars is the eyepiece filter you’ll use for your telescope. So you might be wondering what the best filter for Mars is.
There are several brands to choose from. Choosing the one that improves the contrast and details on Mars the most is important. Otherwise, you’ll get faint brown and orange tones with no identifiable characteristics.
Choosing one might be complicated if you are new to this. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 Mars filters of the 1.25-inch barrel. We’ll also teach you what to look for in a filter.
So, without further ado, let’s get right to it!
Neewer 1.25 inches Telescope Moon Filter
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The Neewer 1.25-inch filter set is the first on the list. This filter set is most suited for seeing the moon, although it may also be used to observe Mars. The filters work the needs of the average user at a decent cost.
The Moon and Skyglow filters are the handiest in the set, in our eyes at least. This filter was created to let in as much light as possible. This reduces Skyglow caused by background glow and artificial lights.
As a result, contrast and surface detail will be improved, while glare will be reduced.
The kit also includes a CPL filter. It is a piece of glass attachment that helps minimize glare generated by reflections. This is a filter that most outdoor photographers use.
As dispersed light from surfaces is decreased, you may experience ideal contrast and enhanced details.
Let’s move on to the five-color filters. The Neewer 1.25-inch set offers red, orange, green, yellow, and blue. As you may be aware, each color filter has a certain purpose. I’d like to go over what each filter will provide you.
Red, for example, is used in big telescopes. It sharpens borders and improves contrast for Mars.
The orange filter improves the contrast between bright and dark regions. It also enhances the detection of dusty storms on Mars and can see through clouds to some extent.
Yellow filter, on the other hand, improves viewing of Mars by intensifying blue clouds, improving contrast level, and brightening desert regions. The primary feature is that you may have an enhanced vision of the polar ice caps.
The blue one reveals details in Mars’s atmospheric clouds and boosts contrast on the moon.
The green filter shows a greater quality view of ice patches, ground fogs, and polar projections of Mars. This is also used as an all-purpose filter for viewing the Moon.
And that’s all there is to it when it comes to filters! It’s worth noting that the Neewer 1.25 inch isn’t deemed high-end. However, for casual observations, it provides good value for money.
It’s also useful for someone just starting and wanting to experiment with filters. This is why it ranks first on our list.
Pros
- Let’s have tons of light.
- Reduces a lot of glare.
- Improves the detail on the surface.
- Adds variety with the five color filters.
Cons
- Doesn’t darken the whole environment.
Orion 5599 1.25-Inch Mars Observation Eyepiece Filter
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The Orion 5599 1.25-inch filter is a specialized filter for viewing Mars. This is a good option if you are solely going for Mars observations.
It fits all 1.25-inch telescopes perfectly. From a glance, we can see that the cell construction is made of metal. The filter also has good optical parts and fine threading.
In terms of vision, this is a high-quality eyepiece filter. It significantly increases the details and sharpens the degrees of contrast. This allows you to see Mars in great detail.
You can see the details of polar ice caps using the Mars filter in a clear, dark setting with minimal to no light pollution. You can also see subtle mare shadings, dust storms, and cloud details.
The filter is intended to pass violet/blue, orange/red, and yellow/green wavelengths while blocking yellow/green wavelengths. So the image and viewing quality will be high.
As you can tell, results may differ depending on atmospheric effects on Earth and Mars. Dust storms on Mars, for example, will erase any contrast, filter, or no filter. So a good tip would be to check weather reports on Mars.
Pros
- Metal framing adds durability.
- Fine threading offers better contrast.
- Produces clear images and shows dust storms.
- Produces higher-quality images.
Cons
- Often, the filter reddens the overall view.
SVBONY Telescope Filter 1.25 inches
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The SVBONY 1.25-inch filter is a considerably great filter on a budget.
This is a light pollution reduction filter, also called a UHC filter. They are meant to restrict the passage of specific wavelengths of light, particularly those produced by artificial light.
This allows you to see greater details in light-polluted areas. For example, this is an excellent option if you live in a city or suburb.
The SVBONY filter enhances the image of nebulae and most deep-sky objects. So, it’ll be good for viewing Mars.
Because of its ability to generate incredibly clear images, this UHC filter is one of the most popular astronomy tools; it may be used for celestial studies and astrophotography.
The sky background is considerably darker using this filter. As a result, you get more precision in details and a greater quality of contrast.
The fact that the filter includes an optical glass lens and an aluminum frame also helps; it considerably minimizes light pollution.
It comes with effective protection that is easy to carry as well. The threads are standard but durable. They thread into each eyepiece nicely. You’ll get a plastic case with a foam insert, and it’s easy to get the filters in and out of the case without touching the glass, even in the dark.
While you may have greater options with the Neewer filter set, the Svbony filter may serve all your needs. It also provides a reasonable opportunity for high-contrast viewing.
Pros
- Aluminum built makes the product lightweight and sturdy.
- Comes with a plastic storage case.
- Provides efficient contrast and produces clear images.
- Affordable options.
Cons
- Produces some artificial lights.
Gosky Telescope Filters Set 1.25” 7 Filters Set
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For astronomy amateurs, the Gosky 7 eyepiece set is an amazing deal. Let’s take a look at what each filter in the set does for you-
It comes with a Crystalview Moon filter. Just like the Neewer 1.25” Moon and Skyglow filter, this one brings out the details on the surface of the moon. You can see higher sharpness even in light-polluted areas. It also enhances the shadow crates of the moon.
Then we have the polarizing filter. It reduces glare from bright terrestrial photos.
When observing Mars, you can gradually darken the view to the degree that suits your needs. It helps increase contrast, decrease glare, and increase the details’ level.
The filter does not alter the color of the objects viewed and prevents eye fatigue and night vision loss.
Now let’s get to the planetary filters in 5 different colors. The five color filters are the same as Neewer’s 1.25-inch set -red, blue, green, orange, and yellow.
They help draw contrast and increase the sharpness of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They also allow for observing and photographing surface detail that would otherwise be nearly undetectable.
Most observers would use the red and orange one from the set specifically for Mars. The red filter increases contrast. At the same time, the orange will detect the polar ice caps better.
The filter set has a protective case preventing dust and moisture from harming the filters. The threads are standard. The framing for this filter is also metal.
One drawback of this product is that they don’t provide filter instructions. But all in all, this is a pretty good set for the price range.
Pros
- Reduces the glare in the lens.
- Brings out a lot of details in the sky.
- Doesn’t create artificial colors.
- Prevents fatigue in the eyes.
Cons
- Packaging needs an upgrade because it makes the product fragile.
- Isn’t durable enough.
Buying Guide
This is a section you don’t want to miss. We’ve prepared all the common and important buying factors you need to encounter. And we’ve based them on the form of some questions. Let’s see if you have answers to these questions-
What Are the Best Color Filters for Viewing Mars?
You have read our take on the four best Mars filters. You may now have some idea of which filter to go for. But how do you tell if these filters are specifically good for viewing Mars?
Well, let’s get down to how they enhance your viewing experience. The key thing to note while purchasing a color filter, for instance, is what purpose they serve.
Because Mars is red and will seem brightest under red or orange filters, the surface features frequently vanish when viewing Mars via a deep blue or violet filter, leaving just a drab bluish haze.
What Do Deep Sky Filters Do for Mars?
Deep sky filters, also known as light pollution filters, remove the background glow of street lighting while increasing the detail in faint nebulae.
Deep-sky filters are carefully coated to eliminate reflections to the greatest extent feasible. It reduces brightness and allows viewing of Mars even in heavily light-polluted areas. They will increase contrast and offer a greater viewing quality, which is somewhat expensive.
FAQs
Question: Why is the view in my telescope blurry Mars?
Answer: Vision for Mars depends on atmospheric conditions. When there is turbulence, your viewing will be blurry.
Question: Can UHC filters help block IR?
Answer: UHC filters are not designed to prevent IR or UV light radiation.
Question: What’s the best color filter for viewing polar ice caps on Mars?
Answer: For polar ice caps, try the following color filters: #25 Red, #56 light green, and #58 green.
To Summarize
There are many filters you can try for a relatively low enough price. We hope our list of the four best filters for Mars helped you get the one suitable for you. You have all you need now to view Mars with greater vision quality.
Good luck!
