Introduction
“Aw shucks! We still can’t see the stars properly”. Chances are you’ve said this to yourself at least once if you’re into telescopes.
Viewing the Milky Way, especially in these low light conditions, can be quite the feat. Plus, there is tons of background noise and light that blot out the nebula light.
The solution is the use of a filter. A nebula filter darkens the background and contrasts the nebula’s light for it to be observable.
So you might ask yourself, “where do I get one”? That’s where we come in. More precisely, our post on the best nebula filter.
Something tells us that you stumbled on this post because you’re in dire need of some direction.
We’ve provided you with an ultimate guide on picking the top-of-the-line nebula filters on the market. We’ve even added a buying guide for your convenience. This is so you know to decide what’s best for you.
With that said, let’s begin-
Comparison Table
| Products | Weight (Ounces) | Barrel Diameter (Inches) |
| SVBONY UHC Telescope Filter | 1.44 | 1.25 |
| Solomark UHC Telescope Filter | 1.60 | 1.25 |
| Celestron Narrowband 93623 Oxygen III Filter | 0.16 | 1.25 |
| Astromania UHC Filter | 0.30 | 1.25 |
| Gosky UHC Narrow Bandpass Filter | 0.81 | 1.25 |
SVBONY UHC Telescope Filter
Product Overview
First is the list we have the SVBONY’s UHC Telescope filter. This filter is the number one pick on our list. So why does the crown rest on its head?
For starters, it’s one of the most renowned filters that telescope enthusiasts and even would-be astrophotographers use. This is due to its exceptional filtering ability.
It’s particularly effective against canceling out noise lights. This is essentially the artificial light present in our day-to-day lives. Filtering this light out causes the details of a nebula to come out.
This makes it a perfect tool to use in urban environments.
Moreover, the filter comes with a protective case. A foam pad in the case allows the SVBONY to be protected against accidental impacts. That said, portability won’t be an issue in any regard.
Pros
- Excellent Image Contrast.
- Very good at filtering unwanted light.
- Easy to carry around.
- The filter can be used for telescopes and photography.
- Relatively inexpensive.
Cons
- Forms a Halo around the filter.
Solomark UHC Telescope Filter
Product Overview
In the second place, we have Solomark’s UHC Telescope Filter. Solomark has made many reliable filters since its inception, and this one is not so different. So let’s look at some of its features that earned the second place-
The Solomark UHC is mindbogglingly good at producing very clear images. This is no feat since Nebulas are inherently faint and hard to detect. Using this filter will make you feel like having superman’s vision.
Moreover, this is excellent for any environment, whether in pitch-black darkness or a bright-lighted city.
As the number one pick, it can be used for photography and telescopes. This is a testament to how versatile it is.
However, it is also the heaviest of the filters on the list. This is one of the reasons why we had to bump it down into second place.
Pros
- Produce extremely clear images
- Excellent for all light conditions
- Can be used for versatile applications
- Good filtering performance
Cons
- It’s a bit heavy and bulky to carry around
Celestron Narrowband 93623 Oxygen III Filter
Product Overview
The Celestron 93623 filter ranks third on our list, officially ending the top 3 race on filters. Celestron is a well-known brand in the world of nebula filters.
This is an O-III filter band that can filter unwanted lights efficiently, letting only the rays emitted by the nebulae through.
It’s also the lightest and the easiest to carry around out of the five filters. Moreover, its ultra-hard vacuum-deposited layer prevents a halo from forming around the filter. This is a common problem for most O-III filters.
It’s also very durable since it’s made of solid plane parallel glass. This makes it one of the fan favorites.
Pros
- Excellent durability
- Compact and very easy to carry around
- Great filtering performance
Cons
- Relatively Expensive
Astromania UHC Filter
Product Overview
Next up, we have the Astromania UHC filter. This is an interesting nebula filter; we could not resist putting it on the list because of its features. Let’s take a closer at those features, shall we?
Let’s begin by mentioning the work to make each of these filters. Each Astromania filter is personally hand-checked and put under the strictest of quality checks. So you know the quality of its filtration process is sublime.
The Astromania has excellent contrasting powers. This is due to the Astromania having two doubly ionized oxygen lines and the H-Beta line of wavelength filters. These allow the 496, 501, and 486nm wavelengths to pass through easily.
This is important because most nebulae emit light of these wavelengths. This makes even the dimmest nebulae appear bright in the night sky.
Moreover, regardless of its make, the Astromania is compatible with every 1.25-diameter Telescope. This is an incredible feature; you can just fit it on any telescope and watch the stars.
Pros
- Excellent contrasting performance
- Has standard durability
- Easy to fit into telescopes
- Probability of you getting a defective filter is low because of quality control
Cons
- Cannot be used in photographic lenses
Gosky UHC Narrow Bandpass Filter
Product Overview
Last but not least, we have the Gosky UHC Bandpass ending the top five list. Now, please don’t underestimate this filter because it came in last. It beat many other noteworthy competitors to take the final spot.
Let’s look at those features that earned it the last spot.
For starters, it is a very user-friendly telescope filter. It’s kind of like the all-rounder of the group. Astronomia can view many nebulae, including the Orion, Lagoon, and Swan nebulae.
As the name suggests, it has an ultra-high contrasting ability that sets it apart from most filters in the market. This makes it contrast even the faintest of nebulae in the darkness.
This also comes with a plastic case for an easy carry-around. However, you don’t have to worry about it being damaged since it’s made of a metal frame and optical glass.
Pros
- Can be used to see various nebulae
- Has a decent durability
- Comes with a decent image quality
Cons
- Difficult to set into telescopes at times
Buying Guide
This is the section for the Astrophotographer fanatics since we go a bit in-depth here. Here, we talk about the filters needed for specific planetary bodies. A better understanding of each type of filter will help you view them easily.
Color Filters: The Basic Of Optical Filtration
First up, we are the Colored Filters for Nebulas. This is the most basic sort of filter available on the market.
A colored piece of dyed glass blocks out a specific color and increases contrast. This sort of filter uses a basic form of color filtration to view the image.
All lights we observe have color due to their wavelength. For example, all the dyes except green are absorbed when we see a green curtain. The only color being reflected is green, so we see green.
Similarly, a colored lens will enhance some colors and contrast them. For example, a blue filter will enhance orange and reddish hues.
Since color filters are the most basic, they are also the least pricey.
Broadband Filters: Dimming The Night Sky
Color filters work only for the brightest nebulae. Most nebulae are extremely dim and hard to distinguish, which is why more advanced filters were made. Broadband filters are one type.
They are more commonly known as LPF (Light Pollution Filters) or interference filters. There are even microscopic thinner coatings that are multiple. These fit inside as interference filters and will pass particular wavelengths.
Planetary nebulae & nebulae produce light solely at certain wavelengths, whereas stars have continuous emission spectra. Broadband filters feature large passbands in the red sections of the range and the blue/blue-green spectrums.
They allow the astronomically significant emission lines to pass through with little or no attenuation.
Broadband filters are designed to block areas of the spectrum lower than approximately 445 nm and between about 540 nm and 640 nm since those are the emission lines of major light pollution sources.
However, broadbands only work in dark areas. It becomes less effective in urban areas with a lot of light pollution.
Narrowband Filters: Broadband Filter’s Upgrade?
Narrowband filters have virtually negligible transmission outside the crucial wavelengths of 486 nm (H-) and 496/501 nm (O-III).
The background sky is considerably darkened when using a narrowband filter. Because the filter blocks particular regions of the spectrum, this allows you to see more of the celestial body’s extent because of dimmer areas that would normally be veiled by natural or artificial skyglow.
Because narrowband filters have such narrow passbands, they substantially darken any continuous-spectrum light source, such as stars, galaxies, and reflection nebulae.
These are the true light pollution filters as they work in highly light-polluted areas.
Line Filters: Juiced-Up Narrowband
Narrowband filters on steroids are what line filters are. A line filter may have a passband of only 8 nm or less, whereas a normal broadband filter has a 100 nm passband, and a typical narrowband filter has a 25 nm passband.
Line filters isolate a single line (or a group of lines) by transmitting nearly all light of that wavelength while blocking all other light. As a result, seeing through a line filter produces a very dim image.
The two most common line bands are Oxygen-III filters and Hydorge-Beta filters.
The O-III filter is the most common filter used to see planetary nebulae. This is because they’re for selective wavebands emitting 496 nm and 506nm wavelengths.
Hydrogen-Beta is a more extreme version of the O-III because these are used to view very specific nebulae, such as the Horsehead nebula.
FAQs
Question: Is it wise to use UV filters for astrophotography?
Answer: This is a very common question that people have. Let us be clear, never use a UV filter for astrophotography. They do more harm than good at night and should be avoided at all costs. They don’t provide ample protection for your lens. Furthermore, they increase the visual artifacts and are more prone to cause lens flares due to the extra thick glass they have.
Question: Which filter should I use for viewing planets only?
Answer: It is important to understand that specific filters are needed for viewing specific planetary objects. This is because distinct planetary bodies emit particular wavelengths of light. The wavelengths not needed are omitted. This is why for planets, you should use blue filters.
Question: What’s the magnification needed to observe the Orion Nebula?
Answer: The Orion nebula is one of the easiest celestial bodies to see. This is because it is the brightest nebula we can observe in our sky. This nebula is situated in Orion’s belt, more precisely, the sword constellation on the belt. This is even sometimes visible to the naked eye. But the Nebula can be best observed at a magnification of 75x-100x.
Conclusion
Well, that’s all from us on the best nebula filter today. We hope that you found our post on this optical filter to be an eye-opener. We suggest that you pick our top recommended filter for this particular problem.
Anyways, we’ve helped in your quest to stargaze and wonder. We leave the rest of the journey in your capable hands. We’re sure you’ll make the correct choice as you know much about nebula filters now.
Till then, stay safe and take care!
