I can see Mars but.....

"Anthony Stokes" wrote in message ...


Newcomers to Mars observing often don't appreciate how artificially
stretched the contrast between dark and light markings on Mars is often
rendered before photographs are published. In practice the contrast is
often far less than between Maria and cratered uplands on the Moon seen to
naked eye view.
80A lightblue and 21 orange are useful filters, and for smaller aperture
scopes I have found the 82A pale blue filter worthwhile. On my 150mm F8
achromat refractor the best view seems to be with Sirius Optics Minus Violet
1 and 82A filters stacked in front of 4.8MM nagler eyepiece for 250x
magnification:- but I'm able to increase to 350x maximum (with 80A blue
filter) on NexStar 11 SCT ( near London).

The views of Mars are the best I have had in 30+ years observing,

Ant.

You really rate the Sirius Minus Violet for the 6" f/8 do you? I
heard this filter was moisture sensitive. Will it cope with my
waist-deep dew being swapped between my cheapo Plossls? I can't afford
a Chromacor (or the Nagler). But I badly need to do something to
improve my "worms eye" view from 56N before it's all over.

Thanks
Chris.B