Filter for observing moon?

I was observing the eclipse last night from Boston (volunteering at a star
party at the Science Museum) with a C-8 and made the mistake of trying to
observe the moon just as the eclispe was starting. It was EXTREMELY bright
and I had to look away immediately. Eventually the only way I could look at
the moon was to stick a blue filter over the eyepiece (it was the filter I
had other than the solar filter which blocked the most light). So I wound
up showing everybody a blue moon and explaining that the filter was there
because the glare would be overwhelming otherwise. Eventually, I removed
the filter with about 75% of the moon eclipsed (and of course people
suddenly started seeing redness in the eclipsed portion which had been
blocked out by the blue filter)

Are there filters specifically for dealing with the moon? I would have
expected that only large telescopes would actually require filters for the
moon (otherwise the human eye would be able to bear it).

Thanks in advance,

ACG

"Andrew Goldish" wrote in message
...
I was observing the eclipse last night from Boston (volunteering at a
star
party at the Science Museum) with a C-8 and made the mistake of trying to
observe the moon just as the eclispe was starting. It was EXTREMELY
bright
and I had to look away immediately. Eventually the only way I could look
at
the moon was to stick a blue filter over the eyepiece (it was the filter I
had other than the solar filter which blocked the most light). So I wound
up showing everybody a blue moon and explaining that the filter was there
because the glare would be overwhelming otherwise. Eventually, I removed
the filter with about 75% of the moon eclipsed (and of course people
suddenly started seeing redness in the eclipsed portion which had been
blocked out by the blue filter)

Are there filters specifically for dealing with the moon? I would have
expected that only large telescopes would actually require filters for the
moon (otherwise the human eye would be able to bear it).

Thanks in advance,

ACG



Yep, it's a lunar filter that fits the eyepiece. Check the websites of
various dealers and manufacturers. I have an Orion lunar filter -- I don't
recall how much light it eliminates but it does the same thing the solar
filter does -- knocks out a good percentage of the light. The Orion lunar
filter that I have does not interfere with the color -- I watched the early
stages of the eclipse through my lunar filter then removed it for totality.


--
----
JAS

Andrew,

There are filters specific for the observation and imaging of
the moon. For example, Orion has such a filter which is 1.25" in size
and attaches to the bottom of your eyepiece. It allows for something
like 13% of the light through so that you bypass the strong glare,
particularly during a full moon. From what I recall they are quite cheap
.... probably around $20. Celestron, for example, sells something
similar. All of these are ND0.9 from what I recall.

Anthony.

Andrew Goldish wrote:

I was observing the eclipse last night from Boston (volunteering at a star
party at the Science Museum) with a C-8 and made the mistake of trying to
observe the moon just as the eclispe was starting. It was EXTREMELY bright
and I had to look away immediately. Eventually the only way I could look at
the moon was to stick a blue filter over the eyepiece (it was the filter I
had other than the solar filter which blocked the most light). So I wound
up showing everybody a blue moon and explaining that the filter was there
because the glare would be overwhelming otherwise. Eventually, I removed
the filter with about 75% of the moon eclipsed (and of course people
suddenly started seeing redness in the eclipsed portion which had been
blocked out by the blue filter)

Are there filters specifically for dealing with the moon? I would have
expected that only large telescopes would actually require filters for the
moon (otherwise the human eye would be able to bear it).

Thanks in advance,

ACG

I kinda like the variable polarizing filters. Again, they screw into
your eyepiece, but you can twist the things to give you just the
brightness you need. Again, they don't cost too much.
Marty