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Just had a weird argument with my neighbor about light pollution filters
My neighbor Rick told me his $40 light pollution filter is useless because the streetlight behind my house ruins his view of Jupiter. I told him I actually see more detail without any filter using just my 6 inch dob and averted vision. So which side is right here, is it better to block out the orange glow or just learn to work around it for planetary viewing?
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shanegibson1mo ago
Tried a cheap filter once on my dob and it just made everything look dimmer. I stick to averted vision and wait for the streetlight to go off around midnight.
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vera_lewis22d ago
That bit about "have you tried seeing if the filter works better on a different night" is a good point, but I think the real issue might be the filter itself. In my experience, those cheap $40 filters are usually just tinted glass that kills contrast more than it helps. For planets like Jupiter, the glow from a streetlight is mostly just scattered light, not something a filter can fix unless it's a narrowband type that costs way more. Your mileage may vary, but I'd bet Rick's filter is doing more harm than good, and averted vision plus a dark cloth over your head might actually get you better results.
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claire_butler11mo ago
Well, was Rick actually looking at Jupiter or just the sky glow around it? A cheap filter can sometimes help with planets but it really depends on the scope and how bad your local lights are. Have you tried seeing if the filter works better on a different night when that streetlight is off or dimmer?
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