I just have a couple of questions pertaining to eyepieces and filters if someone could help me.

I purchased a Skyquest Intelliscope XT8 Dob (1200mm) about a month ago as my first telescope and I'm pleased with it. I've been using the 10 and 25mm eyepieces that it came with, and I must say that Jupiter looks pretty cool. However, Saturn and Mars aren't as detailed as I thought they'd be, especially Mars which only appears as a close star.

I've been researching Orion eyepieces but there are so many! I'm interested in their Edge-On Planetary Eyepieces, particularly their 3mm one. Would this eyepiece be suitable for higher detailed views of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn? If not, can you recommend one for planetary viewing? I'm just not sure if the 400x magnification of the 3mm eyepiece will greatly lower the contrast. It's unfortunate that Mars will be gone 'til 2010 but I want a good eyepiece for when it returns and also for Saturn and Jupiter 

Secondly, I'm located in suburban Mantua, NJ, about 10 miles outside of Philadelphia; the light-pollution obscures many desirable deep-sky objects, including the Andromeda galaxy which only appears as a faint smudge with no discernable features. I've seen a few star clusters, including the Hercules Cluster, but no nebulae yet (I think I barely saw the Ring Nebula).

So my question: Would the Orion SkyGlow broadband filter be a good choice to help my light-pollution problem for nebulae and galaxies? I was looking at the Deluxe Stargazer's Filter Set that includes Orion's SkyGlow broadband filter, 4 color filters, and a variable polarizing filter for the Moon/planets. Or would I be better off purchasing either Orion's UltraBlock Narrowband Light-Pollution Filter or O-III filter?

 Thanks!

I'm no expert, but i've tried to do my research... so here goes! (BTW, someone please correct me if i've got any of this wrong). 

Selecting eye pieces depends on a few things concerning a reflector as i've learned. Alot depends on your f-ratio (f/4, f/8, f/12, ect).  Rather then trying to explain all this, follow this link to Eyepiece Basics

To answer your question on the eyepieces you gave... its an educated guess, but if you've got a slower reflector, f/6 or slower, then those will do great. Its got me curious now however because i'm wondering if its something I need to look into myself for super-high magnification instead of the Stratus Wide-Field (f/4 reflector 803mm focal length). The flat design is the key thing that peaks my curiousity.

I personally have the Deluxe Stargazer's Filterset. WONDERFULY worth-while set. At least for where I live, which isn't in a major city but i'm in beset on three sides from major cities 45 minutes away. If it were me. I'd start with the deluxe set first, your going to want the color filters and polorized filter anyway and its cheaper then buying them outright. then move on to more advanced light filters like the Narrow-bands if your not happy with the Broadband. The reason I say this is because the light filters dim the image all around, but reduced the "ambient" light from the specific wavelengths its designed to filter out therefore increasing the contrast between your target and the background sky. The more advanced in filters you go the dimmer the image and ultimatly some are only really suitable for astrophotography. Also some targets won't do well under any light filter, some galaxies, clusters, and nebuli are subject to this. It all has to do with the wavelegths they emit, these filters don't distinguish between that galaxy and your street lamp if its both on the same wavelength. I think the visual useage of light filters are limted to the SkyGlow Broadband, Ultrablock Narrowband, (for most DSOs) and the O-III which only works for certain nebuli.

Conversely, None of these do well with moon-light. Just not designed for it.

I'm also looking for answers concerning filters, especially to questions concerning broad-band vs, narrow-band.  So, I'll leave the filter question for someone else to answer.

You say you're looking at the 3mm EP that will provide you with 400x magnification?  That's going to push your scope to it's limit.  From what I've learned, a scope has a functional upper limit.  You can figure this by taking the aperature multiplied by 50x.  For you, and me, I have the XT 8 Classic, the limit would be 400x.  Or you can take the aperature in mm's(metric system, not the candy) and multiply it by 2x.  You come up with 406x.  Still, the 3mm EP gets you to 400.  This upper limit will only be able to be reached under the perfect sky and light conditions.  And that happens not at all as often as you would like for it to.  In fact, perfect conditions come along very rarely.

I don't have any earth-shattering suggestion for you since I'm relatively new to this also and am in the process of exploring the line of EP's I'd like to begin buying.  I just thought this little nugget of info might help you out.  I'm looking down the lines of the Orion Stratus's.

While they have their place in astrophotography, many experienced observers, including me, do not find broadband filters to be terribly useful for visual work.  A narrowband filter such as the Lumicon UHC or the Orion UltraBlock seems to work better on more objects than any other type of LPR/nebula filter.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/raycash/filters.htm

http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/filters.htm

http://www.knoxvilleobservers.org/dsonline/tips/lprfilters.html

Chances are you won't be able to use a 3mm eyepiece more than a few times a year, since the seeing won't support 400x very often.  The Orion eyepieces you mentioned, which are more than likely of Chinese manufacture, are a new line and may be similar to, or the same as, the Smart Astronomy EF eyepieces reviewed here.  You may also want to consider the Burgess Optical/TMB Planetary eyepiece line.  They are very fine oculars, especially considering their price.

http://www.burgessoptical.com/EPs/Planetary.html

Dave Mitsky

One thing I've learned, is to listen to Dave Mitsky.   

The info from Orion says the UltraBlock narrowband filters show maximum contrast enhancement for emission nebula.  Is that all they're good for?  Meaning, will they help with the visual observation of other types of nebula?

Sorry if that is a dumb question, but...oh well!

Thanks for the info everyone!

I guess I'll just look into a 5 or 6mm eyepiece rather than a 3mm. I just hope planets will look much more detailed with a 5 or 6mm rather than with a 10mm eyepiece (200-240x compared to 120x with the 10mm, is this a big difference visually?). Perhaps Orion's Edge-on Planetary, Expanse, or Epic ED-2? Any suggestions? I noticed the Expanse eyepieces have a 66-degree apparent field of view, while the other two have a 55-degree apparent field of view. Is this a noticeable difference?

As for the filters, I suppose I'll start with the Deluxe Stargazer's Set and get an O-III and UltraBlock filter at some point. I just really wanna see the Veil nebula which I know the O-III filter is great for. But they're kind of expensive for one filter. Light-pollution sucks  Maybe I'll just head up to the Poconos...

Thanks again all!

No matter what you get, Mars isn't going to get much better.  It's moved to far away for most amateur scopes. 

You might also look into the Orion Stratus line of eyepieces.  Durangoskies.com has them on sale right now. 

Good luck.

edge on is a good set to get, I have the same scope as you, and I have come across some of the same problems you have, you want to really get into it and see some amazing things like close up views of jupiter and mars, but you can't seem to get the reach or closeness you need to get that up close look you want.

I did a lot of research, and what I came up with may just work for you and over time you can improve your scope.

 first thing; let's talk about light polution, it is something we all deal with, one simple thing that will help is a cover or hood that goes around your head and may drape over your shoulders, this will help you see with out glare from lights around you. if this doesn't improve your viewing then take off to a darker location.

Power to see SPACE; now you will be pushing the limits of the scope with a 3mm, and at first it will seem like you waisted your money because you can't see things with more clearity, that is not the case, remember you just took a leap into seeing 400 times better, so you will have to play around with it and push it to see things that you never saw before with out it, the 3mm eye piece will cost you about $99.00, go ahead and get it but also work at having a large selection of eye pieces, I know this doesn't sound like much of a deal but you can also get a 3.5mm it is a little weaker then the 3mm, until you get used to things. but you need to buy a good selection ranging from 3mm up to what you got with your scope.

a little cheating can go a long way's; try this you can take any cheap digital camera, place it over the eye piece of your scope and use the zoom on the camera, this will let you see closer until you can get the eye piece's, depending on the zoom of the camera you can come up with some great things to see and good shots as well.. like I said this is not the cure it is only a cheat until you get the eye pieces.

Shorty; I noticed you put down that you had a shorty x2, you might want to also get the shorty x3, along with your edge on eye pieces this will give you the best working dinamics of your scope.

Filters; when I started out I thought I woudl start small and work my way into it, I did... but if your like me you will find that you take an hour and look in one area, or at one thing, then another hour you will have to change yor filter to see other things, Time  is wasted when you have to un screw one filter and put on another, so I got a set of filters that are on a dial, it makes life easy, all you do is use your finger and notch it to the filter you desire it is that simple. yes yo pay a little extra but it is well worth it in the long run.

MOON; this is a must if you ever get a clear dark sky to view the moon you will want a 13% moon filter, it will save your sight, and will help you see so much more detail then you could ever dream of.

well I hope this helped you, and I hope you find dark clear sky's

 

Frank: I agree with Dave on the BO/TMB eyepieces. I recently purchased a 7mm for $59. Their narrow FOV is designed for the moon and planets (hence their name). I have an Orion XT10 and the eyepiece is really good, even with a quality 2x barlow. Unless you're one of those who insist on the very best, and have the deep pockets for Tele Vues or Pentaxes, these higher mid-level tier eyepieces are excellant values. For the price, you can't beat 'em.

The Burgess Optical/TMB Planetary eyepieces have a 60 degree apparent field of view.  This is not particularly narrow.  At one time, a 65 degree AFOV Erfle was about the best one could hope for in a wide-field ocular.

At any rate, these eyepieces are quite a bargain.

Dave Mitsky