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Baader Contrast-Booster Filter
Baader Contrast-Booster Filter
Baader Contrast-Booster Filter
Baader Contrast-Booster Filter
Baader Contrast-Booster Filter

Baader Contrast-Booster Filter

by Baader Planetarium
SKU BAA-2458360
$104.00 - $165.00
$104.00
$104.00 - $165.00
$104.00
Price Match Policy!
  • Enhances contrast for lunar and planetary observing
  • Removes bluish haze and false color
  • Reveals subtle details in Jupiter's cloud belts and Mars's polar caps
  • Available in standard 1.25" and 2" mounted formats
  • Threads directly into standard eyepieces and accessories
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Warranty

  • Baader Contrast-Booster Filter

    The Baader Contrast-Booster Filter, available in both 1.25" and 2" formats, is an essential tool for removing false color and bluish haze to reveal sharp, high-contrast details on the Moon and planets. By removing the bluish haze (lack of contrast) and false color while passing over 95% of the light, this filter makes features like Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Martian surface markings, and subtle lunar rilles distinctly more visible.

    1.25" & 2" Filters for Enhanced Lunar and Planetary Contrast

    The core function of the Contrast-Booster is to remove the bluish haze (lack of contrast) in lunar, planetary, solar and terrestrial observation, with over 95% transmission. This allows the subtle colors and structures on planetary surfaces and the Moon to stand out.

    For refractors, this filter serves a dual purpose by also cutting unfocused violet and blue light, which tightens star images and reduces chromatic aberration. The result is a cleaner, sharper view, particularly on challenging targets like the cloud bands of Jupiter and Saturn, where low-contrast details are easily lost to atmospheric scatter and optical imperfections.

    Contrast-Booster vs. Standard Moon & Skyglow Filter: A Targeted Approach

    While a generic Moon & Skyglow filter offers a mild reduction in light pollution with minimal color shift, the Baader Contrast-Booster is a more specialized instrument. It is designed to remove false color and the bluish hue of fast achromatic telescopes while passing over 95% of the light.

    • Baader Contrast-Booster: Ideal for pulling specific, faint details out of the glare on bright planets and the Moon. It excels at separating the zones and belts on Jupiter and defining the polar caps on Mars.
    • Standard Moon & Skyglow: A better choice for general-purpose, wide-field viewing where a more natural color balance is desired and the primary goal is simply to dim the sky background slightly.

    The trade-off is clear: for maximum detail on specific solar system targets, the Contrast-Booster's targeted filtering is superior. For casual, broad-field sweeping, a milder filter may be preferred.

  • What is the primary purpose of the Baader Contrast-Booster Filter?

    The Baader Contrast-Booster is designed to increase the visual contrast of lunar and planetary details. It achieves this by removing the bluish haze and false color, which makes features on bright objects easier to see.

    How does the Baader Contrast-Booster improve views of Jupiter in an 8" SCT?

    In an 8" SCT, the Baader Contrast-Booster will make Jupiter's atmospheric features significantly more distinct. It helps to separate the faint orange and brown hues of the cloud belts from the whiter zones. The Great Red Spot (GRS) becomes more clearly defined, and smaller ovals and festoons within the cloud structures are often revealed.

    Can I use the Baader Contrast-Booster Filter for deep-sky objects?

    The Contrast-Booster is not a nebula filter. It is not optimized for the critical O-III and H-beta emission lines that define most nebulae. For targets like the Orion Nebula (M42) or Dumbbell Nebula (M27), a dedicated UHC or O-III filter will deliver far better results.

    Will the Baader Contrast-Booster Filter help with observing Mars?

    Yes, the Contrast-Booster is highly effective for Mars. It helps to define the boundaries of the dark albedo features like Syrtis Major against the bright ochre deserts. It is particularly useful for making the white polar caps stand out sharply against the planet's limb.

    Does the Baader Contrast-Booster Filter introduce a strong color cast?

    The filter removes the bluish hue (lack of contrast) and false color while passing over 95% of the light.

    Will this filter thread directly onto my 1.25" and 2" eyepieces?

    Yes. The Baader Contrast-Booster filters are mounted in standard cells with standard filter threads. The 1.25" version fits standard 1¼" (M28.5) filter threads and the 2" version standard 2" (M48) filter threads, allowing them to screw directly into the barrels of most eyepieces, diagonals, and other accessories.

  • Available Sizes 1.25" Round Mounted, 2" Round Mounted
    Net weight (kg) 0.01
    Single or Set? Single Filter
    Filter mounted Mounted (LPFC 6mm)
    Filter Usage Contrast Enhancement, Color Correction, IR-Cut, Planetary
    Type of Filter Bandpass
    Filter Thickness (without cell) 1 mm
    Transmission Range multiple bands (see spectral image)
    AR-Coating Phantom Coating® Group, planeoptically polished

    • Baader Contrast-Booster Filter

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  • Baader Planetarium Warranty