Player One IR850nm IR-Pass Filter S-series - 1.25"
- Passes Infrared Light at 850nm
- Standard 1.25" Filter Size
- Blocks Visible and Ultraviolet Light
- High-Quality Optical Glass Substrate
- Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coatings
The Player One IR850nm 1.25″ IR-Pass Filter isolates a narrow slice of the near-infrared spectrum centered at 850nm, blocking unwanted visible light to dramatically increase planetary contrast. Designed for the standard 1.25″ format, this filter is purpose-built to reveal high-contrast details on planets like Venus, which are only visible to a sensor sensitive to wavelengths beyond 850nm.
For planetary imagers, Venus presents a unique challenge: a visually blank disc hiding a complex, dynamic atmosphere. The IR850nm filter is the key to unlocking it, allowing you to capture the faint thermal signatures of the planet's cloud tops. These structures are completely invisible in the visible spectrum but show remarkable detail in the near-infrared.
By capturing data through this filter and combining it with images taken through an ultraviolet (UV) filter, you can create stunning composite photographs that show multiple layers of the Venusian atmosphere. This multi-band approach transforms the planet from a bright, featureless orb into a world of subtle swirls and patterns.
The primary benefit of imaging at a long wavelength like 850nm is its ability to mitigate the effects of atmospheric seeing. Shorter wavelengths of light (like blue and green) are scattered more easily by turbulence in Earth's atmosphere, resulting in a soft, blurry image. Infrared light is far less affected, leading to a steadier, sharper final result.
This makes the IR850nm filter an essential tool for high-resolution imaging of the Moon and other planets, especially on nights of average or poor seeing. It acts as a "seeing stabilizer," allowing you to capture fine details like lunar rilles and Martian surface features that would otherwise be lost to atmospheric blurring.
The Player One IR850nm filter is designed for high-resolution planetary and lunar imaging. It blocks visible light and passes only near-infrared light at 850nm, which significantly reduces the blurring effects of atmospheric turbulence (seeing) and reveals details on planets like Venus that are invisible in the visible spectrum.
Venus's dense cloud cover appears almost featureless in visible light. The IR850nm filter allows your camera's sensor to capture the thermal emissions and subtle variations in the upper cloud deck. This data can be combined with images taken through a UV filter to create a comprehensive, multi-spectral portrait of the planet's atmosphere.
No, this filter is not recommended for deep-sky imaging. Most nebulae and galaxies are very faint in the near-infrared, and camera sensors have lower sensitivity at 850nm. This filter is specifically a tool for bright objects like the Moon and planets where cutting through atmospheric seeing is the primary goal.
Yes, the Player One IR850nm filter is housed in a standard 1.25" cell with M28.5x0.6 threads. It is compatible with any standard 1.25" filter wheel, filter drawer, or camera nosepiece that accepts threaded filters.
An 850nm filter provides a greater seeing-reduction effect than a 685nm filter because its passband is further into the infrared spectrum. On nights of particularly poor seeing, the 850nm filter will deliver a steadier image. The trade-off is that less light is available at 850nm, requiring longer exposures or higher gain, which is why the 685nm is often used when seeing is more stable.
A monochrome camera is strongly recommended. Color cameras have a Bayer matrix (a grid of red, green, and blue filters) over the sensor, which blocks a significant portion of the incoming infrared light and reduces both sensitivity and resolution. A monochrome sensor utilizes every pixel to capture the 850nm signal for the best possible result.
| Wavelength | 850nm |
| Filter Type | IR-Pass |
| Size | 1.25" |
| Series | S-series |
IR850nm 1.25″ IR-Pass Filter
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Protective Case
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