{"product_id":"daystar-2-inch-uv-ir-filter","title":"Daystar 2\" UV\/IR Filter","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2\" Barrel Size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlocks Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) Wavelengths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePasses the Full Visible Spectrum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFunctions as an Essential Luminance (L) Filter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReduces Star Bloat and Improves Sharpness in Refractors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e2\" UV\/IR Filter\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2\" UV\/IR Cut Filter is a fundamental tool for digital astrophotography, designed to isolate the visible spectrum that your telescope's optics are corrected for. By aggressively blocking unwanted ultraviolet and infrared light, it prevents the associated star bloat and loss of contrast common in refractive systems, resulting in a significantly sharper final image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUV\/IR Cut: Sharpening Images by Removing Unfocused Light\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefractor telescopes are designed to bring visible light to a sharp, single point of focus. However, UV and IR wavelengths focus at different planes, creating a form of chromatic aberration that softens the image and reduces fine detail. This filter solves the problem by simply removing that unfocused light before it ever reaches your camera sensor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy eliminating these out-of-band wavelengths, stars become tighter, and contrast on planetary and deep-sky targets is noticeably improved. The filter also serves a secondary purpose by blocking thermal energy (IR), which can help reduce heat build-up in your downstream filters and diagonal during extended imaging sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Essential Luminance Filter for Refractor Astrophotography\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor monochrome LRGB imaging or when shooting with a One-Shot-Color (OSC) camera, this filter provides the critical luminance (L) signal. The luminance channel is responsible for all the image detail, and a clean signal containing only visible light is paramount for achieving the highest possible resolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsing this filter ensures that your luminance data is free from the bloating effects of IR and the low contrast caused by unfocused UV. It allows your sensor to capture every photon of the visible spectrum your refractor was built to resolve, producing a crisp, detailed foundation upon which to stack your color data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy do I need a 2\" UV\/IR Cut Filter with my refractor?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefractor lenses are corrected to focus visible light sharply. They do not focus ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light at the same point, which leads to soft, bloated stars and reduced image contrast. A UV\/IR Cut filter blocks these wavelengths, ensuring only the well-focused visible light reaches your camera sensor, resulting in a much sharper image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I use this 2\" UV\/IR filter for visual observing?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile you can, you are unlikely to notice any benefit. The human eye has very low sensitivity to the deep UV and IR wavelengths this filter blocks, so the visual image will appear largely unchanged. Its primary benefit is for digital sensors, which are highly sensitive to this out-of-band light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow does this 2\" UV\/IR Cut Filter help when imaging the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) with a color camera?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen imaging a galaxy like M31 with a one-shot-color (OSC) camera, your sensor is still capturing unfocused IR light, which causes stars to appear larger and more bloated, obscuring fine detail in the galaxy's dust lanes and star-forming regions. Using this filter cleans up the entire image by ensuring that every pixel, regardless of its color, is only recording sharp, focused visible light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs this UV\/IR Cut filter the same as a light pollution filter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, they serve different purposes. A \u003cstrong\u003eUV\/IR Cut filter\u003c\/strong\u003e blocks light at the invisible ends of the spectrum. A \u003cstrong\u003elight pollution filter\u003c\/strong\u003e (like a UHC or CLS filter) is designed to block specific, narrow bands of visible light associated with artificial lighting (e.g., sodium and mercury vapor lamps) while passing nebula emission lines. This filter will not reduce skyglow from city lights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill this 2\" UV\/IR Cut Filter improve images from my 8\" SCT?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. While this filter is particularly critical for refractors, it is also beneficial for reflector-based systems like Schmidt-Cassegrains (SCTs) and Newtonians. Though these scopes do not suffer from the same chromatic aberration, using a UV\/IR Cut filter as your luminance filter ensures all your LRGB filters are parfocal, meaning you won't have to refocus when switching between them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eDoes the 2\" UV\/IR Cut Filter protect other equipment?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, by blocking infrared radiation, the filter also blocks a significant amount of heat. This can be beneficial in protecting more sensitive and expensive filters placed after it in the optical train, such as narrowband filters, from potential heat-related damage or degradation over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFilter Type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUV\/IR Cut (Luminance)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSize\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2\" (M48x0.75 Threads)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"DAV-grid-item\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-title\"\u003e2\" UV\/IR Filter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-subtitle\"\u003e× 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"DAV-grid-item\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-title\"\u003eProtective Case\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-subtitle\"\u003e× 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWarranty information for this product is not available. Please contact us for details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Daystar Filters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52935165804829,"sku":"DAY-DSIUV2","price":175.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/DaystarFilters-2-UV-IR-Filter-1_46accae2-51af-4a6a-bd27-5412a6c53c92.jpg?v=1789520828","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/products\/daystar-2-inch-uv-ir-filter","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}