How can I reduce light pollution at my telescope?
Get the next 6 issues of BBC Sky at Night Magazine for just £9.99BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Scope Doctor Steve Richards solves your astronomy ailments.
How can I reduce light pollution at my telescope?
Steve says: “Light pollution is a major modern-day issue for astronomers, robbing observers and astrophotographers alike of clear views of the fainter celestial objects.
The most effective way of dealing with light pollution is to travel to a dark-sky site, usually out in the countryside away from street lighting, but this isn’t always possible, of course.
Astrophotographers can make use of special light pollution suppression filters to remove some pollution effects during post-processing.
Observers don’t have it so easy but a good ultra- high contrast (UHC) filter can help here. However, no filter will brighten a celestial object; all the filters can do is help to remove the unwanted light.”
Some more guides that might help:
- A guide to fighting light pollution
- The best outdoor lighting that will minimise light pollution
- How to remove light pollution from astrophotos
Email Steve your astronomy queries to contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com and they could be answered in a future issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
