Aurel Clarion broadband filter 31 mm

Specifications

Description

The Clarion broadband filter is an unmounted 31 mm round light-pollution filter for filter wheels and filter drawers. It blocks the main emission lines of sodium and mercury street lighting while passing the blue, green, and red light where stars, galaxies, and reflection nebulae shine.

In imaging, the filter reduces the uneven, orange-tinted background that artificial lighting adds to long exposures. That simplifies gradient removal and color balance in processing, especially for images taken from suburban sites.

A broadband filter keeps star colors close to natural, which makes it suitable for galaxies, star clusters, and reflection nebulae where narrowband filters would block most of the light. It also works with one-shot color cameras behind refractors and Newtonians.

Modern white LED street lighting emits across the visible spectrum, and broadband filters remove less of it. Under LED lighting, expect a smaller improvement than under sodium lighting.

The 31 mm size fits filter wheels designed for 1.25 in equivalent unmounted filters and covers smaller camera sensors. Check the clear aperture of your filter wheel and the size of your sensor before you choose this size.

The glass has a multi-layer interference coating on one side and an anti-reflection coating on the other. Handle it by the edges and store it in its case, since unmounted glass edges can chip.

The Clarion broadband filter suits imagers who capture galaxies and star clusters from suburban sites and want to reduce the effect of older street lighting on their images.

About this configuration

All configurations of the Aurel Clarion broadband filter 31 mm share the same filter glass design; the options change the grade, the coating, and the case. The standard grade uses the same coating design as the higher grades, with wider tolerances on flatness. Standard grade glass suits visual observing at low and medium magnification. With anti-reflection layers on both sides, less light bounces between the filter and the eyepiece or camera sensor.

An aluminum case with a foam insert keeps the filter safe during travel to a dark site. This is the 2023 edition of the Clarion line, the earliest version that is still listed in the catalog. A filter does not make objects brighter; it darkens the sky background more than the target, which raises contrast.

What's in the box

• Broadband filter, unmounted 31 mm round
• Plastic storage case
• Aluminum storage case

Compatibility notes

• Fits filter wheels and holders that accept 31 mm unmounted filters.
• Covers sensors up to about 4/3 in size in typical filter wheel spacing.
• Most effective against sodium and mercury lighting.