Aurel

Aurel Dusk Ridge UHC nebula filter 1.25 in

UHC · 1.25 in · 25 nm bandpass

$59

Catalog preview. Not available for purchase.

Grade
Standard grade
Coating
Anti-reflection on both faces
Case
Plastic case
Edition
2025 edition

Specifications

Filter typeUltra-high contrast (UHC) nebula filter
Cell1.25 in aluminum cell, M28.5 x 0.6 thread
Bandpass (FWHM)25 nm
Peak transmission90%
SubstrateOptical glass
Glass thickness2.0 mm
GradeStandard grade
CoatingAnti-reflection on both faces
CasePlastic case
Edition2025 edition

Description

The Dusk Ridge UHC is an ultra-high contrast nebula filter in a 1.25 in threaded cell, designed for observers using Aurel Dobsonians and other visual telescopes with 1.25 in eyepiece barrels. Its passband is about 25 nm wide and sits in the blue-green part of the spectrum, covering the doubly ionized oxygen lines near 496 and 501 nm and the hydrogen-beta line at 486 nm, with a narrower response to hydrogen-alpha in the deep red. Most other visible wavelengths are blocked, including much of the orange and yellow glow from street and sodium lighting.

Emission nebulae radiate at these specific lines, while the sky background is spread across the spectrum. By suppressing the background and passing the nebula's light, the filter raises contrast without making the nebula brighter. Under moderately dark skies, you may see faint outer regions and dust lanes that remain hidden in an unfiltered view. Good targets include the Lagoon Nebula, the Trifid Nebula, the Eagle Nebula, the Crescent Nebula, and planetary nebulae such as the Ring and the Dumbbell. The effect is most noticeable in telescopes of 100 mm aperture or more, where the light gathered from faint nebulae is greater.

Galaxies, star clusters, and reflection nebulae emit across a broad range of wavelengths, so on those targets the filter only dims the view. Stars also take on a greenish tint because of the passband. Thread the filter into the barrel of any 1.25 in eyepiece or the nosepiece of a 1.25 in diagonal, and seat it fully before observing. One side carries a multi-layer interference stack and the other an anti-reflection layer, which keeps stray reflections low in the light path.

Because it works on many emission and planetary nebulae, this filter suits observers who want a single accessory for deep-sky nebula work. Keep it in the supplied case when not in use to protect the coated surfaces from dust, moisture, and fingerprints, and handle it by the edge of the cell rather than the glass.

About this configuration

This listing covers one configuration of the Aurel Dusk Ridge UHC nebula filter 1.25 in, defined by its grade, coating, case, and edition year. 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.

The filter ships in a clear plastic case that keeps dust off the glass between sessions. This is the 2025 edition, which added a laser-etched serial number to the cell or the glass edge. A filter does not make objects brighter; it darkens the sky background more than the target, which raises contrast.

What's in the box

  • Dusk Ridge UHC filter in 1.25 in threaded cell
  • Storage case
  • Plastic storage case

Compatibility notes

  • Threads into 1.25 in eyepieces, diagonals, and filter wheels (M28.5 x 0.6).
  • Most effective in telescopes of 100 mm aperture and larger.