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Light pollution suppression (LPS) filters are designed to suppress the common mission lines generated
by artificial lighting, yet allow the important nebula emission lines to pass, thus enhancing the
contrast of astronomical objects, particularly emission nebulae (see
filter plots to see the effect on light pollution emission bands). The most recently
introduced version (D2) has a bandpass designed to cope with the increasing trend of society's switch
to LED lighting.
Unlike other light pollution suppression filters, IDAS filters are specifically designed for balanced
color transmission
using the IDAS unique
Multi-Bandpass Technology (MBT) process. The balanced transmission allows color photographs to
be taken with minimal color cast to broadband emission objects such as stars, galaxies and globular
clusters.
LPS filters utilize the unique IDAS Ion Gun Assisted Deposition (IGAD*) coating technology for
superior coating durability
(quartz hardness) and safer cleaning. IGAD coatings also improve temperature and humidity stability
of the filter performance, reducing spectrum shifts down to +/-1nm from the +/-3 or 4nm shift of
standard coatings. [
More about IDAS filter production]
CCD imaging can also benefit, because although CCD imagers can already shoot through light pollution
to some extent, including
an LPS filter to the setup gives an added (signal-to-noise) edge as shown in these
CCD examples (comparison testing by G. Tomita in Tokyo).
Additional independent tests and reviews are available here:
Note, however, that light pollution suppression filters are
not a perfect substitute for dark skies. Refer to our discussion of the
limitations and common misconceptions
about light pollution suppression filters.
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Click to
enlarge plots
In addition to blocking selected light pollution emission bands, IDAS filters block the range
700-1000nm to insure that silicon sensors are adequately blocked from unwanted IR. All plots shown are
measured responses of production filters.
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