TS Optics 1.25″ Premium UHC filter
Do you live in or near a city where light pollution ruins your observing sessions? You know how frustrating it is to point your telescope at a favourite nebula and see nothing but a faint, contrast-less smudge. The TS Optics 1.25″ Premium UHC filter is designed exactly for these conditions - it selectively transmits only the wavelengths of light emitted by nebulae, while suppressing the orange glow of sodium streetlights and the blue-white output of LED illumination.
How does the UHC filter work?
UHC (Ultra High Contrast) filters operate on the principle of narrow-band interference. The filter transmits light only in the region of the O-III emission lines (oxygen III, approximately 496 and 501 nm) and H-beta (hydrogen beta, approximately 486 nm). The vast majority of emission and planetary nebulae radiate precisely at these wavelengths. The continuous background radiation of the sky - caused by light pollution - is significantly suppressed, leading to a visible increase in the contrast between the object and the background.
The result is immediately apparent: nebulae that previously blended into the background suddenly gain shape, structure and depth.
Recommended telescope aperture
The filter performs best with telescopes whose objective diameter is at least 70 mm. With smaller apertures it will still work, but the reduction in light throughput may result in an image that is too dark. From 70 mm upward the filter's full potential is realised, and you will be able to add hundreds of new objects to your observation log that would otherwise remain beyond the threshold of visibility.
Compatibility and installation
The 1.25″ eyepiece filter threads into the standard filter thread found on eyepieces of this size, making it compatible with virtually any telescope equipped with a 1.25″ focuser - refractors, reflectors and catadioptric systems alike. Installation takes a matter of seconds: simply screw the filter into the bottom of the eyepiece barrel. No tools, no complications.
Best-suited objects
The TS Optics Premium UHC filter is particularly well suited to:
- Emission nebulae - for example the Orion Nebula M42, the Lagoon Nebula M8, the Rosette Nebula
- Planetary nebulae - for example the Ring Nebula M57, the Dumbbell Nebula M27, the Owl Nebula M97
On the other hand, the filter is not suitable for star clusters, galaxies or reflection nebulae, because their light falls outside the transmitted bands. For these objects it is better to use a broadband or unfiltered view, or a dedicated broadband O-III filter.
About TS Optics
TS Optics is a German manufacturer and distributor of astronomical accessories with a long-standing tradition and a solid reputation in the European astronomy community. Their Premium series filters are characterised by precisely calculated multi-layer interference coatings with sharply defined transmission bands, a robust aluminium barrel with fine threading, and neutral colour transmission outside the pass bands. All of this in a class that matches its price point without compromising on the quality standards demanded by the more serious observer.
If you are looking for a reliable nebula filter with an excellent price-to-performance ratio, the TS Optics UHC Premium is a choice you will not regret.
Key specifications
| Parameter |
Value |
| Filter type |
UHC - Ultra High Contrast |
| Barrel size |
1.25″ |
| Connection |
Standard 1.25″ eyepiece filter thread |
| Transmitted wavelengths |
O-III approx. 496 and 501 nm, H-beta approx. 486 nm |
| Recommended minimum aperture |
70 mm |
| Compatible telescope types |
Refractors, reflectors, catadioptric systems |
| Body material |
Aluminium |
| Coating |
Multi-layer interference coating |
| Best-suited objects |
Emission nebulae, planetary nebulae |
| Manufacturer |
TS Optics (Germany) |
