Filters and Barlows for imaging with a small refractor?

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping that you can provide some advice to a beginner astroimager. I've got a budget setup consisting of a small refractor (Ascension 80ED) on a CG-5 mount and am happy with the combination for visual observation. Imaging is a different story. I'm content with the results from dark sites, though they are not in the same league as most of the images posted here, but I have two particular problems.

First, getting out to a dark site from my home in Rathfarnham is not so easy, so I would like to explore possibilities for getting better images without sneaking off from the family with a carload of equipment. Do you think it would be worthwhile using a light pollution filter and if so what would you recommend, bearing in mind that my scope is only 80mm, f/6?

Second, the short focal length (480 mm) means that my scope is not good for the planets. That is a particular shame because the light pollution issue is not a big deal for planetary imaging. I am toying with the idea of getting a good quality Barlow, or possibly a Meade TeleXtender. Does anyone have experience of imaging with a TeleXtender or a Barlow? Can they give satisfactory results?

I would be most grateful for any advice on these questions. I am enjoying the telescope and I know that there are no magic solutions, except possibly winning the lottery, but it would be very helpful to get the benefit of your experience before adding any more gadgets to my expanding collection.

Mike.