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zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Green Laser question
#5268782 - 06/12/12 09:41 PM

Please excuse my dumb question, as I know absolutely nothing about using laser on telescopes.

I thought it was illegal to aim lasers up into the sky, for fear of blinding airline pilots.

Do green lasers not do this? Do they not go that far up? I'm just not understanding.

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

Thanks

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starrancher
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/09/09

Loc: Northern Arizona

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5268827 - 06/12/12 10:15 PM

Quote:

Please excuse my dumb question, as I know absolutely nothing about using laser on telescopes.

I thought it was illegal to aim lasers up into the sky, for fear of blinding airline pilots.

Do green lasers not do this? Do they not go that far up? I'm just not understanding.

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

Thanks

As of yet I know of no state that these laser pointers are not legal , although care should be exercised in the use of one .
The beam will travel to the point where it could hit an aircraft pilot in the eye , hence responsible use .
Having general knowledge of where objects are located in the sky allows one to just point the scope without having to look through an optical window , thus being an easier more comfortable way to get fixed on an object .
This is a great benefit for those of us that experience discomfort due to a neck injury or the pains that come along with the aging process .
It is also nice when others ask where you are looking as the laser will show pinpoint accuracy that beats a finger point any night .
And as a teaching tool , it's pretty cool when hand held , enableing a night sky tour in pointing out constellations etc . to a group or other individuals

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zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: starrancher]
#5268845 - 06/12/12 10:34 PM

I ask because a bunch of nitwits were "painting" planes at the local airport as they came in for a landing, and it was on the news.

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Jarad
Postmaster

Reged: 04/28/03

Loc: Atlanta, GA

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: starrancher]
#5269144 - 06/13/12 08:18 AM

Quote:

I thought it was illegal to aim lasers up into the sky, for fear of blinding airline pilots.

It is illegal to point a laser pointer at or near a plane. So if you use one as your finder, you do need to take care when you are swinging your scope around that you don't sweep near a plane. And you should turn it off once you get to your target.

Quote:

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

1 - They don't dew up.
2 - You don't need to crane your neck to look through it.
3 - Once you are on your target, anyone else near you can follow your pointer with their scope.
4 - It looks really cool.

As long as you are responsible about how you use them, they are fine. One other downside - a lot of star parties ban them if there are people imaging, so that their images don't get ruined by bright green lines sweeping through their field. I find that they are actually best for public star parties or school star parties, for reasons 3 and 4.

Jarad

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: Jarad]
#5269152 - 06/13/12 08:25 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

1 - They don't dew up.
2 - You don't need to crane your neck to look through it.
3 - Once you are on your target, anyone else near you can follow your pointer with their scope.
4 - It looks really cool.

5 - if you're color blind, like me, you may see green much better than red.

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DaveJ
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/07/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5269186 - 06/13/12 08:44 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

1 - They don't dew up.
2 - You don't need to crane your neck to look through it.
3 - Once you are on your target, anyone else near you can follow your pointer with their scope.
4 - It looks really cool.

5 - if you're color blind, like me, you may see green much better than red.

EVERYBODY sees green much better than red - colorblind, or not! That's why you won't see anybody using a red laser as a pointer/finder, only green.

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hottr6
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/28/09

Loc: 7,500', Magdalena Mtns, NM

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5269208 - 06/13/12 09:11 AM Attachment (17 downloads)

Quote:

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

Most GLPs quit when the temperature drops below 55F, informing non-polar bears that it is time to go indoors.

Seriously, temperature affects battery performance and GLPs are very, very particular about battery performance. As long as you keep them in your pocket, they will work when the mercury falls, but as a telescope pointer in cold weather, they are bleedin' useless.

I wrapped a resistor ladder around the battery compartment. Works great now!

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Smittty692k4
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/05/11

Loc: East Bernard, TX

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: hottr6]
#5269382 - 06/13/12 11:28 AM

The beam travels for ~5 miles, in case you were wondering.

And yes, it looks awesome slewing across he sky

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Busguy
member

Reged: 06/14/07

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: Smittty692k4]
#5269411 - 06/13/12 11:59 AM

Be careful around aircraft, it's been stated already I know. If a pilot gets 'painted' by a laser, he'll:
Report it to ATC
Get a position plot off onboard systems as close as practical and possible.
Report it to the FAA who in turn will notify local law enforcement.
It's a big deal from the cockpit standpoint nowadays.
FWIW,
Joe

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SteveG
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/27/06

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: hottr6]
#5269504 - 06/13/12 12:57 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Also, what is the advantage of using a green laser over a red dot or optic finder.

Most GLPs quit when the temperature drops below 55F, informing non-polar bears that it is time to go indoors.

Seriously, temperature affects battery performance and GLPs are very, very particular about battery performance. As long as you keep them in your pocket, they will work when the mercury falls, but as a telescope pointer in cold weather, they are bleedin' useless.

I wrapped a resistor ladder around the battery compartment. Works great now!

Only the cheaper units. I've had mine for 3 years, same battery, and works flawlessly at cold temp's. Plan on paying at least $100 and get one with an off/on switch.

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killdabuddha
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/26/11

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: SteveG]
#5269561 - 06/13/12 01:24 PM

Quote:

Plan on paying at least $100 and get one with an off/on switch.

Naw...Try this

* Link removed by mod *

Found them by readin a laser forum wherein these were rated best. But if you wanna pay more for sumthin that's called "astronomical equipment"...

As for their adequate power, see

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20035242

Edited by tecmage (06/13/12 02:07 PM)

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tecmage
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/13/10

Loc: Groton, CT

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: killdabuddha]
#5269565 - 06/13/12 01:25 PM

GLPs are safe and acceptable at 5mW and lower.

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barbarosa
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/11/10

Loc: "lamorinda", CA

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5269569 - 06/13/12 01:29 PM

II think the laser is a great accessory but I do not use one, and for these reasons.

Risk of police activity--Who wants to be the subject of a report like this one. In California, there have been both arrests and convictions.

The laser beam is visible because is scatters off dust and water drops in the air. It sometimes is visible well to the side of the user. I live a quarter mile from a campus. I have observed college idiots pointing lasers at aircraft, clouds, and ground targets. That means that even lawful laser use might be seen and reported to the police.

As an astronomer, you must be aware of how little light is required to destroy your night vision. The only difference between you and a pilot is speed/altitude and mass.

When I was flying for the Army in Texas, locals poaching deer or drinking would sometimes try to spot light us during night exercises. It was very dangerous.

As I see it then there are three negatives in using a laser: police investigation, putting aircrew and passengers at risk or actually causing an accident.

Nevertheless, you say, I don't live near an airport and I will watch for planes. Good, that reduces an otherwise unnecessary risk of life and property. It still leaves you open to police activity.

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howard929
Member

Reged: 01/02/11

Loc: Low End of High Ground

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: Busguy]
#5269572 - 06/13/12 01:32 PM

Quote:

Be careful around aircraft, it's been stated already I know. If a pilot gets 'painted' by a laser, he'll:
Report it to ATC
Get a position plot off onboard systems as close as practical and possible.
Report it to the FAA who in turn will notify local law enforcement.
It's a big deal from the cockpit standpoint nowadays.
FWIW,
Joe

The entire view from my back yard has commercial jets passing quite high up every 5 to 10 minutes as they head towards JFK. I'd love a GLP for my dob but would be missing all these good Cloudy Night tips from a jail cell. I'd better pass on one of those, the dog would miss me around here...

Howard

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: DaveJ]
#5269896 - 06/13/12 04:45 PM

Quote:

Quote:

5 - if you're color blind, like me, you may see green much better than red.

EVERYBODY sees green much better than red - colorblind, or not! That's why you won't see anybody using a red laser as a pointer/finder, only green.

Yes, but I don't see red AT ALL. The standard for laser pointers everywhere else other than astronomy is red. Sit through a million power point presentations and see.

Edited by MRNUTTY (06/13/12 04:54 PM)

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5269997 - 06/13/12 05:55 PM

Quote:

The standard for laser pointers everywhere else other than astronomy is red. Sit through a million power point presentations and see.

That's because (a) you don't want to see the beam, only the "dot" and (b) because red is good enough for that in a small room. I sometimes do presentations on a large screen in a large theater - and the red dot is hard to see then so I use a green one.

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#5270210 - 06/13/12 08:20 PM

I don't see the Red dot. Thank you for using a green one.

Edited by MRNUTTY (06/13/12 08:21 PM)

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desertstars

Reged: 11/05/03

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: howard929]
#5270212 - 06/13/12 08:24 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Be careful around aircraft, it's been stated already I know. If a pilot gets 'painted' by a laser, he'll:
Report it to ATC
Get a position plot off onboard systems as close as practical and possible.
Report it to the FAA who in turn will notify local law enforcement.
It's a big deal from the cockpit standpoint nowadays.
FWIW,
Joe

The entire view from my back yard has commercial jets passing quite high up every 5 to 10 minutes as they head towards JFK. I'd love a GLP for my dob but would be missing all these good Cloudy Night tips from a jail cell. I'd better pass on one of those, the dog would miss me around here...

Howard

It's a common limitation in an urban/suburban location. I live directly beneath one of the main flight paths for Davis-Monthan AFB, and believe me when I say I don't use a GLP at home. I do use it at dark sites, from time to time, to help direct fellow club members to something I'm observing.

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Stew57
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/03/09

Loc: Silsbee Texas

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: desertstars]
#5270237 - 06/13/12 08:44 PM

I live on a flight pathto Houston. I am very careful. I only turn the laser on when the scope is not auto slewing. It does help in setting up close to polar aligned before alignment.

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greggle
newbie

Reged: 06/12/12

Re: Green Laser question new

new

[Re: desertstars]
#5270296 - 06/13/12 09:32 PM

planes should have their autopilot on so you should be fine if they're not taking off or landing

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