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Observing >> General Observing

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AXAF
sage


Reged: 09/15/04
Posts: 234
Loc: New England
Green Laser Pointers and the Cold
      #3435895 - 11/08/09 07:26 AM

I observed last night in the cold (temps in the 30s) with friends and proudly brought along my new green laser pointer. However, when I went to shoot the beam up into the sky, I got barely any sort of output. I surmised that the cold was the cause of the problem, and tried to warm it up by keeping it in a jacket pocket, which seemed to help though not much. Does anyone have a better approach?

As soon as I brought it back home and gave it a chance to warm up, the beam shined brightly again.

-Gary

--------------------

Torus Optics 32cm f/6 Dob
Osypowski Equatorial Platform
Fujinon 10x70
Coronado PST plus SolarMax 40 filter
Vixen GPD2 on a Berlebach Tripod
StellarVue SV90T


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nyc_nurse
sage


Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 254
Loc: nyc
Re: Green Laser Pointers and the Cold new [Re: AXAF]
      #3436007 - 11/08/09 09:35 AM

That's pretty much what happens with the output of lasers in the cold. Some models boast feed-back circuitry that reduces temp related output drops but best thing would be to keep it as close to your body as possible when not using it.

--------------------
Sam P.
www.agirlandaguy.blogspot.com

Pentax 7X50
TV-102 APO w/ (Starbeam - on backorder )
Ash Gibraltar w/ SkyTour DSC
NZ3-6, N9T6, N13T6
TV 20 Plossl
Pan 24, 35
Pentax XW10, XW14


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scott m
super member
*****

Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 190
Loc: Hatfield Pa
Re: Green Laser Pointers and the Cold new [Re: nyc_nurse]
      #3436302 - 11/08/09 12:33 PM

I keep mine next to a hand warmer in my pocket, it still gets cold rather quickly but keeps it warm enough to make it usable.

--------------------
Orion Astroview 120st EQ w/rigel+2"diag(Cosmo)
Zhumell 10 inch dob w/telrad (Oddball)
Nikon AE 10x50 Binos
Astro-Tech Paradigm 5,8,12,15,18,25mm
GSO SuperView 30mm,20mm,15mm,10mm
Knight Owl EWA 6mm,9mm
Zhumell Plossl EP Kit


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Tim A.
sage


Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 239
Loc: 40 30'N 105 3'W
Re: Green Laser Pointers and the Cold new [Re: scott m]
      #3463249 - 11/23/09 01:58 AM

I keep mine in my shirt pocket, next to my skin. Depending on the temperatures, whatever layers are above it seem to keep it warm enough to work at 100%.

By the way ... does permitting a GLP to get very cold (sub-zero F) harm it in any way? I was wondering if it's OK to leave it in my vehicle full-time, but it sometimes gets very cold here. I would never use it until I'd warmed it up to about 70 degrees (shirt-pocket temperature), but it would go through some temperature extremes in the "off" state. Does anyone know for sure if that's OK? I've been keeping it indoors.

--------------------
  • F/5 12.5" Dob (Starbucket)
  • Celestron CPC800
  • Celestron CR-150 HD on CG5-GT
  • Galileoscope
  • Oberwerk Deluxe II 20x80 & Ultra 10x50
  • Celestron Regal LX 8x42 (gone AWOL)
  • Bio-binoculars 1x6

    "Me? Crazy? Oh, yeah. Crazy like an ox!"


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  • Tony Flanders
    Post Laureate


    Reged: 05/18/06
    Posts: 3469
    Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
    Re: Green Laser Pointers and the Cold new [Re: AXAF]
          #3463351 - 11/23/09 05:29 AM

    Quote:

    I tried to warm it up by keeping it in a jacket pocket ...




    Laser pointers are nice and slender. I keep mine in my pants pocket, where it stays *really* warm. Jacket pockets are for things that need warmth, but not so much, like eyepieces and eyeglasses.

    --------------------
    Tony Flanders

    First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
    Second, binoculars.
    Last but not least, telescopes.
    And I sometimes dabble with cameras.


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    dmbryan
    journeyman


    Reged: 07/01/09
    Posts: 8
    Loc: Birmingham, Alabama
    Re: Green Laser Pointers and the Cold new [Re: Tony Flanders]
          #3466367 - 11/24/09 05:36 PM

    Quote:

    Quote:

    I tried to warm it up by keeping it in a jacket pocket ...




    Laser pointers are nice and slender. I keep mine in my pants pocket, where it stays *really* warm. Jacket pockets are for things that need warmth, but not so much, like eyepieces and eyeglasses.




    Mine stays in my pant pocket as well.

    --------------------
    Starblast 4.5
    CPC 1100
    cheap 10x50 binos


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