green lasers

[space cadet]

I'm looking into getting a green laser pointer for camping this summer (not only are they good for pointing at stars, but it might also come in handy if I got lost. And believe me, I'm pretty good at getting lost.)

For those of you who have one, what kind would you reccomend and where would you get it? I've been looking at the ones on Ebay but some of them appear to be illegal.

[Doodler]

http://www.bigha.com/sky/index.php

That's one I found in a quick search. If you still EBay it, be sure to check for Class IIIa/5mW compliance or less powerful. That seems to be the maximum power legally allowed.

[Lurker]

I'm looking into getting a green laser pointer for camping this summer (not only are they good for pointing at stars, but it might also come in handy if I got lost. And believe me, I'm pretty good at getting lost.)
If you point it too near an airplane, it can be a terrorist act!! :o

[Doodler]

Just a note, if you use this thing to point out stars, make absolutely certain there isn't anything in the air nearby. I'll bet dollars to donuts its the green lasers the FAA and airline pilots are having agita about right now.

[space cadet]

Don't worry. I would never use one in a populated area. Like I said, its for camping. :)

[archman]

There was some concern a month or so back that sale of green lasers would be monitored by Homeland Security... don't know if that ever went anywhere though.

[Evan]

Green lasers are banned at many star parties. Not good for night vision.

[mickal555]

Green lasers are banned at many star parties. Not good for night vision. or astrophotos :evil:

I think Space cadet just wants to point out stuff to friends and family...

[W.F. Tomba]

Having never tried it myself, I'm curious about how one would use a green laser to point out stars. What is the laser supposed to reflect off? The sky? :)

[mickal555]

dust in the air :wink:

[zebo-the-fat]

Having never tried it myself, I'm curious about how one would use a green laser to point out stars. What is the laser supposed to reflect off? The sky? :)

The celestial sphere! :D

[Madcat]

Epicycles.

[Tensor]

Aether?

[Spacewriter]

It actually works pretty well -- it extends a green line up to the sky far enough so you can point to a star or object and others can see what it is you're pointing to fairly easily.

[NoXion]

Why don't Homeland Security and the FAA like powerful green lasers? :-?

[Musashi]

Blinding pilots and stuff.

[archman]

Why don't Homeland Security and the FAA like powerful green lasers? :-?

Not powerful green lasers, ANY green lasers. Green lasers can be aimed at objects with far better precision than red ones... you can see the beam as well as the dot.

[Doodler]

Why don't Homeland Security and the FAA like powerful green lasers? :-?

There have been a number of attempts lately to laser blind pilots on commercial airliners. At least a half dozen that I've heard on the local news here in DC.

[W.F. Tomba]

Why don't Homeland Security and the FAA like powerful green lasers? :-?

There have been a number of attempts lately to laser blind pilots on commercial airliners. At least a half dozen that I've heard on the local news here in DC.
I've been wondering about this. Should we necessarily assume that these were all intentional, malicious acts? I can easily imagine someone pointing a laser at an airplane for fun without realizing that it could be dangerous.

[Evan]

There have been hundreds of incidents. I expect we will see a ban on the sale of green laser pointers shortly.

According to the FAA, there have been more than 400 incidents since 1990 in which pilots have been startled, distracted, temporarily blinded or disoriented by laser exposure.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0105/012805c1.htm

[Stregone]

Doubtful. The buzz about the lasers has completely disappeared except for here on the net.

[Hamlet]

Doubtful. The buzz about the lasers has completely disappeared except for here on the net.

For the most part that's true, however this weeks CSI: Miami episode had a man using a green laser that blinded the flight crew and brought down a cargo jet.

I'm doubt there will be a total ban, but I wouldn't be suprised if there is increased regulation.

[Stuart]

Doubtful. The buzz about the lasers has completely disappeared except for here on the net.

Actually, media coverage has virtually ceased but the incidents are continuing and are still causing serious concern in the appropriate places. And, I might add, still being investigated. At the moment its unclear how these incidents are divided out. Some may be genuine accidents, some may be malicious vandalism, some may be sheer stupidity and there may be a residual number from all that which are the result of terrorism.

Frankly, I think shining lasers skywards at this time would not be a wise thing to do/

[Evan]

From the link above dated Jan 28-05:

The (congressional) report says policymakers might want to consider a range of options to mitigate the threat of lasers, such as restricting the sale or use of certain laser devices...

[publiusr]

Don't they have blue lasers and blue LEDs coming out?

[Evan]

Blue LEDs are common, blue lasers exist but are very expensive. Green is the best suited for a night sky pointer because that is where the maximum sensitivity of the human eye is. Red makes a lousy sky pointer because it isn't well reflected by the average particle size of dust and smoke in the atmosphere. Blue wouldn't be very good because the eye isn't very sensitive to blue.

[MrObvious]

Blue LEDs are common, blue lasers exist but are very expensive. Green is the best suited for a night sky pointer because that is where the maximum sensitivity of the human eye is. Red makes a lousy sky pointer because it isn't well reflected by the average particle size of dust and smoke in the atmosphere. Blue wouldn't be very good because the eye isn't very sensitive to blue.


But when blue lasers do become cheap, look out!

It's going to be Laser TV!! :lol:

[sarongsong]

Why don't Homeland Security and the FAA like powerful green lasers? :-?NORAD has found a use (http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/388-full.html#189579) for (presumably weaker) lasers:
"...its laser-based warning system designed to prevent innocently errant pilots from being shot down in the hypersensitive restricted airspace surrounding Washington, D.C. ...will get "illuminated" with alternating blasts of "safe" green and red laser pulses..."