Hi TACOs,
I'm going to apologize in advance for flaming here. And I hope I'm not
starting a mail war, but I think this may be a somewhat important
topic. So here goes...
Flame Mode On :-)
When I was out observing sometime last week, during one of the usual
equipment discussions, I overheard one person say to another one
something about planning to rig up a mount for his green laser pointer
to use it as a finder. The person shall remain nameless, both because
he might consider the error of his ways prior to actually performing
this travesty, and also because I honestly don't know who it was.
Come on! You can't be serious, right?
OK. I have a green laser pointer, too. And I consider it both great
fun and of great utility -- in its place! Which is not as a finder.
It is for pointing out objects to other people, and then only after
asking for permission from (or at least warning) those around you about
its use.
And, really, what's wrong with a red-dot or other unit-power finder?
Is there really any more utility in the green laser version? I doubt
it. But I'll stand corrected if anyone can explain to me why it is
better.
But I think there are two really bad things about this idea.
One is that it could be dangerous. These GLPs are not toys. And
hooking one up to the telescope means that the user will be likely to
forget the normal precautions of not pointing the thing anywhere near
any person. And what happens if "the public" is present, and some
unsuspecting little kid walks up and puts his face in it?
The second one is that it is a source of light pollution, and we all
know that we have too much of that. Maybe it is a small source, but
why introduce more? When used, sparingly, as a tool to point something
out, the added light pollution can perhaps be justified. But to put
the thing on a 'scope, and probably leave it turned on for long periods
of time, seems like the gratuitous introduction of unnecessary light.
Yes, that was redundant.
Flame Mode Off :-)
OK. I've said my piece. I'll say no more about it if I get booed down
or if somebody can explain to me why this is a good idea.
Bob J.
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