Bob, I'll second that emotion. I picture an otherwise dark observing site
crisscrossed by shafts of green light - not the experience I hope for when
observing. And in addition to the hazards you mentioned, there is the
remote but real potential for encountering a low flying aircraft and (at the
very least) distracting its pilot.
I've seen posts on other lists about using laser pointers as finders, and
it's high time to voice the contrarian opinion. Thanks, Bob.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Jardine" <rljtac@No-Spam>
To: "The Astronomy Connection" <sf-bay-tac@No-Spam>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:28 PM
Subject: [TAC] Green Laser Ptr as a Finder -- NOT
> 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.
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!
> http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/
>