Hey if I had one, I'd use it like that! It's a good idea. For me it would
be easier to point the scope since I wouldn't have to look through the
finder to verify a locaion. ;)
Michelle Stone
Custom Telescopes by Plettstone
http://www.plettstone.com/telescopes
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam [mailto:sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam]On
> Behalf Of Bob Jardine
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:29 PM
> To: The Astronomy Connection
> 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.
>
>
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