----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul LeFevre" <lefevre@No-Spam>
To: "Richard Crisp" <rdcrisp@No-Spam>; "The Astronomy Connection"
<sf-bay-tac@No-Spam>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 2:03 PM
Subject: RE: [TAC] Green Laser Ptr as a Finder -- NOT
Richard wrote:
> One night out at Montebello, Leonard Tramiel and I did an unscientific
> experiment to see if his green laser messed up an image I was taking. I
> didn't see any effect at all. Your mileage may vary.
Not to beat this topic to death...but mileage does indeed vary.
I did a similar test (with a wide-field scope, Tak FS60C, not a narrow-field
SCT).
1-minute exposure, laser being moved through field: streaks in the image.
1-minute exposure, no laser: no streaks in the image.
My setup was picking it up, easily visible.
Hence my strong sentiments for banning the little things :)
Paul
---- Good story. I am unsure what filter I was using at the time if any. If it was anything other than green, [OIII] or clear, the filter would have blocked the light. Hence my comment about it being unscientific.I have become so spoiled with imaging either in my backyard or with a very small group of like-minded imagers, that I cannot imagine going to a big star party with all the G.D. rules etc. No way, Jose. I like my uncovered laptop screen, like having the option to use a white flashlight to debug any potential problem that may arise etc. I am confident the company is great, but I am really just not willing to be restricted and or restrained when I invest that much time, money and energy going remote. I'd prefer to find a more remote location where I can run a generator all night, have my uncovered laptop screen and be able to play Mozart, Hendrix or Willie Nelson at 100dB if I so choose. Someone had mentioned a place where the late afternoon is passed by doing target practice, with a tri-tip being bbq'd for din-din while waiting for the flats to finish. That's my kind of outing to the max. Fire up the Honda or Yamaha and enjoy having 110V A/C all night long (microwave oven, space heater etc etc.) and screw the restrictive rules. You folks have fun up there, but I will do my thing where I can do what I really want to do. rdc