A couple thoughts: I recently purchased a green laser pointer, mainly for use at public star parties where I'd be surprised if anyone was attempting serious imaging. In the past, I've used a bright flashlight with a narrow beam, as I've noticed others using. While I tried to use the laser at Wolf Creek, the air was so clear that the laser was absolutely useless. I think we might consider an informal "policy" (or at least a request) to limit/ban the use of pointers of any kind at private star parties. For example, a bright flashlight was used by someone at a priviate star party where I was hoping to do some wide-angle photography. The flashlight and the observer's choice of sites to set up (between me and my south horizon) foiled my imaging attempts for that night. Since some laser manufacturers are promoting its use as a telescope aiming device, this genie may already be on the loose. Why not experiment with green lasers some evening at SPOC and see if the beam as most would use it really can affect imaging? We should consider wide-angle, long-exposure photography (such as I still do), CCD imaging, etc. How about it? -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 8:59 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Green laser backlash Thanks Paul & Jim for your insights. Seems like this is just another variation on music at star parties. Some folks like it, some don't. The pointer would be appropriate for an outreach-type, public education star-party, scouting event, etc., but should probably be kept under wraps during dark-sky, "serious" (whatever that means) viewing or imaging sessions, club "dark of the moon" nights. In 1997, when I was going-out every clear night (and morning!) to shoot comet Hale-Bopp (images for the gallery coming SOON!), my biggest annoyance was airplanes. One-fourth of my frames were marred by jets passing-through the field; since my eye was glued to the narrow field of the guiding eyepiece for all of the 3-to-5 minuite exposures, I never noticed them until I had the rolls processed. Nothing can be done about jets, but if I had found several green laser "trails" on those exposures, there's a good chance I would have had a confrontation with the wielder. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy