Re: [Utah-astronomy] N.J. approves ban on sale of select lasers
Ok, trying to post for the first time: Hmmm... what if they dual mount the laser/gun on their telescope? Bruce Hugo ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:26:21 -0600 From: Siegfried Jachmann <siegfried@jachmann.org> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] N.J. approves ban on sale of select lasers Message-ID: <CAH4Gk7h5n+3VYaqDc=3zaEvdZ_yYxB3yDXB8RMDA28YPS8Uxow@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Can California be far behind? On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 4:11 PM, william baker <baker464b@yahoo.com> wrote:
Am I assuming correctly that N.J. is the first state to consider a ban like this?
________________________________ From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 1:23 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] N.J. approves ban on sale of select lasers
NJ Senate OKs bill banning some laser pointers
The Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. --
The state Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would bar the sale of certain powerful laser pointers, sending the measure to Gov. Chris Christie's desk.
But it's not yet known when or if the governor will act on the bill.
The measure passed Monday by a 36-1 vote would ban the sale of laser pointers that exceed one milliwatt in output power.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/08/19/2899305/nj-senate-oks-bill-banning-s...
+++++ Interesting that the law does not apply to lasers mounted on guns. So I guess if a NJ star gazer want to use 5mW green lasers at star parties all they need to do is mount it on a gun.
Weird,
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-- Siegfried
Just call the 'scope a photon cannon. Dan On Aug 20, 2013, at 7:44 PM, Bruce Hugo <bruce.hugo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Ok, trying to post for the first time:
Hmmm... what if they dual mount the laser/gun on their telescope?
Bruce Hugo
------------------------------
Message: 3 Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:26:21 -0600 From: Siegfried Jachmann <siegfried@jachmann.org> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] N.J. approves ban on sale of select lasers Message-ID: <CAH4Gk7h5n+3VYaqDc=3zaEvdZ_yYxB3yDXB8RMDA28YPS8Uxow@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Can California be far behind?
On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 4:11 PM, william baker <baker464b@yahoo.com> wrote:
Am I assuming correctly that N.J. is the first state to consider a ban like this?
________________________________ From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 1:23 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] N.J. approves ban on sale of select lasers
NJ Senate OKs bill banning some laser pointers
The Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. --
The state Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would bar the sale of certain powerful laser pointers, sending the measure to Gov. Chris Christie's desk.
But it's not yet known when or if the governor will act on the bill.
The measure passed Monday by a 36-1 vote would ban the sale of laser pointers that exceed one milliwatt in output power.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/08/19/2899305/nj-senate-oks-bill-banning-s...
+++++ Interesting that the law does not apply to lasers mounted on guns. So I guess if a NJ star gazer want to use 5mW green lasers at star parties all they need to do is mount it on a gun.
Weird,
patrick _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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-- Siegfried _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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-- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin
It's just a gun with a HYOOGE riflescope and mounted on a tripod. It's sad that while responsible astronomers aren't the target of this kind of legislation, we will suffer the collateral damage. A 1mW green laser is useless as an astro pointer. IMO, 5mW units are marginal at best, especially under suburban skies and not suited to large groups. 10mW is about the low-end power cutoff point, from my experience, in order for a pointer to have some value as an astronomy pointer. The Grim scope at SPOC uses a 10mW rated laser "finder", if anyone wants to have a look at it's beam for comparison purposes, next time you're at a star party out there. It works very well when viewed close to it's axis, but becomes increasingly marginally visible the further off-axis the viewer is. 20mW+ laser beams are highly visible even for viewers very far off-axis. This would be my preferred lower-end threshold laser for large observing fields or nights with excellent transparency and very little suspended matter in the air. Dust, pollen, and water vapor enhance beam visibility greatly. The cleaner the air, the more power you need for the beam to be seen. On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 7:44 PM, Bruce Hugo <bruce.hugo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Ok, trying to post for the first time:
Hmmm... what if they dual mount the laser/gun on their telescope?
I meant to add that moonlight also renders not only stars invisible or difficult to see, but lasers as well. 5mW under moonlight can be very tough to see. Moonlight and the suburbs, or a parking-lot star party means you need more than 5mW to point out objects to the public.
I saw some nighttime footage from Egypt that showed numerous green beams being pointed at helicopter gunships.
I have had duck to avoid laser pointers at SPOC, they can be a nuisance. I imagine the New Jersey law was advocated by pilots, the air space is pretty crowded there as well. I cry no tears over laser restrictions. It's just a gun with a HYOOGE riflescope and mounted on a tripod.
It's sad that while responsible astronomers aren't the target of this kind of legislation, we will suffer the collateral damage.
A 1mW green laser is useless as an astro pointer. IMO, 5mW units are marginal at best, especially under suburban skies and not suited to large groups. 10mW is about the low-end power cutoff point, from my experience, in order for a pointer to have some value as an astronomy pointer.
The Grim scope at SPOC uses a 10mW rated laser "finder", if anyone wants to have a look at it's beam for comparison purposes, next time you're at a star party out there. It works very well when viewed close to it's axis, but becomes increasingly marginally visible the further off-axis the viewer is.
20mW+ laser beams are highly visible even for viewers very far off-axis. This would be my preferred lower-end threshold laser for large observing fields or nights with excellent transparency and very little suspended matter in the air. Dust, pollen, and water vapor enhance beam visibility greatly. The cleaner the air, the more power you need for the beam to be seen.
On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 7:44 PM, Bruce Hugo <bruce.hugo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Ok, trying to post for the first time:
Hmmm... what if they dual mount the laser/gun on their telescope?
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I'd like to see a green laser that would replace the marginally-useful polar alignment scope on my CGEM. Now that would be a handy astro device. I wonder if anybody makes one? Hmmm....I bet I could make my own...
The offset may be a little tricky.
I'd like to see a green laser that would replace the marginally-useful polar alignment scope on my CGEM. Now that would be a handy astro device. I wonder if anybody makes one? Hmmm....I bet I could make my own... _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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Not at all. I know precisely where the pole is, relative to Polaris. I'm betting that with a laser, alignment would be at least as good as using the polar scope, and maybe better, without the body contortions. That scope has quite a bit of slop. On Wed, Aug 21, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Erik Hansen <erikhansen@thebluezone.net>wrote:
The offset may be a little tricky.
I'd like to see a green laser that would replace the marginally-useful polar alignment scope on my CGEM. Now that would be a handy astro device. I wonder if anybody makes one? Hmmm....I bet I could make my own...
Yup, when it comes to UV and IR.
You're an eye-injury magnet when it comes to astronomy, Erik.
On Wed, Aug 21, 2013 at 11:17 AM, Erik Hansen <erikhansen@thebluezone.net>wrote:
I have had duck to avoid laser pointers at SPOC, they can be a nuisance.
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participants (4)
-
Bruce Hugo -
Chuck Hards -
Daniel Holmes -
Erik Hansen