I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC. Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC from Antelope Island. So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa. Anyone here interested in taking part? pw
Didn't you say earlier that you were going to do a bowling ball drop tomorrow night at AI? ;) Quoting Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>:
I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC.
Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC from Antelope Island.
So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa.
Anyone here interested in taking part?
pw
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I probably can't make it to SPOC, but I can tell you now that yes, lasers will easily be seen from each location. Hand-holding the laser will mean that only momentary flashes will be seen. If you want to have precision-aiming capability and keep the beam on-target, you must mount the laser on a telescope. In fact I'd hesitate to do it at all if hand-holding at that low of an angle. It's cheesy and bumps the "experiment" firmly into the realm of "fooling around". A remote switch helps also, since it keeps hand pressure off the laser while in-use. Just the pressure of pushing the switch is sufficient to throw-off the aim. Collimate the laser dot with a high-powered cross-hair eyepiece in the main instrument (not the finder) at say, 1/4 mile. Then it is an easy task to simply place your crosshairs on your target. This also helps assure that you won't accidentally sweep the beam over cars, boats, or low-flying aircraft. From SPOC, missing the island over the top will illuminate the airspace of the Test Range west of Hill Field, over the lake, so use discretion. A fancy bracket isn't needed to mount the laser on the telescope. Rubber bands and cardboard shims are sufficient to collimate the dot with the crosshairs. Once aligned, tape it imobile with masking tape. The laser isn't activated until you have your target centered in the cross-hairs. This keeps the beam from wandering around low to the ground, as discussed above. You can tweak the aim slightly with your slow-motions if needed. Exchange cell phone numbers so you'll be in contact with each other during the test. Your target can then tell you when they see a steady beam. Have fun, but be careful. On 8/3/07, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote:
I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC.
Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC from Antelope Island.
So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa.
Anyone here interested in taking part?
pw
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Isn't it possible to inadvertently shine a laser in the direction of low-flying military aircraft from either location, especially if pointed toward the north from SPOC? I think I'll stay clear of ground zero tomorrow night. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+kimharch=cut.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+kimharch=cut.net@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 4:55 PM To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Laser "test" at SPOC tomorrow? I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC. Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC from Antelope Island. So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa. Anyone here interested in taking part? pw _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com ______________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned by Cut.Net Managed Email Content Service, using Skeptic(tm) technology powered by MessageLabs. For more information on Cut.Nets Content Service, visit http://www.cut.net ______________________________________________________________________ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.2/933 - Release Date: 8/2/2007 2:22 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.2/933 - Release Date: 8/2/2007 2:22 PM
Yes, but if the laser is mounted on a telescope, properly aligned, and not activated until the crosshairs are actually on the target, that chance drops to essentially zero. Hand-holding is an entirely different matter and not recommended. On 8/3/07, Kim <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
Isn't it possible to inadvertently shine a laser in the direction of low-flying military aircraft from either location, especially if pointed toward the north from SPOC? I think I'll stay clear of ground zero tomorrow night.
So, did this happen? Results? Anybody get a photo? On 8/3/07, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote:
I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC.
Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC from Antelope Island.
So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa.
So, I'm with Chuck. Did the "Island to SPOCK" laser test happen? BB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Hards" <chuck.hards@gmail.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 8:17 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Laser "test" at SPOC tomorrow? | So, did this happen? Results? Anybody get a photo? | | On 8/3/07, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: | > | > I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope | > Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC. | > | > Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC | > from Antelope Island. | > | > So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser | > beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa. | > | > | _______________________________________________ | Utah-Astronomy mailing list | Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com | http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy | Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com |
One other problem with the test is that the folks at Antelope Island expanded the parking lot that we use. It is now very large and flat. This is nice for spreading us out and giving us a little elbow room at the star parties. In the process, they made it so that we can't see over the ridge (Unless we climb BOBs ladder). We wouldn't have been able to use the telescopes to help point without moving them up to the ridge. Dave -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+david.dunn=albertsons.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+david.dunn=albertsons.com@mailman.xmissio n.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 1:02 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Laser "test" at SPOC tomorrow? On 06 Aug 2007, at 08:17, Chuck Hards wrote:
So, did this happen? Results? Anybody get a photo?
No test. Not much interest to start with and then there was the risk of lazing an F-16 so I never organized anything. pw _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Maybe we can still do this before the weather turns cold. Let's keep it on the back burner for a while. When Ann and I did our test, my laser was mounted on a small, home-made 50mm refractor on a tripod. I used a 5mm illuminated reticle eyepiece with a 2.8X Barlow to facilitate precise aiming. I aligned the crosshairs with the laser dot at a distance of about 2 city blocks and this was good-enough for long distance aiming. Of course you can't see the dot when the target is several miles away because of it's large size at that distance, but the crosshairs still show the target area. Something like my set-up could easily be carried to higher ground, it only weighs a few pounds. On 8/7/07, Dunn, David <david.dunn@albertsons.com> wrote:
One other problem with the test is that the folks at Antelope Island expanded the parking lot that we use. It is now very large and flat. This is nice for spreading us out and giving us a little elbow room at the star parties. In the process, they made it so that we can't see over the ridge (Unless we climb BOBs ladder). We wouldn't have been able to use the telescopes to help point without moving them up to the ridge.
You do nto want an F-16 pilot mad at you, thats for sure
On 06 Aug 2007, at 08:17, Chuck Hards wrote:
So, did this happen? Results? Anybody get a photo?
No test. Not much interest to start with and then there was the risk of lazing an F-16 so I never organized anything.
pw
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Hey the F-16 could participate in the "test" as well, it carries the LANTIRN pod system, here's an exerpt from http://www.f-16.net/f-16_armament_article2.html They could orbit WELL out of range and still see us and our puny little lasers! Howard LANTIRN 2000 Three hardware enhancements comprise the basic LANTIRN 2000 offers. These additions are: A quantum well, third-generation FliR sensor; A 40,000-foot altitude, diode-pumped laser; A more compact, more powerful computer system. The 8- to 12- micron FliR uses quantum well technology for low-cost construction of extremely dense detector arrays. It extends weapon standoff range more than 50 percent, adding the mission flexibility of battle damage assessment and reconnaissance. Greater standoff range ensures less aircraft attrition. This third-generation FliR is 23 percent more reliable. The diode pumped laser operates at a greater range with a smaller spot size. Its lower beam divergence, greater resolution and pointing accuracy at 40,000 feet expand the altitude and range of the targeting pod. The diode-pumped laser is 17 percent more reliable, thanks to an improved power supply, fewer parts and a cooler operating temperature. An eye-safe training laser with tactical performance and range is integrated. --- Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:
Unless you're an F22 pilot.
On 8/7/07, erikhansen@thebluezone.net <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
You do nto want an F-16 pilot mad at you, thats
for sure
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I wonder if this comes in red. Might come in handy if you wan't to set up your scope in an area that is already occupied. Maybe use it just before the mace. ;) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292271,00.html
I'll remember to wear my sunglasses if I see Border Patrol with a 100-LED flashlight. So much for the barf light. On 8/6/07, diveboss@xmission.com <diveboss@xmission.com> wrote:
I wonder if this comes in red. Might come in handy if you wan't to set up your scope in an area that is already occupied. Maybe use it just before the mace. ;)
*Creative uses/occassions for the Barf light:* Stand in front of the window at Denny's and shine it in. Show up at a stranger's wedding, sit in the front row. Take it to class on finals day. Sit in the front seat on a UTA bus. Get courtside seats at a Jazz game. Visit the legislature in-session. Attend LDS conference. Try to get on-camera and make an impression in 70 countries. Stand by the outbound driveway at the Greyhound depot. Have Jodi Saeland attend your BBQ. Give it to your kindergartener for "show and tell". Take it to Walmart on December 24th. Take it to the Pioneer Day parade. Stand by "Cliffhanger" at Lagoon. The list goes on... On 8/6/07, diveboss@xmission.com <diveboss@xmission.com> wrote:
I wonder if this comes in red. Might come in handy if you wan't to set up your scope in an area that is already occupied. Maybe use it just before the mace. ;)
participants (8)
-
Barney B. -
Chuck Hards -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Dunn, David -
erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Howard Jackman -
Kim -
Patrick Wiggins