Chuck At the Gravel pit and the Wolf Creek star parties a few others including myself have used the green Lazar pointer to point out certain asterisms. At the time I don't believe anyone was taking pictures. Now that you mention it, it would be a good idea before using one, as good star-party etiquette, to either ask or announce you are about to use one to see if anyone has an objection. I really enjoy using one to either point out or to have someone point out to me certain hard to recognize astersims. I think it is a good educational tool, but at star parties there are others to be considered. We noticed that when the humidity is low and when the sky is clear and free of dust the darn things are hard to see anyway. Jim Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote: I've read recently of a growing scorn of green laser pointers at star parties, due to their rapid proliferation and easily-seen beam. It seems that so many people are using them that other observers are beginning to speak out against them as light pollution on the field. Especially imagers & astro-photographers. I've been hankering for one of those for a long time, but if it's going to irritate people, perhaps I'd better not. Have any list members experienced this? Is this just at the large, regional star parties, or are camps pro & con forming up at the local level? Particularly would like feedback from owners & frequent users of green pointers. Thanks! Chuck __________________________________ 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 --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software

I've lusted after one of these things myself, hoping the price will continue to drop some. I often use my 4-cell maglight at star parties for the same reason, pointing out constellations or object locations to newbies, and the light-spill from that is far worse than some green laser light. I concur with what's been written so far; if people are imaging they should let the group know about it; if people are lasering they should also do the same, and between the two hopefully such problems will be avoided. Rich --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:

I've read recently of a growing scorn of green laser pointers at star parties, due to their rapid proliferation and easily-seen beam. It seems that so many people are using them that other observers are beginning to speak out against them as light pollution on the field. Especially imagers & astro-photographers.

I've been hankering for one of those for a long time, but if it's going to irritate people, perhaps I'd better not.

Have any list members experienced this? Is this just at the large, regional star parties, or are camps pro & con forming up at the local level? Particularly would like feedback from owners & frequent users of green pointers.

Thanks!

Chuck

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