Re: GREEN Laser - on SALE

From: Paul Winalski (prune_at_ZAnkh-Morpork.mv.com)
Date: 12/15/04 

Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 17:59:31 GMT

Green laser pointers have their place. Public star parties, for
example. Our club hosts lots of star parties, mainly associated
with elementary schools, where we show off the sky to members of
the public completely ignorant of astronomy. Everyone's first
question is the obvious one: "What am I looking at?" Everyone's
second question is, "Where is it in the sky?" I used to have to
answer this with a long conversation along thses lines:

"We're looking at Albireo. You see that big pattern of stars
in the shape of a cross? It's at the foot of the cross."

"What cross?"

"You see that really bright star?"

"Oh, that one?"

"No, that's Vega. The one to the left and above it."

"That one?"

"Yes, Now look about 5 full moon widths in the 4 o'clock
direction . . . ."

And so on for about 5 minutes while the line of people waiting
to look through the scope grows longer and longer.

So I bought a green laser pointer. Now I just say, "We're
looking at Albireo, that star right there. It's part of the
constellation Cygnus, the main part of which is also known as
the Northern Cross." Pointing out both Albireo and tracing
the cross with the laser pointer as I speak. It saves a
tremendous amount of time. And the kids think laser pointers
are way cool.

But I completely agree that green laser pointers and sighting
gear are not appropriate for dark sky sites where there's serious
observing going on, especially if someone's doing astrophotography.

-Paul W.

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 15:48:49 -0500, RichA <none@none.com> wrote:

>Stop contaminating the skies with those "toys."
>-Rich

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