Re: Flash Blinded By Green Laser
From: Yukovnia (moldavia_at_sucom.sea.com)
Date: 01/02/05
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Date: Sat, 01 Jan 2005 22:55:28 -0600
Only MORONS use these things in a crowd.
They ought to be prosecuted to the full extent of their moronism,
and Im fully confident soon there will be LAWS AND LAWSUITS!
Is this really worth it? The idea that these things will soon be added to some
cellphones, as pointers?, is shere stupidity and malice.
John
Gary Honis wrote:
> I've been watching the news channel reports today on green lasers and the
> dangers to pilots. I've also been reading the messages here about using
> green lasers to easily point out objects in the night sky. I don't own a
> green laser pointer but I have a unique opinion of green lasers because I
> was flash blinded by one accidentally turned on by Howie Glatter at a star
> party. When a pilot says he was "flash blinded" by a green laser, I know
> what he experienced and the disorientation that results. I have also been
> a very active dark sky advocate for many years and I feel that astronomers
> should strongly discourage their use for the following reasons:
>
> They are a safety hazard and unsafe to dark adapted eyes.
>
> They are another form of light pollution.
>
> Their use is unnecessary.
>
> My initial report of the eye injury follows:
>
> <begin 9/15/04 message>
>
> Thanks to all that have contacted me to express their concern about my
> vision after being hit in the eye by a green laser at the Black Forest Star
> Party. I cut my vacation at Cherry Springs short and returned home to have
> my eye checked by my eye doctor. I am hopeful that vision in my eye will
> return to normal and the problems I am experiencing will subside.
>
> The accident happened on Saturday night, just before 8:00 pm as we were
> making final preparations of our telescopes for a night of clear skies. Me
> and Tom Ludwig were being shown images taken by a fellow GHHAS member, Tom
> Bash, on his laptop. I was startled by a bright white flash that blinded my
> left eye. My eye was saturated by an intense white light and my reaction
> was to look in the direction I had been facing to see the source of the
> light. I squinted with my right eye and I was able to see a DNCR truck
> passing nearby and wondered if it had a white strobe light. I noticed more
> flashes of white light in the direction of the truck and then flashes of
> green light. This was followed by green streaks on us, our equipment and
> the ground where we were standing. We heard a female voice, which was Howie
> Glatter's wife shouting: "Howie..turn it off", over and over until Howie got
> control of the laser.
>
> I ran to my van to check my eye in my outside rear view mirror. I rubbed my
> eye hoping that vision would return to normal. I looked up and keeping my
> right eye closed, blinked my left eye and noticed a dark area in the center
> of my vision. I closed my left eye, blinked my right eye and noticed a
> similar dark area but not as prominent.
>
> I was very upset by the experience and let Howie know how I felt. Green
> Laser pointers are not allowed by Cherry Springs State Park; from its
> Astronomy Field Rules publication: "NO green laser pointers are permitted at
> any time." The star party organizers, Central Pennsylvania Observers, list
> four star party rules at the top of the registration packet that all star
> partiers are provided which includes: "No Green Laser Pointers! The use of
> green laser pointers on the observing field is prohibited." The Black
> Forest Star Party web site lists three star party rules and Rule #2 is: " NO
> GREEN LASER POINTERS (GLPS). GLPs pose a serious danger to eyesight, as well
> as astrophotography. Please refrain from using these devices while at the
> Star Party. Anyone caught using a GLP will be asked to leave."
>
> I reported the incident to the CPO and park management and an incident
> report was filed.
>
> Howie has expressed his concern to me about what has happened and has
> offered to compensate me for expenses incurred. I understand that the
> accident was not intentional but I believe it was completely avoidable by
> adherence to Star Party and State Park rules.
>
> This is my plea to all green laser pointer owners: Don't bring green lasers
> to star parties. God's gift of eyesight is too precious to be lost in an
> instant of negligence.
>
> Dark skies,
>
> Gary Honis, P.E.
>
> <end message>
>
> Gary Honis, P.E.
>
> Assitant Director - GHAAS
>
> Member - IDA
>
> Member - POLC
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