[AZ-Observing] Re: Instant criminals
- From: "Thad Robosson" <starstarcracker@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:40:08 -0700
Jeffmight@xxxxxxx wrote:
>It seems the first arrest of a person using a laser to attempt to disable an
>airliner is an amateur astronomer who "used it to point out stars to my
>daughter". I wonder how long it will be before someone we know is put through
>this ordeal i.e. trying to prove their innocence to the federal government. I
>hope they give us a special section at Guantanamo Bay.
>
Jeff, do you have a link to the article?
Because it's raining, and astronomy has been really quiet of late, I'm
going to risk some
(attempted) logical thinking out loud here....
(PLEASE NOTE>>> I am skipping ALL of the political context of this
discussion and
moving straight on to the mechanics behind the incidents. I'm not
questioning anybody's
thoughts, theories, political leanings, etc, so if this thread turns
ugly, don't blame
me....I simply want to discuss the topic below.)
I've heard rumblings that the planes in question were being "tracked"
with the lasers.
It would be interesting to know how well they were tracked, though I
doubt we'll
ever know. Seems to me that if the guy really was "pointing out
stars", then the pilots
would have *maybe* noticed *one* flash. (And would any of us even
consider pointing
a green laser anywhere near a moving aircraft?) So if the pilots noted
more than one flash,
then I'd have to say the guys story is bunk. Not that it helps
astronomers any.....indeed
the damage has already been done.
Added bonus thoughts....How big is a cockpit window? How much control
would someone from
say, a mile or two, have to possess to point a laser in that area, even
momentarily, while it's moving
at a few hundred mph? Is it feasible to think that someone *could* do
it by *hand*?
I know there are some pilots in the group, what are your thoughts?
Just bored on a Tuesday afternoon,
Thad
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