[AZ-Observing] Re: Green Laser Pointer
- From: Andrew Cooper <acooper@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 05 May 2006 22:26:57 -0700
The "cool" laser thing has a benefit! It catches the kids attention,
once you get it you need to turn it to the sky, not always easy, but
getting their attention can be half the battle. So, now you need to
keep it, once the surprise at seeing the bright green beam subsides, the
laser becomes a wonderful tool to show off the sky.
What I have learned is that properly used the laser is more than a
simple pointer. Through gestures and motion you can start to
demonstrate motions and patterns in the sky. Talks about motions of the
moon or planets start making so much more sense. Try pointing out where
the moon will be tomorrow or the next day. Where will Saturn be a week
from now, or a month. Rotation of the earth and the position of the
North Star make so much more sense to people when you use a green laser
properly.
I have just begun to learn what I can do with it, but it is certainly
part of the arsenal, sometimes as important as the telescope.
Andrew
Andrew Cooper
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.siowl.com
gene lucas wrote:
>The problem with all the >green< lasers is that they work via an
>"optical heterodyne" principle -- two solid-state IR lasers "beating"
>against each other, to achieve the visible green line. Thus the
>alignment is >very< critical on such units, and can easily get out of
>adjustment, causing either a loss of power, or failure to produce the
>green frequency at all. There are web sites that describe the
>difficulty of trying to "tweak" one of these into operation (or >back>
>into operation). A task of micro-manipulation to say the least!
>My opinion is that you are merely demonstrating how dirty the air is
>with these things..... If you see somebody shining a green one BACK at
>you, I would get worried!! Why not buy one of those Ba-Zilllion
>candlepower, battery operated spot lights at Chekker or Pep Boyz, and
>put a coffee can shield on it?
>Oh yeah, it's the kewl "laser" thing. I remember when every geek's
>dream was to own a laser powerful enough to burn holes in razer blades.....
>Gene Lucas
>(17250)
>Thom/TFW wrote:
>
>
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