Can a green laser pointer with low power be used for star-pointing?

[navyadmire]

in photonlexicon, there are guys tell me laser pointers with high power is dangerous. i am a astrophile and want a green laser for star-pointing. i find one with less power and much lower price http://www.ekindom.com/laser-pointer...r-Pen-_LL0772B compared with the previous one http://www.ekindom.com/laser-pointer...en-kit_LL0189B. but the point is if one with low power can be used for star-pointing. Is it bright enough?

[hakzaw1]

you error was asking about a pointer at the projector forum== wrong place my friend..
and yes any laser even a 1mW red cat toy can be very bad- as i can get somebody arrested if used wrong-- and that could be a very bad thing..

Too may people associate lasers with laser sights on weapons and with terrorists and more. Intentional lasing of any aircraft in USA is no longer just a felony... its a FEDERAL OFFENCE... how are people supposed to tell star pointers from the other users good or bad?

too many cell phones and nothing stopping people from using them in error..

haks two cents

[edison]

Good point. In the US the law says that everyone should have the right to own a Gun to protect themselves. Well we all know what a fantastic law that is. Massive killings on schools and other public places is the result of owning a dangerous weapon. Laserpointers are the same nowadays. A pointer is a weapon and when you are done starpointing and lay it on the kitchen table because the phone rings your kid grabs it and looks at the aperture and pushes the button. Think about that before you buy one of these damn pointers. Pointers should be banned and owning one should be prevented by law. Make it 10000 euro or usd fine but as speeding tickets the goverment will make it 500 usd or euro so people will keep affending the law and they have found another way of getting money in

[Eidetic]

There is nothing wrong or inappropriate about using a laser pointer of less than 5mW for pointing out the stars. Green laser pointers are generally banned at large star parties because they interfere with those imaging, and many of them in the air at the same time is a big distraction to those who seek out a dark sky environment. 5mW of green light is plenty of power for that application.

[f150trk21]

Its not a law its a RIGHT, and it is fantastic.

[edison]

Its not that fantastic because history tell that people can,t handle the responsibility. Wait until one of your neighbours childdren shoots your kid with a gun that is owned by your neighbour or that you have an argue with someone about a few dollars and shoots you because he snaps. Great right you have over there. But he that,s just my point of few. Buying a gun or owning a weapon has to do with being afraid and the weapon industry knows exactly how to exploit this. Buy a gun so you can feel save in your home. They don,t tell you the otherside of the story. But coming back the start of this thread. A laserpointer is a weapon and so they should be forbidden because people can,t handle the responsibilty of owning one.

[f150trk21]

thanks for your opinion, I will never do business with you because of it. But I do agree, that I dont like people having or building high power laser pointers.

[Eidetic]

A 5mW laser pointer is only dangerous if one pokes someone in the eye with it. That's a "pointer". A laser with more power than that is no longer a "pointer", and is a different ballgame. It's really amazing that I had no problem at all carrying my Arctic Spyder onto the aircraft with me last week in San Jose. It was in the briefcase. They opened it to see what it was, I told them it was an alignment laser, they put it through again alone and sent me on my way. The battery was dead so I couldn't have turned it on for them if I was asked. I wasn't asked to. At the airport in Boston, I left it out of the briefcase and put it in the bin with my shoes. The guy stopped the x-ray, looked at me and asked "flashlight?". I said "laser". He smiled and let it roll. That's NOT a laser "pointer", and despite being as concerned about aircraft security as anyone serious, I don't think even those are a threat worth the attention of Big Brother.

[edison]

Well i,m not selling pointers or guns Just that we have a different opinion doesn,t make you are me a bad person but apparently i get judged by this opinion that i have about pointers.

[navyadmire]

There is nothing wrong or inappropriate about using a laser pointer of less than 5mW for pointing out the stars. Green laser pointers are generally banned at large star parties because they interfere with those imaging, and many of them in the air at the same time is a big distraction to those who seek out a dark sky environment. 5mW of green light is plenty of power for that application.

then if green laser pointers are generally banned at large star parties because they interfere with those imaging, can it be replaced by other laser pointers or would star pointing derectly banned. you tell me 5mW of green light is plenty of power for this. that's what i want. thank you.