Another Jasper Laser wrinkle...

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Paul Saffo <psaffo () iftf org>
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:32:49 -0800
To: <dave () farber net>
Subject: Another Jasper Laser wrinkle...

Dave,

These green lasers are especially popular in the amateur astronomy
community (there are 5 ads in this month's Sky&Telescope alone!), where
they are used to point out stars/etc at star parties. Now, most
backyard astronomy goes on in the suburbs, and suburban skies are full
of light aircraft and commercial flights on approach/takeoff.  Enough
planes that amateur astro-photographers shooting the sky from their
backyards routinely have their images ruined by the flash of aircraft
lights from planes crossing the star field they are aiming at.  Thus it
would be quite easy to accidentally to flash a plane while pointing out
a star. My fear is that amidst the growing laser-frenzy, some hapless
high school teacher showing the sky to a bunch of Cub Scouts is going
to get arrested as a terrorist...

-p


------ End of Forwarded Message


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