[ATMoB-discuss] Green Lasers?

[George Roberts]

50mw to 80mw green laser is ideal for most star party conditions.  Any brighter than 80mw gets too dangerous, unwieldy and so on. 
80mw beam pointing straight up can be seen by people on the ground from 50 to 100 feet away in typical boston area light polluted 
conditions.  Less than 50mw starts to get difficult to see for people who are 10 feet away trying to see your beam of light pointing 
into the sky.  50mw is much much too bright for a pointer to be used in a power point presentation!  5mw is better for this (and 5mw 
lasers are under $2 on ebay so get 2 lasers if you have 2 needs).

For a laser sight, green 5mw is enough for me (if red you need more power).  As long as you are looking down the beam you can see it 
clearly.  It's when you move your head 2 feet from the telescope that it becomes difficult.  I don't think 80mw would be 'too 
bright' for pointing a telescope but why go over the legal limit when 5mw is fine for this ($30 on ebay for 5mw green).

The only place I know of that sells these types of lasers (I think this is the only place!) is:
wickedlasers.com

The lifetime and battery life is specified for each laser - typically an hour continuous on 2 AAA's and 5000 hours lifetime.

- George Roberts
http://gr5.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bern Kosicki" <kosicki at verizon.net>
To: <atmob-discuss at atmob.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:39 PM
Subject: [ATMoB-discuss] Green Lasers?


> What are the recommendations on power needed for green lasers for use, first, to point out stars to others?
>
> Then, to use as a finder on a telescope?
>
> Also, any recommendations on the best place to buy?  It seems as though some lasers drop off in power if they don't have an 
> adequate heat sink...
>
> Finally, what are the expectations for lifetime of these products?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bernie Kosick
>
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