deal extreme 30mw laser

[caleb]

I am wanting this laser for use on my telescope. any advice. it is $28
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7883

[Ian Robinson]

Don't aim it at airplanes....or people....

[programmer]

Not from personal experience with one of these, but for $28, you're probably getting something much less than 30mw and likely emitting dangerous IR (one of the reviewers stated he could see where the IR filter had been removed).

What do you do if someone asks you if they should buy a cheap telescope off eBay? Remember you only get what you pay for.

[montewilson]

Have a look on the Jaycar site - there are some there although one expects this wont be the case much longer.

That price is about $1/mw which is so low that I agree, it sounds too good to be true.

The Jaycar laser looks similar and is about 11mw - that is heaps of power and more than enough to use as a sky pointer.

[caleb]

11mw, hmm i heard over 30mw, maybe 50mw is ideal for astronomy. But i did find another one which is true 30mw and has an IR filter. and only $25.

[xstream]

caleb,

You don't need 30mw - 50mw for astronomy 5mw - 10mw is more than ample.

[programmer]

Yes a true 'sustained' 5-10mw laser should be more than adequate in dark conditions. Some cheap lasers might have an instantaneous 'peak' power of say, 50mw, but are only able to sustain maybe 5mw. This is where the 'get what you pay for' line comes in.

[Ian Robinson]

Isn't the federal government or state government talking about cracking down on higher power lasers , been some idiots pointing them at helicopters, aircraft and people on highways.

I doubt more than 5mW in a laser for astro uses is inadequate in amateur applicatioons - I have an astrosystems laser (rated at 5mW) and it is plenty bright enough to project several hundred feet against surfaces.

There is also the safety aspect of using the laser you are thinking about too , if you are not properly trained , if you accidentially blind someone , or cause a serious accident , it could prove extremely expensive to you.

[caleb]

well i got <5mw, and its terrible!, you can see the beam in the dark but only for about 20m. and that with brand new alkaline bateries, or some good ones anyways.

[GeoffW1]

Caleb -

We don't need this obscene profanity here.

To the moderators, are there appropriate steps to be taken please? (done, thanks)

[monoxide]

get a telrad or similar, it will probably be more accurate and has no chance of getting you into trouble