Quote:
Originally Posted by rainwatcher
A somewhat disturbing thread. There is no need for green hand held lasers, outside of the laboratory, in Astronomy. They should be banned.
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Your position seems to be one based on ignorance. Lasers are useful in Astronomy for aligning telescope optics, creating artificial guide stars, as finders and for public outreach.
They have been mis-used by a scant few by being pointed at aircraft. The sad thing ( I have been personally targeted at work...it was a total non event) is despite literally tens of thousands of "laser tags" of aircraft globally there has not been a single related safety incident. I rather these clowns didn't do it, but to repeat, there has not been a single safety related consequence.
The media frenzy however has been quite disproportionate. The reality is: people have shined bright lights at aircraft , and occasionally pilots notice said light.
Somehow this has been turned into a "Dr Evil death ray" by the media that can somehow down an aircraft..something I'm sure various defence forces would be delighted to learn, you can take out a MIG with a $29.95 pointer
... with clueless politicians passing knee jerk legislation to ban these heinous "death rays"
Baseball & Cricket bats can easily break a kneecap in the wrong hands. Should these be banned?
Sadly astronomers are very much in the minority and have very little political or media clout. We got screwed on this one big time, due apathy and ignorance of people like yourself.