Laser pointer update

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by Ric

In relation to your's I picked it straight away. It's off a "Yes" album on inside of the cover, I think it may be "Time and a Word"

Cheers

Oh wow. Signs of intelligent life on Earth.

The avatar isn't from "Time and a Word", which is pre Rodger Dean, it's from "Yessongs". However my handle is from "Time and a Word". BTW did you notice that Starless (who made my avatar) chose to honour another band of the same age and ilk?

[tornado33]

They say the cops can frisk people whom they think might be carrying a laser, does it mean they can also bash doors down and search peoples homes as well?

[Ric]

Hi Dave, that's what threw me.

Starless has a good one as well, from another classic album. King Crimson, the album is their first and is either self titled or "In the Court of the Crimson King"

Geez now I'm going to have to dig out all my vinyls, oh well a good excuse to crank up the record player.

Cheers

[Starless (Brian)]

Originally Posted by tornado33

They say the cops can frisk people whom they think might be carrying a laser, does it mean they can also bash doors down and search peoples homes as well?

They are an armed gang, they can do as they please.

[Starless (Brian)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

The problem...

The question remains: is there anything that we can do as a (more or less) unified force to protect our interests.

Dave

Yep,
refuse to comply, I want to see them try jailing 4000 astronomers.

[Cerberus]

jails are already overcrowded, unless they want to start mass home detention with gps leg monitors!
common sense should prevail here(well re laws it usually hasn't but here's hoping), if someone gets caught 1st time under new law, not in the act of using it on a plane, they might get the laser confiscated and a warning, after that a hefty fine, and after that jail time

I wonder how long it takes and who will be the first to be charged under new law

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by Starless

According to http://www.radarlaser.com.au/acabands.htm
police laser tax collecting equipment are 125mw devices.

I will have to sue for compensation for eye sight damage
caused by having one of those shone at me.

I'm amazed I was not instantly blinded!

When are police going to be banned from attacking
innocent motorists with these these high powered
anti-aircraft weapons?

However aren't they invisible to the eye , so can not damage your eyesight ?

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

The problem with waiting to see the legislation is that by the time we see it it will be a fait accompli. And we won't see the detail until the legislation is introduced. Given that the 'law and order' opposition will support it, it could be through both houses in a day. Unfortunately you often have to campaign on what you fear will happen. That isn't logical or reasonable but it is how the world often works.

I'm still wondering whether pulsing the laser so it delivers less energy per unit time would make it safer for untrained users while still allowing it to appear bright enough for us to use. There would still be the issue of the idiots who zap aircraft but I think that can be covered under the 'without reasonable excuse' provision. (And don't just take their word for it that they are really astronomers, ask to see a scope, ask them to identify 5 deep sky objects.)

The question remains: is there anything that we can do as a (more or less) unified force to protect our interests.

Dave

I wonder how many cops can point out much in the sky other than the sun and the moon and maybe the Southern Cross (only because it's on our flag) ?

I have sometimes wondered what would happen if I set a telescope near Williamtown Airport (the RAAF base for those who don't know) and a patrol officer saw me "in the act" in the dark.

SAS storm troopers would probably decend on me and blow it up , and ask questions afterwards .... heck expecially if I still sported my big bushy beard .
To them it would probably look like a very big rocket launcher or a very big mortar ....

[Cluster]

I just received my cheap laser ordered through eBay from Hong Kong. It's rated at 5mw (no idea what the real power is) and works pretty well. The Customs form declared it as 'Electronics' :-)

Very bright (almost too bright) and can easily be seen in the night sky. When shone directly at my hand the beam does not feel warm. I assume that means it does not output a dangerous level of IR radiation (unlike those overpowered '200mw' eBay lasers). I haven't taken it apart to check for an IR filter.

Not too late to get very cheap green lasers for astronomical use (at least in SA)...