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- Nov 10, 2010
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Hello forum!
I would like to buy a 532nm green laser pointer for astronomy purposes. It will be used by hobby astronomers at our local observatory for guided stargazing events with groups of up to 20 persons. The laser will be handled by professional laser experts only.
These are the specs I have in mind:
IMPORTANT:
- The beam must be clearly visible at night for people standing some 10-20 feet off the beam line. On the other hand, it must not be too bright, so that faint stars are not outshined. According to this review an output power of 20-50mW seems reasonable to me.
- pen-style or very small host like Laserglow's Galileo model
- stable beam: small effect of temperature change on brightness, no TEM mode jumps
- operation in a winter night should be possible (-> min. operating temperature)
- quality product, no cheap plastic toy
- price < 100$ / 75€
- shipment to germany
LESS IMPORTANT:
- TEM00
- type of battery
- IR filter
UNIMPORTANT:
- on/off click switch (In fact, I think I'd prefer a momentary switch on the side.)
- adjustable focus
- waterproof
NOT SURE IF IMPORTANT:
- beam divergence and diameter
- duty cycle: on-time not shorter than 60s? better: no duty cycle at all?
I've already found products labelled 'astronomy laser' or similar, like the Galileo or the corresponding models at DragonLasers. But they are all class IIIa lasers, and I'm afraid that a 5mW beam wouldn't be bright enough for a person standing 10 feet away under disadvantageous conditions (dry air, light pollution, dusk time).
Does anyone know a product that matches my description?
Should I scale down my specifications?
How important are divergence and duty cycle for a star pointer?
I would like to buy a 532nm green laser pointer for astronomy purposes. It will be used by hobby astronomers at our local observatory for guided stargazing events with groups of up to 20 persons. The laser will be handled by professional laser experts only.
These are the specs I have in mind:
IMPORTANT:
- The beam must be clearly visible at night for people standing some 10-20 feet off the beam line. On the other hand, it must not be too bright, so that faint stars are not outshined. According to this review an output power of 20-50mW seems reasonable to me.
- pen-style or very small host like Laserglow's Galileo model
- stable beam: small effect of temperature change on brightness, no TEM mode jumps
- operation in a winter night should be possible (-> min. operating temperature)
- quality product, no cheap plastic toy
- price < 100$ / 75€
- shipment to germany
LESS IMPORTANT:
- TEM00
- type of battery
- IR filter
UNIMPORTANT:
- on/off click switch (In fact, I think I'd prefer a momentary switch on the side.)
- adjustable focus
- waterproof
NOT SURE IF IMPORTANT:
- beam divergence and diameter
- duty cycle: on-time not shorter than 60s? better: no duty cycle at all?
I've already found products labelled 'astronomy laser' or similar, like the Galileo or the corresponding models at DragonLasers. But they are all class IIIa lasers, and I'm afraid that a 5mW beam wouldn't be bright enough for a person standing 10 feet away under disadvantageous conditions (dry air, light pollution, dusk time).
Does anyone know a product that matches my description?
Should I scale down my specifications?
How important are divergence and duty cycle for a star pointer?