Question about laser reflection

I have an <5watt laser for a pistol I keep for home defense. Our room is set up in such a way that one wall entering our room is a mirrored closet. In testing my aiming for the most likely entry into our room, the bedroom door, I pointed the laser at the the hallway, seeing the reflection of the laser in the mirror.

The laser does not appear any brighter than pointing it at a wall, and it illicits no blink response. I am assuming that it would take a very steep angle to reflect light back in such a way that it would be harmful. I cannot see the emitter, it is very indirect. Is this correct? I have included a diagram.


(This diagram is a steeper angle than what I really have, I'm just not very good at making diagrams. I am the star, looking into the mirror and seeing the dot hitting the hallway wall)

As you can see, I view the reflection in the mirror of the laser hitting the far wall at a steep angle. To me it appears no different from looking at it on the wall without the mirror.

Would this type of view be safe or should I avoid any further contact of this sort? In the dark, were I faced with an intruder, I would almost certainly be faced with this viewing situation again. Thanks.

Be very careful of mirrors with a laser, but as long as it doesn't reflect back at you then yes you are safe.

Alan

I kind of thought so, but it was confusing. I know to never look at a laser in a mirror, but in this case looking into the mirror I was seeing the red dot on the wall in the reflection. The wall reflects a safe amount of light, so when looking at the laser hitting the wall in the mirror, the mirror is only reflecting the light reflecting off the wall, which is within safe parameters. Actually it's all still very confusing. But sort of fascinating at the same time. Mirrors and lasers. Weird.

Back in the 90s I did actually take a direct mirror shot from a laser, and I reacted very quickly, it was terrible. Anyway thanks for answering that.

Your welcome, are you by any chance one of us older guys here? This song is from 1977:


:crackup: Sorry I couldn't resist, your username brings back memories of the distant past.

Welcome to LPF.

Alan

I'm older. I'm 46, so I was 7 when that song came out, but I've always loved Steely Dan and all of Donald Fagen's solo stuff too. Deacon Blues, like the rest of Aja, is a classic!

DeaconBlues said:

I'm older. I'm 46, so I was 7 when that song came out, but I've always loved Steely Dan and all of Donald Fagen's solo stuff too. Deacon Blues, like the rest of Aja, is a classic!

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Yes I agree. I am 54, will be 55 in February I hope, unfortunately my life is nearing its end. I was 15 when that song came out.

Alan

I'm very sorry to hear that. I guess none of us really know how much time we have left. But we can damn sure make the most of every day.

For today's listening enjoyment I recommend the album "Everything Must Go," by Steely Dan.

DeaconBlues said:

I'm very sorry to hear that. I guess none of us really know how much time we have left. But we can damn sure make the most of every day.

For today's listening enjoyment I recommend the album "Everything Must Go," by Steely Dan.

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Thanks, we have a music thread here, if you're interested feel free to post there.
http://laserpointerforums.com/f58/what-music-does-lpf-listen-83717.html
People are always posting a song they like or just saying what they listen to.

Alan