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A post from the thread "Astronomy and Laser pointers" gave me an idea to start a general thread on educating the non-laser public.
Please post any other good ideas you might have to educate the non-laser public.
I'm sure some of you are legitimately concerned over public reaction to your use of green laser pointers outside at night, here is one neat idea I had for those of you who use your green laser pointer to point out stars at night.
There are sincere folk who simply don't know that green laser pointers are indeed legitimate tools for amateur astromoners and might question your use of them, if this happens, be polite and show them a copy of the article at the link below (print it out and highlight the paragraph that quotes the commercial airline pilot defending their use).
Tell them you carry a copy of the article because you realize the average person might not realize they are legitimate tools of amateur astromoners.
What better supporter of green laser pointers can you have than a commercial airline pilot defending their (responsible) use !
(highlight this part of the article after you print it out)
(quote)
"Green laser pointers are the best way we have found to point out objects in the night sky to the public," says Monty Robson, a commercial airline pilot and avid amateur astronomer. He regularly conducts observing sessions for high-school students and their families at the John J. McCarthy Observatory in Connecticut. "I would be very disappointed," Robson adds, "if these useful educational tools became restricted by law." Amateur astronomers can help minimize the risk of such an outcome by using common sense, following the safe practices outlined above, and educating others about the safe use of laser pointers.
(end quote)
source of the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Observing - Some Pointers on the Use of Laser Pointers
Again, even though green laser pointers are legitimate tools for amateur astromoners we must remember to be very careful to watch for planes, scan the sky first before pointing somewhere)
(if there is a local astronomy club in your area that uses green lasers during their star parties they can also be used as a reference for defending the legitimate use of green laser pointers)
.....any other ideas anyone ?
Please post any other good ideas you might have to educate the non-laser public.
I'm sure some of you are legitimately concerned over public reaction to your use of green laser pointers outside at night, here is one neat idea I had for those of you who use your green laser pointer to point out stars at night.
There are sincere folk who simply don't know that green laser pointers are indeed legitimate tools for amateur astromoners and might question your use of them, if this happens, be polite and show them a copy of the article at the link below (print it out and highlight the paragraph that quotes the commercial airline pilot defending their use).
Tell them you carry a copy of the article because you realize the average person might not realize they are legitimate tools of amateur astromoners.
What better supporter of green laser pointers can you have than a commercial airline pilot defending their (responsible) use !
(highlight this part of the article after you print it out)
(quote)
"Green laser pointers are the best way we have found to point out objects in the night sky to the public," says Monty Robson, a commercial airline pilot and avid amateur astronomer. He regularly conducts observing sessions for high-school students and their families at the John J. McCarthy Observatory in Connecticut. "I would be very disappointed," Robson adds, "if these useful educational tools became restricted by law." Amateur astronomers can help minimize the risk of such an outcome by using common sense, following the safe practices outlined above, and educating others about the safe use of laser pointers.
(end quote)
source of the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Observing - Some Pointers on the Use of Laser Pointers
Again, even though green laser pointers are legitimate tools for amateur astromoners we must remember to be very careful to watch for planes, scan the sky first before pointing somewhere)
(if there is a local astronomy club in your area that uses green lasers during their star parties they can also be used as a reference for defending the legitimate use of green laser pointers)
.....any other ideas anyone ?
