Sky Pointing Questions

A bit of an idiotic move on my part, but I have purchased a few high-powered ~700-750mW lasers from WL.

Question: What mW lasers should I have been looking for if all I wanted to do was point them at stars? My neighborhood is a bit high on the light pollution, so the <5mW pens I have don't quite cut it. The only one that worked was a green one that I accidentally dropped that somehow upped the output before breaking a few months later.

Question: Who should I be looking to for these lasers? I still have yet to obtain a more powerful green one.


Question: What precautions should I be following when attempting to use the more powerful lasers (if they ever get shipped) for skypointing? I already read the safety guide on this site, and I live near a small airport, so I know not to point them at or near people/pets/biological optics/reflective surfaces/planes/buildings/etc. Safety goggles I think I'm supposed to ignore if I actually want to see the beam outside, but obviously I should own the proper ones for the right wavelengths. Anything else?

Thanks in advanced.

Fill out your profile with your age and location, no one can answer you if they don't even know what country your in. You also need to make a post in the welcome area to tell us a little about yourself.

If by chance you live in the US, do not under any circumstances whatsoever shine any laser outside if you are within 10 miles of any airport. It is also not legal to shine a laser in the flight path of an airplane, it doesn't have to be shined at the plane to be illegal. Also don't point it in the sky in any densely populated area where you will draw attension to yourself. Other than that the laser you want is a low power green, something like <50mW.

If you are outside the US then disregard the above and someone else will answer you.

Alan

Light pollution should help make beams more visible.

@Pi R Squared-I didn't know that. There is a small airport right next to where I live (3 miles) and I shine all the time outside.

USAbro said:

Light pollution should help make beams more visible.

@Pi R Squared-I didn't know that. There is a small airport right next to where I live (3 miles) and I shine all the time outside.

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Just because you may not see the planes, they can still be there. I suggest you use a flight radar on your pc or phone to make sure you're not accidently pointing at them.

USAbro said:

Light pollution should help make beams more visible.

@Pi R Squared-I didn't know that. There is a small airport right next to where I live (3 miles) and I shine all the time outside.

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You would need a variance from the FAA and that would require some legitimate purpose such as surveying or something. I strongly suggest you stop while you can before homeland security swat teams your home and takes you away.

Alan

if you live nearby i would strongly advice not to do it, nobody can know your intentions, for all they know you can be a terrorist or a punk kid who likes to shine lasers at aircraft its better if u dont draw yourself attention.

Well, nuts. Also made a thing on the welcome thread.

I guess for now on, I'll just use it when I'm far away from airports and indoors.

Several years ago, I was using a laser outside of a facility, just 3000' from an airport. Then I learned that shining it into the flight path was illegal too, so I stopped.