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I'm an amateur backyard astronomer and thought it would be neat to see what articles I could find related to astronomy and lasers.
Here is some of what I found, some relate to laser pointers and some to the use of other lasers in astronomy.
(I know there are other astronomers on the forum and they should especially enjoy these articles
(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
(yea ! - I'd really like one of these chairs in the next article ! - see photo in article at link below)
(quote)
The joystick also controls a built-in green laser pointer that helps you aim at specific sky locations or shows you where you're looking when you happen upon an interesting object while randomly sweeping the sky.
(end quote)
source for the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Equipment - Laid-Back Astronomy
(quote)
Like many of you, I never head off to a star party without my trusty green laser pointer close at hand. These great and increasingly inexpensive gadgets have really revolutionized how we point out sights in the night sky to newbies and veteran skywatchers alike.
(end quote)
source of the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Observing Blog - Green Lasers: A Hidden Danger
(hey, maybe some of you can aim for the reflector on the moon mentioned in the next article
(quote)
Since Apollo deployed laser retroreflectors, astronomers have routinely used them to track how the Moon is slowly moving away from Earth. This helps scientists develop a better understanding of the processes that are causing this motion, including what's occurring inside the Moon's core and the tidal motions on Earth.
(end quote)
source of above quote: Astronomy.com - Lunokhod 1 retroreflector found
(quote)
From their observatory on Mount Hopkins south of Tucson, Arizona, Hart and his group point a bundle of green laser beams into the night sky. Some of the laser light bounces off oxygen and nitrogen molecules high up in the atmosphere, creating five artificial stars spread across the field of view.
(end quote)
source of above quote: http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=10113
(quote)
The instrument is designed to detect dust, clouds and fog by emitting rapid pulses of green laser-like light into the atmosphere. The light bounces off particles and is reflected back to a telescope.
"One of the main challenges we faced was to deliver the lidar from the test lab in Ottawa, Canada, to Mars while maintaining its alignment within one one-hundredth of a degree," says Whiteway. "That's like aiming a laser pointer at a baseball at a distance from home plate to the center field wall, holding that aim steady after launch for a year in space, then landing," he adds.
(end quote)
source of above quote: Astronomy.com - Mars lander gets instruments ready for operation
(quote)
The group plans on purchasing a 6-inch reflecting telescope; a solar telescope for viewing features on the Sun; four binoculars, two 10x50 and two 8x42; two eyepieces with Moon filters; 75 star and planet locators; and a green laser pointer.
(end quote)
source of above quote: Astronomy.com - Astronomy names 2007 "Out-of-this-world" Award winner
(quote) (this one is past dated, but perhaps they'll have more such events again)
Dates
December 26, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Time
11:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Event
HOLIDAY PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS
Location
New Jersey, USA
Description
The Newark Museum will present holiday planetarium programs and laser shows on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. December 26 through 31. Explore the seasons, the winter solstice, as well as holiday music illustrated with wonderful laser imagery.
(end quote)
source of the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Event Calendar - HOLIDAY PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS
Here is some of what I found, some relate to laser pointers and some to the use of other lasers in astronomy.
(I know there are other astronomers on the forum and they should especially enjoy these articles
(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
(yea ! - I'd really like one of these chairs in the next article ! - see photo in article at link below)
(quote)
The joystick also controls a built-in green laser pointer that helps you aim at specific sky locations or shows you where you're looking when you happen upon an interesting object while randomly sweeping the sky.
(end quote)
source for the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Equipment - Laid-Back Astronomy
(quote)
Like many of you, I never head off to a star party without my trusty green laser pointer close at hand. These great and increasingly inexpensive gadgets have really revolutionized how we point out sights in the night sky to newbies and veteran skywatchers alike.
(end quote)
source of the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Observing Blog - Green Lasers: A Hidden Danger
(hey, maybe some of you can aim for the reflector on the moon mentioned in the next article
(quote)
Since Apollo deployed laser retroreflectors, astronomers have routinely used them to track how the Moon is slowly moving away from Earth. This helps scientists develop a better understanding of the processes that are causing this motion, including what's occurring inside the Moon's core and the tidal motions on Earth.
(end quote)
source of above quote: Astronomy.com - Lunokhod 1 retroreflector found
(quote)
From their observatory on Mount Hopkins south of Tucson, Arizona, Hart and his group point a bundle of green laser beams into the night sky. Some of the laser light bounces off oxygen and nitrogen molecules high up in the atmosphere, creating five artificial stars spread across the field of view.
(end quote)
source of above quote: http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=10113
(quote)
The instrument is designed to detect dust, clouds and fog by emitting rapid pulses of green laser-like light into the atmosphere. The light bounces off particles and is reflected back to a telescope.
"One of the main challenges we faced was to deliver the lidar from the test lab in Ottawa, Canada, to Mars while maintaining its alignment within one one-hundredth of a degree," says Whiteway. "That's like aiming a laser pointer at a baseball at a distance from home plate to the center field wall, holding that aim steady after launch for a year in space, then landing," he adds.
(end quote)
source of above quote: Astronomy.com - Mars lander gets instruments ready for operation
(quote)
The group plans on purchasing a 6-inch reflecting telescope; a solar telescope for viewing features on the Sun; four binoculars, two 10x50 and two 8x42; two eyepieces with Moon filters; 75 star and planet locators; and a green laser pointer.
(end quote)
source of above quote: Astronomy.com - Astronomy names 2007 "Out-of-this-world" Award winner
(quote) (this one is past dated, but perhaps they'll have more such events again)
Dates
December 26, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Time
11:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Event
HOLIDAY PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS
Location
New Jersey, USA
Description
The Newark Museum will present holiday planetarium programs and laser shows on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. December 26 through 31. Explore the seasons, the winter solstice, as well as holiday music illustrated with wonderful laser imagery.
(end quote)
source of the above quote: SkyandTelescope.com - Event Calendar - HOLIDAY PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS
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