Quick status update:
The pointer I ordered did arrive today. Works as advertized. I cannot measure the power, but it sticks a bright green bar into the sky, clearly visible from behind. More than enough power to point at the stars. I will ask my wife for help in a dark night to judge how big the visibility radius might be.
I didn't check divergence, but it is unnoticable for star pointing so it does not really matter. Maybe I do measure this one day. I first need a really, really black target that consumes most of the light. Or some propper safety goggles. Or both. The spot is uncomfortable to look at, even on black velvet.
It has a good, round beam profile with just a small ammount of stray light. Probably because of inner reflections in the optics.
I definitely won't use it as a real pointing device in a meeting as it certainly outshines everything I would try to point at and freighten my audicence. A freak toy.
And that is meant to be <50mW. :undecided:
I wonder what I should make with the old pen. Take it apart? Try to salvage some parts? Replace the dead interior against some other cool module?
I'll see.
I will ask my questions in the proper area.
And I will have to extend my footer, i guess, to show that I'm no virgin anymore. :crackup: