Post your random pics!

[RB astro]

Beautiful shots, it looks like great summer weather too, unlike the 10 degree F with about 7" of snow on the ground here in NJ

Cheers Bruce.
Yes, it was perfect weather for us on our special day.

RB

:beer:

 

[Alaskan]

Eye in the sky spy balloon.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Very nice Alaskan. It is huge and looks like a floating bomb.

 

[Alaskan]

Only electronics onboard, but yep, looks like one. I keep thinking about how much trouble I would be in if they saw me using my laser on base with it at night.

 

[CurtisOliver]

It sure does. I wouldn't shine your lasers just in case.

My 1000th post. Officially can become a vet.

 

[Alaskan]

Oh my lord, lock the executive bathroom.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Only another 50 posts and you become Class 4.

 

[RedCowboy]

I remember reading about those for surveillance over cities, but now we supposedly have drones loitering around

 

[Alaskan]

Today was the first time I was next to one while pulled down to the ground for some kind of routine maintenance, I presume. So, thought I'd take a photo and post, no secret, you can see the thing from many miles away. I believe it is probably over 1,000 feet high on the end of the cable, maybe 1500.

Class 4? I want class 5! - Yes, I've thought about that too.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Class 5. That would be nice, and would make you incredibly dangerous if it existed.

 

[Alaskan]

I think we should have a higher classification, four numerical digits just doesn't seem enough, there should be at least ten levels of power the way I want things to be, but silly, just stick the higher powers all in class 4, that makes me almighty. I started to write about the sun, instead I will give this link: https://www.quora.com/As-the-Sun-is...al-light-should-we-consider-it-to-be-coherent

The classifications relate to safety anyway:

Table of Laser Classes

Class 1 Safe.
Class 2M Visible lasers. Safe for accidental exposure (< 0.25 s) providing optical instruments* are not used.
Class 3R Not safe. Low risk.
Class 3B Hazardous. Viewing of diffuse reflection** is safe.
Class 4 Hazardous. Viewing of diffuse reflection is also hazardous. Fire risk.

http://www.lasersafetyfacts.com/laserclasses.html

 

[CurtisOliver]

It isn't, I remember this being discussed on here before. Class 4R, Class 4B, Class 5 etc.
Can't remember the exact terms, but it was roughly like this.

Class 4R: 0.5-1.5W Danger to eyesight and risk of skin burns.
Class 4B: 1.5-5W Extreme danger to eyesight and quick exposure to beam will still lead to skin burns.
Class 5: 5W+ Extreme danger to eyesight and extreme risk of skin burns. Do not obstruct beam.

 

[Alaskan]

I should have said they are related to one another, I just think the main reason for the classifications are safety.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Safety is the reason. The main reason I believe that there should be higher classifications is from experience. The danger of a NUBM44 to a M140 is many times higher than the power ratio. The power is high enough that you have to choose very carefully what you are going to use as a beam stop. Again the difference between a M140 to that of a A140 is rather surprising.

 

[Alaskan]

I sure wouldn't want to be hit with an NUBM44, but even a A140 can blind you, so I'd be splitting hairs calling one worse, yet you are right, the NUBM44 is far more dangerous to have an accident with compared to the M140 or A140 due to the increased power, like comparing a small knife with a big knife I suppose.

A thought occurred to me after reading your post, I wonder how far a 7 watt blue beam would need to be expanded to equal the power density of a 5mw 3mm diameter beam which enters the eye. This kind of question is something I can work through, I've seen others post on this before.... time to break out the calculator.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Lazerbee, why don't you buzz off.

Edit: Not Laserbee (Jerry)