You never want to look at the "dot". If you have to, use as much density or attenuation as you can to still see what you're looking for. I use a pair of 4" diameter polarizers to look through at the terminal spot. Like a large astronomical moon filter. You can adjust the density to whatever you need to make it comfortable or see what you're doing.
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FrozenGate by Avery
Safe too view the dot of lasers?
- Thread starter apollo248
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This is probably useless, but I calculated a 1W beam would have to be smaller than 21.3 feet in diameter to do damage. That means with a divergence of 1.2 (what I consider average), you would have to be closer than 3.3 miles away to get damage. But considering things like atmosphere/air pollution, it's probably safer than that. Still... Be safe.
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3.3 miles is still a long way.
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Correct, it would be 2.7 miles... All I'm saying is, you guys are stretching it. A mountain? Shining a laser at a distant mountain is not going to blind every person there (that is, if it's not closer than 3 miles). I understand not stargazing with it, as there could be planes that aren't visible, but I think it's safe as long as it's distant.
