Dangerous Space Lasers?

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The Wave Catcher United States of America
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Dangerous Space Lasers?

#1

Post by The Wave Catcher »


I don’t want to be looking near my zenith when one of these shines down my telescope. If the lasers are bright enough to see the beam shining through the atmosphere and reflect enough energy back for detection, it seems to me that it may be intense enough when magnified through a telescope to hurt your eyes.

What are your thoughts? Is there anyone with inside information to know if is really a problem? I know we can go to jail in the US if our guide lasers hit an aircraft.

https://weather.com/science/space/vide ... bservatory
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Re: Dangerous Space Lasers?

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Post by chris_g »


The Wave Catcher wrote: Fri Feb 10, 2023 4:24 pm I don’t want to be looking near my zenith when one of these shines down my telescope. If the lasers are bright enough to see the beam shining through the atmosphere and reflect enough energy back for detection, it seems to me that it may be intense enough when magnified through a telescope to hurt your eyes.

What are your thoughts? Is there anyone with inside information to know if is really a problem? I know we can go to jail in the US if our guide lasers hit an aircraft.

https://weather.com/science/space/vide ... bservatory
Thanks for the heads up, literally. I would not want to be looking directly at any laser, much less one that has been magnified through a telescope. The cause being most likely of Chinese origin, I will stop here and say no more as it could quickly devolve.

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Re: Dangerous Space Lasers?

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


The beam would be moving quickly enough that if it did manage to travel down the telescope tube you likely would not notice it.
LIDAR is a common technique use for atmospheric measurement (as in this case) and even sea/ land levels for accurate mapping.
They have even used it recently in Slovakia to pinpoint Roman ruins under the ground.
Definitely not something I personally would be concerned about.
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Re: Dangerous Space Lasers?

#4

Post by The Wave Catcher »


That’s what I was hoping Lady Fraktor. It is likely that the duty cycle at a given spot on the Earth is so very low that even high power lasers would be “eye safe”. My concern was that I thought LIDAR from a satellite would use 1000-1550 nm (IR) wavelengths where it may be safer for your eyes and not the reported green laser that is right where your eyes are the most sensitive. I’m sure they need to use the wavelength that scatters the most energy from the desired target.

I’ve seen a lot of weird satellites while visual observing but I certainly don’t want one of my eyes burned out by one. 8-)

Yes I agree, LIDAR has found some incredible archeological finds all over the worlds.
Last edited by The Wave Catcher on Fri Feb 10, 2023 10:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Dangerous Space Lasers?

#5

Post by Makuser »


Hi all. I think that Gabrielle hit the nail on the head with her post. LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging or "laser imaging, detection, and ranging") is used for surveying, agriculture, oceanography, geology, and archeological research. It can be used overhead (aerially) of hand held at ground level. It can penetrate thick vegetation and the soil to return a 3D image (and range) of something that pings back. It has been a blessing for archeologists. You can read more about it here, at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidar
Thanks for this interesting thread Steve and the best of regards.
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