Not so much a discovery as just recent news, but the Air Force has apparently upped the restrictions on the use of lasers by Astronomers.  Not talking about the ones regular folk use to align their telescope, but the big ones used to measure atmospheric turbulence.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17978-astronomers-clash-with-us-air-force-over-laser-rules.html

 Just to let people know. This applies to all UK astronomers even though it could happen to the US guys aswell.

This week a news report commented on the use of lasers shining into aircraft. This is now a criminal offense in the UK. If you use a green laser don't point it into the sky if there is an aircraft about. Let's not let the idiocy of some yobs spoil our observing.

People have been put in jail in the US for pointing lasers at aircraft & helicopters.  The charges may not have been "pointing a laser at an aircraft" but rather something like felony endangerment, but it is still quite serious.

See http://www.laserpointersafety.com/ and http://www.pangolin.com/resguide09c.htm for more info

Don't use the things where I live.  With two international airports, two national airports, a municipal airport, and a military airport surrounding my position, not to mention the cops in their eggbeaters, it would be folly to even attempt to shine one skyward with all the traffic about!

L

 Green laser use by amateur astronomers requires a sense of responsibility. It is foolish not to take precautions when using one. They are a great tool for pointing out objects to other people looking through your telescope, especially at public outreach events. However, near airports it is just too risky to use one.

 I'm glad we have sense. It's just a heads up. Some teenagers are getting hold of handheld lasers and shining them at aircraft. Police aren't gunna care if you're an astronomer or not.

I totally agree that you must be responsible with the use of any laser.

I own two of them, One of them is probably illegal, it far exceeds the 5 milliwatt limit.

I won't say were I purchased it, but it can light a match!  that one stays locked up with my Guns.  I consider them a dangerous weapon, even a 5 milliwatt laser can cause permanent damage to anyone's vision

As an educational tool they make pointing out the constellations to newcomers so much easier, but I take extra care that no aircraft are in the vicinity when I use it.

I can also use it to temporarily shut off street lamps with it. it only lasts about 5 minutes and then I have to hit the sensor again .

It helps when I can't get away from my driveway since I have a street lamp right in front of my house only 25 ft away.  I just keep hitting the sensor every couple of minutes while I am taking images.

Laser pointers with outputs greater than 5 milliwatts are indeed illegal in the United States.

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm166649.htm

Dave Mitsky

HI Dave,

No doubt, but yet they are still advertised in this country, and they can't seem to stop anyone from purchasing them. kind of strange huh?

Dennis

I have seen advertisements for Green lasers as well as Dragon Lasers. Both offer a much more substantial MW rating than for pointing up at the sky. The stronger ones (in the order of 300mw I think) can actually burn things up to 20 feet away. Just go to youtube and type in lasers + melting things. The fact is, these are more like weapons than pointers. Not that it's any of my business but what the heck are these used for????

You can actually injure someone with these. If our country is going to put bans on guns...they should be putting a ban on these also. Why are "pointers" used to indicate a location of an object needed to be so powerful?

Backwards thinking for sure.

There are fools out there that are going to make it harder on the people who use them the proper way. See attached:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571246,00.html?test=latestnews