Gary T, That's been my experience as well. You almost have to have a working knowledge of the sky to point the laser correctly anyway. As for myself, when I'm not aiming mine at passing airplanes or at folks with their headlights on high beam, I will usually pass my laser to more knowledgeable folks like Siegfried, Mark Bloomenthal, Mike Bailey, Daniel etc., folks who know the sky, so that they can show the people gathered where the objects are located. Another item that grabs peoples attention at star parties and keeps them coming back, is the technology used in today's telescopes. I can't begin to count the number of folks at star parties who will gather around my 10" LX200, or Toms 11" Celestron or even Robs ETX125, to watch them slew from object to object at the mere push of the button. I see a lot of these same folks returning time after time because of this technology. They are facinated with the idea of being able to "tour" the night sky at the touch of a button. Whether these people run out and purchase telescopes or otherwise become involved in astronomy doesn't matter. What matters is that they keep coming back night after night to engage those of us who show up. I know, I know, with a manual scope or binoculars, and a thorough knowledge of the sky, who needs technology? It is 2005, and while it's great to live in a simpler less complicated time, technology is here and it's here for a reason. It is used to make things better. To help make better use of time. And whether that technology comes in the form of a green laser, or a fully computerized telescope, that will level and align it'self, that will track an object clear across the sky while you sit back and drink coffee, or, shoot the breeze with your friends, I believe that regardless of it's form, technology has a place at star parties...JMHO Guy Quoting Gary Thompson <agaryt@mstar.net>:
Star Parties turned me on to astronomy in the last few years. Though I don't have a laser, I percieve them to be very beneficial in showing a group of people around the night sky.
Gary T.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Hards" <chuckhards@yahoo.com>
Finally, if one sees the lasers being used at "private" star parties, where it is assumed that most or all of the attendees are veterans, there is the proof that it's more of a toy than legitimate tool. I would prefer to keep the lasers under the planetarium dome, but then I'm a firm believer in the KISS principle and low-tech approaches whenever practical. Richard Proenneke is my hero.