Laser Pointer Questions

[Omeletter]

Hi all, I would like to know if it's legal to buy a Green Laser Pointer - 3-5 Milliwatt in UK, East Sussex, at age 13. I know that you can't point it at aeroplanes, police and people's eyes. I want to use it for presentations, astronomy and such, I had a cheap laser for presentations last year, it was 1 Milliwatt green. You know the cheap ones you could get at almost any shop.

5 milliwatt green is quite bright, about as 200 milliwatt red I saw in a video. Except it won't burn through the wall. :D

[paganwannbe]

you just want to drive your cat crazy :biggrin: I don't know what the laws are in the uk but where I'm at in Virginia I think it's 5-6 milliwatt is the most someone can have I think

EDIT: we have a red one here at 5 mw as the max output and a wave length of 630-650m

[Omeletter]

you just want to drive your cat crazy :biggrin:

 

That's the main thing. :D Never gets old.

But I also do some astronomy, green 5 milliwatt lasers can make a beam.

Well, I checked some websites, it says most stores that sell laser pointers require you to be 13+. It said for 1-5 milliwatt laser, so yeah the ones I want to get.

 

Quick Edit - You said red 5 milliwatt are available. If 5 milliwatt are there, then yes, any 5 milliwatt are available.

[paganwannbe]

If you don't mind getting it on line you should try dinodirect they have one thats suits your need

Perfect for astronomy, presentation, tutorial, and office meeting use

* Produce clearly visible green beam in the dark

* Can ignite matches

* Wave Length: 532nm

* Output Power: 100mW

* Material: Aluminium alloy

* Woking Voltage: 3.0~3.7V

* Output Mode: Constant wave

* Storage Temperature: -10~50°C

* Powered by: 1 x 10440 Battery (included)

* Optimum Operation Temperature: 10~30°C

* Size: 92 x 12 x 63mm / 3.6 x 0.5 x 2.5in (L x Dia. x Cable Length)

for £ 24.58 and world wide freeshipping

[Illiad86]

holy crap lol that's a crazy laser...

 

Here in the U.S....anything above 5mW is illegal if it's a pointing device, federal crime and everything lol. Not sure what the U.K.'s laws are about them though.

[Balagor]

In DK they are illegal too, no matter your age. Police come hard down on you, after a aerplane had a near miss in CPH aerport due to laser pointing.

Now probably all hand hold lasers will be forbidden here.

[Omeletter]

Well, I see that UK doesn't like anything above 1 Milliwatt. I read that you need "basic" training for them. And the laser Paganwannbe showed is excellent when I get more interest in astronomy.

[Illiad86]

Why, hello fellow astronomer :)

 

From what my boyfriend heard on this astronomy forum he's on, this laser actually does a decent job:

 

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=optical_aids/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=05673/~sSearchSession=067b7372-3133-42b9-a6f9-e2c64900939c

 

Cripes, expensive lol...

[Omeletter]

Why, hello fellow astronomer :)

Hehe, don't call me that. I'm just starting in it, so I don't know a lot of it.

About laser, I tricked my cat into jumping in a bin with my 1 MW green. :D

[Illiad86]

hehe, ahh, it's nice to see someone else getting into it, it's an awesome hobby :D

 

Haha, I've always wanted to get a laser toy for my cat...he's a perky little butt, I'd love to see how he would react to a laser :P