From the April 2015 issue

Laser crime and punishment

Safety is paramount with these astronomical tools.
By | Published: April 27, 2015 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
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Green lasers may have replaced telescopes as the most common item in the astro toolkit. Their narrow beams are perfect for pointing out stars.

But there’s a dark side.

Three years ago, a Northern Californian named Sergio Rodriguez kept aiming a high-powered laser at a police helicopter. Result: He was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison.

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