My backyard stargazing session confused a passing patrol car

I was out last night with my telescope, trying to catch a glimpse of a satellite pass. I had a powerful green laser pointer to help align it, which must have looked suspicious from a distance. A cop car pulled up, and the officer thought I was signaling aliens or something equally ridiculous. We had a good laugh after I explained, and he even stayed to look through the scope for a minute. Sometimes the universe brings people together in the strangest ways.

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3 Comments

mary_brown7mo ago

That green laser pointer for alignment, did you check local regulations before using it? I've read stories where those things cause real security scares. What was the satellite you were trying to track, something common like the ISS? Just wondering how close you came to a more serious misunderstanding.

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amyj717mo ago

Come on, is it really that serious? Most places don't even have rules for small laser pointers like that. The security scares you hear about are usually just people getting scared over nothing. I was tracking a simple weather satellite, not the ISS, but it's the same idea. Lasers are just tools for lining up the telescope, not weapons. So no, I don't think I was anywhere near a real misunderstanding.

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baker.grace7mo ago

Absolutely, those laser scares are no joke.

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