Laser pointers are essential if you want to foray into the world of astronomy. Choosing a right laser pointer, it can make stargazing and star-pointing a breeze.
As you may know, green lasers are the brightest laser in the market, making them brilliant for an astronomy-related activity, especially in the dead of the night sky.
Not sure which laser pointer to get for your next stargazing outing? We’ve compiled and compared the top 5 laser pointers for astronomy for you.
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Top 3 Astronomy Laser Pointers
Stargazing Laser Pointer Reviews
1. Pinty Green Laser Scope
- DURABILITY, made of aerospace grade aluminum, our laser sight features 532 nm wavelength, works well...
- POWERFUL GREEN LASER, highly visible green laser in any environments with improved accuracy, reaches...
- CONVENIENCE & COMPATIBILITY, comes with a remote control to easily switch laser on and off;...
The Pinty laser pointer offers durability, power, and convenience which makes it one of the top contenders for astronomy pointers.
Aside from stargazing, the Pinty laser pointer is also laser sight dot scope for your rifles.
Features
This astronomy laser pointer from Pinty is made from aerospace-grade aluminum that will allow it to work seamlessly in any weather.
It has an 8 figure dual-hole mount or a 20mm weaver mount, so you can attach this Pinty laser to your rifles with no problem.
It also has precise elevation and windage adjustment, and a power button that will easily be switched off. Additionally, this laser pointer features an upgraded optic to provide a brighter and sharper green laser light.
The Pinty laser pointer doesn’t operate on a rechargeable battery, so you’d need to replace it when it runs out. However, CR123a lithium-ion batteries that it uses can last up to six years.
It has a frequency of 532 nm and a power of less than 5 mW. With a reaching distance of 980 ft to 1,000 ft, the Pinty laser pointer is your perfect companion for your next stargazing.
Pros
- Best laser for stargazing
- Durable and sturdy
- Easy mounting mechanism
- High reaching distance
- Controllable by remote
Cons
- Difficult to adjust to zero
- Poor weaver mount
- Non-rechargeable battery
- No child lock feature
2. 301 Green Laser Pointer
- Ultra bright green light pen: shooting distance over 1500 meters at night. This product is short and...
- [SafetyIf you buy it, you will get: 1 green light pen + 1 18650 battery + 1 CHARGER + 2 keys 100%...
- Different types of batteries can be used: high-quality portable batteries can work or play with you...
Considering how green laser pointers are the brightest out of all laser pointers, this laser pen takes the cake because of its affordable price tag.
It’s also portable and light without sacrificing the sturdiness of its body.
Features
This laser pointer has a powerful, bright green beam with an impressive distance. You can even see the laser during the day due to its impressive power.
Housed in a durable aluminum body, this laser pointer operates with 18650 lithium-ion batteries, just like LED flashlights of today.
The only downside is the battery’s longevity but that can be easily solved with the charger that comes with the laser pointer.
For astronomy enthusiasts with a family, fret not because this particular laser pointer comes with a safe child lock feature.
Simply rotate the switch so the dial points to either green or red laser. When it’s green, the child lock feature would be on.
This astronomy laser pointer has a beam that reaches up to 1.5 miles or up to 7,000 ft, which is extremely useful when pointing out stars and planets in the night sky. This is an impressive feature especially taking into account the price tag on this laser pointer.
Pros
- The most affordable
- The most portable
- High reaching distance
- Child lock feature
- Rechargeable battery
- Comes with a charger
Cons
- Easily overheats
- The battery doesn’t last long
- Large laser dot
3. Twod Green Laser Scope
- Brighter Green Laser: The wavelength of Twod Green Laser can reach up to 532 nm. It is four to five...
- Dual Mounting System: Twod Green Sight Laser Dot with a picatinny mount can install on 20mm...
- Quickly Operated Switch: The Green Sight Laser by Twod can be quickly operated via a rear push...
If you want a fully-functioning laser pointer with various features but not the high price tag, look no further than Twod’s laser pointer.
Whether you’re an amateur stargazer or an astrology aficionado, this laser pointer from Twod will never fail you with its bright green beam.
Features
The Twod laser sight is made from aluminum with a hard-anodized finish. It can withstand high impact from other rifles and it’s rainproof and shockproof as well.
It offers a dual mounting system; this laser pointer comes with a Picatinny mount that can be installed on a 20mm Picatinny or weaver rail. This offers easy installation on different rifle types for all hunting enthusiasts.
Aside from the impressive dual mounting system, it features a dual switch that can be easily operated. This laser pointer has a rear push button and a momentary cable pressure switch.
This laser pointer from Twod also works at a frequency of 532 nm and a power of less than five mW. It’s classified as a type 3R laser, which is slightly more powerful than the 3A-type lasers.
It has a reasonable distance and a high-quality laser that is on par with other expensive laser pointers.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Intense and bright beam
- Easy to adjust to zero
- Accurate targeting
- Dual mounting system
Cons
- Price slightly higher than average
- Not as sturdy
- Difficult to mount
4. WORD GX Laser Pointer
- Alloy Gatling Shape Flashlight with handheld size
- With gift star patterns cap and line beam cap which can get more fun
- Focuable lens can adjust beam size, Best for astronomy, hunting, hiking and camping.
The WORD GX laser pen is perfect for those who want no-frills with their astronomy laser pointer.
It’s powerful yet simple, the two qualities you should look for in a laser pointer for astronomy.
Features
WORD GX’s green laser pointer has a powerful beam that you can see during the day in broad daylight. This laser pointer comes with a feature that allows you to change the beam pattern by simply rotating the cap.
Just like the second laser pointer in this list, this laser pen from WORD GX comes with a safe child lock switch.
It functions just the same; rotate the switch to either red or green to turn it off and on respectively. It’s a very important feature to have especially if you plan to take your children out for a stargazing activity.
This laser pointer is powered by either a 18650 or 16340 rechargeable Lithium battery. It comes with a wall charger so you won’t have to worry about running out of juice while you’re stargazing.
Pros
- Bright and powerful beam
- Various beam patterns
- Rechargeable battery
- Great laser sight
- Comes with a charger
- Child lock feature
Cons
- Laser’s brightness can be inconsistent
- Difficult to adjust the laser point size
- Not as sturdy as other
- Unable to light a match or start a fire
5. Jemine Green Laser Pen
If you’re an outdoor buff, this laser pointer from Jemine is an essential item that you should add to your toolbox.
It has the right brightness, the right power, and the right materials to guide you in any weather, time of day, or environment.
Features
The Jemine green laser pointer is quite similar to the WORD GX laser pen in terms of features.
It has the same price, a bright beam you can see during the day, different beam patterns, a safe child lock feature, and a rechargeable 18650 or 16340 Lithium battery.
However, unlike the WORD GX laser pointer, the Jemine laser pen can help you light a match and start a fire.
Another factor that differentiates this Jemine laser and the WORD GX laser is the sturdiness of the material. Yet, when compared to the WORD GX laser pen, this Jemine laser pointer doesn’t cover as much distance.
Pros
- Bright and powerful beams
- Various beam patterns
- Rechargeable battery comes with a charger
- Child lock feature
- Sturdy housing unit
Cons
- The battery doesn’t hold enough charge
The Winner?
All five green laser pointers in this list are great for astronomy use.
They’re all bright, powerful, and can cover a lot of distance, especially during the night. They are also affordable, but not too cheap that it will compromise the laser quality.
However, based on their pros and cons, the Pinty laser pointer takes home the crown.
The Pinty laser pointer is best specifically for stargazing while the Twod Laser Scope is an all-around top-notch laser pointer that you can bring anywhere and anytime.
Buying Guide for You
There are some simple factors that you need to consider. The laser pointer you use for stargazing should be different than the ones you use for casual use like presenting, playing with your pets, etc.
Legal Regulations
Different countries have different regulations for laser pointers. The regulations are usually based on the laser classification which indicates how powerful a laser beam can be.
For instance, in the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, a laser pointer for casual and personal use should not exceed one mW (Class 2).
On the other hand, in the United States, the limit is higher at five mW (Class 3).
Some countries like Switzerland only permit laser pointers in the Class 1 category or with the power of 0.39 mW.
To know more about legal regulations for laser pointers, check out our in-depth article about laser laws and what types are prohibited.
Laser Power Recommendation
As per regulation, a laser pointer with a maximum power of five mW should be fine.
Anything that is too powerful can actually damage your sight in the long run. Your eyes need to constantly adjust to the bright light constantly which can be harmful to the optic nerve.
Find a green or blue laser pointer with a power of five mW if you’re in the United States or one mW if you’re in the United Kingdom.
Any laser pointer exceeding five mW is not only illegal but also too dangerous to be used casually. Read more.
What model and how much should I spend?
There are a lot of great models of laser pointers that you can use for astronomy. There are laser pens, flashlight-styled lasers, scopes, and many more that you can choose from.
The scope model is great if you’re planning to mount your laser pointer to other objects (like a telescope).
Laser pens are highly useful for people who are always on-the-go and would like something more compact.
The cost of your laser pointer should also be a determining factor when you’re buying one.
Just like many other things in the market, going cheaper doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Cheap laser pointers can actually be more dangerous as it won’t be able to properly filter the infrared that could potentially be damaging for your eyes.
One with a reasonable price and an IR filter is your best bet when choosing a laser pointer for stargazing.
Laser Color
Although laser pointers are available in many different colors, you should opt for a green laser pointer if you want to stargaze.
Green laser pointers have the highest visibility among all colors. The brightness of the green laser makes it easier for you to see the beam in the middle of the night sky compared to red, yellow, orange, or blue lasers.
Adjustability / Range
For stargazing, you would need a laser pointer with a range that can cover a lot of distance.
The laser pointer should also be able to accurately pinpoint the objects in the night sky.
Most laser pointers for astronomy can cover a distance of up to 3,000ft, depending on the model and brand.
You would also need to find a laser pointer that has an adjustable focus and a setting that allows you to alter the size of your beam.
Make sure you set the focus and the size of your beam properly so that it can be more visible during the night.
Accessories
Different laser pointers would provide various accessories in the package.
Some would include a charger for its rechargeable battery and some would give a case for you to place your laser pointer in.
Choose a laser pointer that comes with all the necessary accessories for stargazing like a mounting system so you can easily attach it to your telescope.
Why are laser pointers great for pointing stars?
Most green laser pointers used for pointing stars are classified as 3A lasers and they have the power of five mW or less.
Depending on the regulations in your country, five mW is the limit for laser pointers for casual use.
That regulation is put in place so that laser pointers with higher outputs won’t be used casually, which can be dangerous for you and the people around you.
Laser pointers with a power of five mW or less won’t be able to burn you easily. It means they’re safe to use casually.
The distance of the beam is also another factor that makes laser pointers great for pointing stars.
While it’s quite impossible for a laser beam to reach into space, the laser would shine far enough into the night sky so that you can pinpoint stars and planets.
Many laser pointers can shine for thousands of feet into the night sky, enough for you to highlight celestial bodies effectively.
How to Use an Astronomy Laser Pointer?
Using a laser pointer is extremely easy, especially if you’re opting for the pen-type laser for stargazing. They’re easy to operate and portable enough to carry around.
A laser pointer is also easy to use once you’ve got the hang of adjusting its focus and mounting it to your telescope.
As a pointer
As the name suggests, a laser pointer’s main use is to point out an object too far for us to point with our hands.
Objects like stars, planets, and satellites are obviously too far from our reach; a laser pointer is useful to highlight these objects due to their brightness and reaching distance.
As a finder scope
A laser pointer, of course, won’t replace the traditional finder scope but it can help you take note of the location of the stars and planets.
With the laser pointer and your finder scope together, you can stargaze more quickly and accurately.
Some stargazing enthusiasts even prefer using a laser pointer by itself without the finder scope.
This is because you don’t have to constantly bend down to use the finder scope and still point out the stars correctly.
Best laser color for Stargazing
As mentioned above, green lasers are the best kind of stargazing.
Generally speaking, green lasers are the brightest among all the laser colors so it’s really easy for you to see the beam in any kind of weather or time of day.
It’s even brighter than the red laser pointers that we use for everyday use.
What contributes to the brightness of the green lasers lays in its frequency or wavelength.
If you want to know more about the different colors of laser pointers, take a look at the in-depth article explaining the differences between green, red, orange, yellow and blue lasers.
Also, always remember to avoid cheap laser pointers because they often lack the ability to filter invisible infrared (IR) that can be harmful to the naked eye.
For more info on how lasers work in general, this article might be helpful.
Laser pointer safety tips
There are some safety measures that you should always follow every time you use a laser pointer to stargaze.
These simple laser pointer safety precautions are:
- Double-check on the laser class and make sure it follows the legal regulation
- Never point a laser directly towards another person
- Never point a laser towards a moving vehicle on land and aircraft
- Turn on the child lock feature every time there are children around
- Do not aim the laser beam directly at a star; circle the stars instead
- Do not point the beam on a reflective surface
- Use safety goggles if you have a powerful beam
Buyers beware! Your powerful pointer may be overrated!
You need to double-check your laser pointer’s power because the warning label on some laser pointers might be incorrect.
Make sure the warning label always signifies the class it belongs to and that the power (milliwatts/mW) correlates with the class type.
If the laser pointer looks suspicious, you may consider asking the manufacturer for a replacement.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, laser pointers, especially the green ones, are a useful tool to have if you want to start stargazing.
Do thorough research before buying yourself a laser pointer for astronomy.
Pay close attention to the class and power so that you stay within the legal limit.
Compare different models of laser pointers and choose the one that comes with all the features that you’re looking for.
Your next stargazing trip will be hassle-free once you’ve decided which laser pointer ticks all the boxes for your astronomy needs.
Last update on 2020-10-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.