What Makes a Green Laser Pointer so Bright?

If you've ever seen a green laser pointer before, you have probably noticed it is astonishingly brighter than red laser pointers. This is for several reasons. First, green is the color that is most visible to the naked eye. Don't believe me? Take a traffic light for example. Do you ever notice that when the light turns green, there's more reflection off the pavement and cars than when the light was red? How about grass? Doesn't well-watered green grass almost shock the eyes from its color? Green laser pointers thrive off that law, giving it far superior brightness from other colors of the same power. Most green laser pointers operate at 5 mw, but yet the beam can be seen for up to 5 miles or more. Some of the more precise and powerful green laser pointers out shine the curvature of the earth they are so bright. If you purchase a green laser pointer, try it once. Have a friend stand on a flat road a mile or two away and shine the green laser pointer in his general direction. It will by far be the brightest light on the horizon than any other tower light or house light.