Laser beam from a Focusable 200-250mW 650nm Laser Module Red Dot Laser Generator Diode is directed towards the winter sky during snow storm, hitting snowflakes The surface of ice crystals made of dihydrogen monoxide (H2O) reflects the RED light, and the laser beam is totally absorbed by the cloud.
A laser beam is directed towards the centre of the Milky Way, for example. Such a laser beam can then be used as a guide star for the adaptive optics.