What if you put a powerful laser somewhere on the Earth's equator
pointing up?  Wouldn't it have the effect of sweeping the Galactic
Plane that the article mentioned?

'Lo Steve -- 

Are you certain that Earth's equatorial plane is the same as the galactic
plane?  I think i read somewhere that both the equatorial plane and the
ecliptic are quite a few degrees *off* the galactic plane.

I suppose all one has to do is to compare the Milky Way with the
equatorial plane?

You're right. Now that you mention it the Milky Way goes crosswise across the sky.