Telescope Reviews: Odd sky conditions...

Is there some atmospheric condition that is predisposed to extended targets over stars?

The sky had a very odd appearance last night -- very grainy but NELM going no farther than 5.5. The Milky Way was distinct overhead, yet not terribly well-defined. It was washed out at the horizons. SQMs read 20.65 - 20.66.

But here's the odd thing: the Double Cluster was easy direct vision, M31 was easy averted (flitting in and out of direct), and M33 was a bit harder, but still nearly 100% in averted. 17P/Holmes was somewhere between M31 and 33 -- never direct but pretty easy in averted.

The M33 sighting, in particular, I'd associate more with NELM 6 (or better) skies. The Milky Way should have been much better defined and extending nearly to the horizon.

My first thought was decent transparency with horrific seeing (spreading out the light of individual stars), but the seeing was Pickering 4 - 5, which isn't great, but isn't that bad either.

Any other ideas?

-- Jeff.

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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO