Orion StarBlast 4.5" Instruction Manual page 14

You can also try a low-power (24 mm) scanning of the Milky Way: just cruise through the "star
clouds" of our galaxy. You'll be amazed at the rich fields of stars and objects you'll see!
When to go observing:
"Seeing" and Transparency: Atmospheric conditions vary significantly from night to night.
"Seeing" refers to the steadiness of the Earth's atmosphere at a given time. In conditions of poor
seeing, atmospheric turbulence causes objects viewed through the telescope to "boil".
In conditions of good seeing, star twinkling is minimal and images appear steady in the eyepiece.
Seeing is best overhead, worst at the horizon. Good "transparency" is especially important for
observing faint objects. Transparency is judged by the magnitude of the faintest stars you can see
with the unaided eye (Mag.1 is very bright, 2 is dimmer, and so on... 4th magnitude or fainter is
desirable).
Looking at the Little Dipper will show you how good the
viewing is. If you can see all the stars, you are doing
pretty well. Be sure to wait until your eyes adapt to the
dark
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