Ohio valley skies suck 100 out of 365 days a year. Another 100 days out of the year the skies are mediocre to below average. Another 100 days are worth pulling out the big scopes, but don't expect to do the hard core stuff. Then you have to hope that the moon is not in the sky; the moon is bright and annoying when looking at galaxies and very faint stuff. We had 3-4 in a row that did not suck, bordering on best of the year. We are more serious than average and seek out the insane challenges. I'm still trying to get the weather and skies to align to see more of the Palomar Globulars which should be doable with 16" dobs. I've seen Palomar 9. There is a whole observing program for stuff like that and a few of us are running down the lists.

I'd love, LOVE to be in New Mexico for the week surrounding New Moon in either Spring for the Virgo galaxies or early Winter for the Orion stuff. I've been observing in California at 8000 feet and ho-lee-shit. It is about as close as a religious experience as I am capable of. I could not make out most of the constellations as there were too many stars.