…here is the scale in its early form as described by Harvard College Observatory's William H. Pickering (1858-1938). Pickering used a 5-inch refractor. His comments about diffraction disks and rings will have to be modified for larger or smaller instruments, but they're a starting point:1 — Star image is usually about twice the diameter of the third diffraction ring if the ring could be seen; star image 13 arcseconds (13") in diameter.
2 — Image occasionally twice the diameter of the third ring (13").
3 — Image about the same diameter as the third ring (6.7"), and brighter at the center.
4 — The central Airy diffraction disk often visible; arcs of diffraction rings sometimes seen on brighter stars.
5 — Airy disk always visible; arcs frequently seen on brighter stars.
6 — Airy disk always visible; short arcs constantly seen.
7 — Disk sometimes sharply defined; diffraction rings seen as long arcs or complete circles.
8 — Disk always sharply defined; rings seen as long arcs or complete circles, but always in motion.
9 — The inner diffraction ring is stationary. Outer rings momentarily stationary.
10 — The complete diffraction pattern is stationary.
On this scale 1 to 3 is considered very bad, 4 to 5 poor, 6 to 7 good, and 8 to 10 excellent.
2009-07-24
Pickering Seeing Scale
I used to always keep the Pickering seeing scale with my notes. Here it is from Sky and Telescope for reference.
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