Turbulence of air
A cloudless sky is a condition for astronomical observations. a. A further substantial quality criterion is a low turbulence of air (so called seeing). Turbulences or random thermal motion of air are produced by thermionics causing density variations and thus air ranges with different optical refractive index. Such air cells can have sizes of some millimetres up to several 100 meters.
The light of far astronomical objects reaches our atmosphere as even wave first. The straight wave fronts are destroyed by the different optical density and to produce dynamic aberrations. We have to deal with local and temporal deformations of the light waves. The resolution of fine structures at the observation object is reduced. A star will twinkle or dance, expanded sources of light such as moon or sun appear out of focus at various regions. You can reach sharp pictures using smaller lens apertures: The cutout from the distorted wave reduces their variation. Short observation times "freeze in" the dynamics of the object. However both methods are counter productive with faint celestial bodies. Thus low turbulence of air is a necessary condition for the observation of astronomical objects. The following classification was provided by Danjon and Courderc.

R1: Sharp and calm pictures
The maximum discrimination of the observation instrument is always reached. The strongest enlargements are possible. These nights occure only to two until three times a year and thus "a must" for the hobby astronomer.

R2: Little flickering or slow waves
The maximum discrimination of the observation instrument is reached for some seconds. You can accomplish detailed observations with the strongest enlargement for short times (some seconds of exposure time).

R3: Fast oscillations, only short view on fine details
The maximum discrimination of the observation instrument is reached for some tenth of a second. These conditions prevail approximately at 10 nights per month. For observation of Sun and Moon this condition is suitable, since you have strong light sources and do not need long exposure times.

R4: Strong air turbulences, smearing the details
This condition occures also 10 nights per month and can be accomplished for an observation without detail recognition when weak enlargement is used.

R5: Constant air motion, observation is not possible at these nights
You should go to bed and have a god night’s rest. Back to observation of Sun