I am taking the photoreading seminar and as we were doing some of the exercises, I recalled an interesting passage from a book I have on amateur astronomy. (I am an amateur stargazer when the moon and soccer fans permit, I live next to a soccer field :\) Here is what I found in the book, 'Practical Skywatching' published by Fog City Press, on Page 68, under the title of Observing Techniques, mentions the following:
"AVERTED VISION
Appreciating the sky's fainter gems takes a certain amount of practice. Subtler characteristics are easier to spot if you look 'through the corner of your eye,' a technique known as averted vision. To do this, shift your center of attention slightly, while concentrating on the object. Fainter details will become visible since you will be using the more sensitive rods in the retina of your eye, rather that the cones at its center."
For those of you in the Northern Latitudes, looking to the West, you can see Orion's Belt(one of the most recognized constellations). Just below the lowest star of his belt you will be able to 'see' the Orion Nebula and sitting just north of it a hazy gas cloud. This is easiest seen if you PHOTOFOCUS. Or as the book says, Avert Your Vision.

I found it very stimulating to get feedback that I wasn't even expecting, to hit me like this from the seminar!!!