Ultra Dark-Adaptation?

Last night I made observations of deep sky objects using hand-held,
20x80 binoculars. My limiting magnitude was 6.5 or better (same as on
a typical 'good' night). A look at M31 and M45 was enough to convince
me that this would be a good night to try for the California Nebula.

So I stood on my porch, leaned my head against the side of the house
for stabilizing purposes, pointed the binoculars toward the California
Nebula and: Bingo! There it was! Seriously, without a filter, the
California Nebula was instantly visible and absolutely unmistakable in
the 20x80 binoculars. I listed it in my notes as "easy" to see --
because it was!

So why was it easy? This is a bit of a mystery to me; but nearly
everything I looked at was "easy" on that night. Could it be possible
that my seeing the almost impossible on that night was a side effect
from staring into a bright, daytime sky near the Sun a couple of days
previously? Might a bit of 'extra' UV radiation to the eyes 36 hours
earlier caused my eyes to become (temporarily) more sensitive to
H-Beta (and perhaps other) radiation? This is a possibility that I am
currently considering. I vaguely recall a similar occurrence, and
similar speculation several years ago.

So, speculation (or facts) anyone? I'm somewhat hesitant to
repeatedly expose my eyes to UV rays 36 hours prior to deep sky
observing in an effort to collect experimental data. I *do* value my
eyesight!

PS: After checking a chart (just now), I looks like I saw Barnard's
Loop on the same night -- without even looking for it! I recall
noticing the Milky Way running beside Orion. Then there was a gap
followed by a narrower arc of "Milky Way" closer to Orion -- or so I
passed it off at the time. I did briefly consider the possibility
that I was seeing Barnard's Loop; but I was so preoccupied (at the
time) with my binocular observations that I didn't bother to take the
time to properly check it out. After all, some years ago I had tried
to see Barnard's Loop with the unaided eye -- without success.

PPS: At one point about a half dozen stealth aircraft (most likely
explanation -- all things considered) passed by. All were going in
the same direction; and all were widely separated from one another.
Air traffic is usually all but non-existent in my sky. It was quite
a night!
--
Bill
Celestial Journeys
http://cejour.blogspot.com
.