NYT Crossword 08/25/17 (Fri.)

Cruciverbalist: Sam Trabucco
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 21:36

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 

HEGIRA - "Muhammad's flight"
INDRA - "Hindu war deity"

Trivia I didn't know:

CONEHEADS - "TV family from the planet Remulak"
ROSSSEA - "Waters near Mount Erebus"
CAF - "Half-___"
AVON - "Maker of Scentini fragrances"
PERTH - "State capital on the Indian Ocean"
ALEWIFE - "Member of the herring family"
SKYS - "'____ the Limit' (Notorious B.I.G. hit)"

Junk Answers:

OOH - "Sound of admiration"
RDS - "Ways: Abbr."

Clever clues:

PASTS - "They often come back to haunt people"
ODOREATER - "Shoe-in?"
FORAGER - "Raccoon in a Dumpster, e.g."
PEN - "John Hancock item"
TEE - "It gives a driver a little height"
GENE - "One with a feature role?"
GRADS - "Their number increases every May"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

HEGIRA - (See above)
INDRA - (See above)