  We study the impact of the assumed velocity distribution of galactic dark
matter particles on the interpretation of results from nuclear recoil
detectors. By converting experimental data to variables that make the
astrophysical unknowns explicit, different experiments can be compared without
implicit assumptions concerning the dark matter halo. We extend this framework
to include the annual modulation signal, as well as multiple target elements.
Recent results from DAMA, CoGeNT and CRESST-II can be brought into agreement if
the velocity distribution is very anisotropic and thus allows a large
modulation fraction. However constraints from CDMS and XENON cannot be evaded
by appealing to such astrophysical uncertainties alone.
