IC 342 is probably one of the most difficult galaxies in all the sky for small instruments. It has a surface brightness of mag 15.0. I have literally been trying to see IC 342 for 5 years now and have not yet.
As a comparison M74 has a surface brightness of mag 14.4. NGC 2403 has a surface brightness of 13.9, about the same as M33, easier than M74 and much easier than IC 342. I've only seen M74 in binoculars once in my life and that was with the Oberwerk BT100 at 24x with 26mm TV plossls.
I needed 200x to see the cat's eye nebula with a 5" scope to make it appear larger than starlike. At 100x it was passed over as a star.
I was just planning where to place a scope and some big binoculars in my yard tonight so I can get up very early and attempt IC342 with completely dark adapted eyes. I've been having good luck with that approach lately.
edz
-------------------- Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
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Re: Tonight's objects with 25 x 100 IF Oberwerks
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