Awesome report Ted...many thanks!

For those of us using smaller refractors, are some of those objects not "findable"?

Late last winter I really enjoyed viewing M's 36,37 and 38, along with the big open cluster. M44. I think I prefer the clusters over galaxies, as I can resolve enough to see the outer and inner parts of the clusters. Most galaxies tend to be little more than a smudge against the blackness of deep space, where the clusters really give us something to see!

As I write I'm waiting for darkness to fall. Currently there are a few stars visible, but my first target when I head back out (already viewed the Moon) is M3, then I'm going back to hunting down M5. Never found it, yet, but tonight will be the night! Also set the laptop up next to the scope, running Stellarium, skies are decent so far and once they settle (about 0100) I should be able to bag M5 along with (maybe?) M10 and M12 in Ophiuchus.

I'll be pleased as can be to find M5, anything else tonight will be icing on the cake.

[edit in note at 11:55pm - Found M5..sweet! I could resolve it much better than M3, and it resolved well up to 157x.

Put the scope up about 0030 as I was getting tired (worked hard all day doing yardwork), and decided to go back out with just the bino's. (Ted, the sky was incredible tonight, no?). What made it even better was that M10 and M12 had entered the small area to the S/SW I have to view, and as I put the bino's to my eyes there sat M12 and M10. ..

Thanks Ted...you are an inspiration to us new guys!

Mike