Getting back to Phil's challenge, it took me 3 tries using my 12x36 IS binoculars before I was finally successful Tuesday night. It was clear and transparent but very windy which affected the seeing.
I had to wait 15 or 20 minutes to get dark adapted, so one of the objects I would look at to pass the time was the Orion Nebula--fascinating as always. I also looked at M35. (I would not look at Jupiter--that would have killed my night vision, lol).
There is a mag 8.7 star near the Crab that Sasa mentioned that I was having trouble detecting, probably because of the poor seeing. My 12x36's are usually good down to about mag 10. M1 is mag 8.4 and it is an extended object so that magnitude number is deceptive.
Finally, last night after my eyes adjusted I was able to see the 8.7 star pop in and out with direct vision. I could hold it even better with averted vision. When I moved over to M1, I could see it *just* at the threshold of visibility with direct vision--and better with averted vision. Challenge met--thanks, Phil!
Because I was out right after the end of astronomical twilight (around 7 PM local), the satellite traffic overhead was busy--about one every minute going through my FOV.
