Mid-July Evening

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Finally saw M57, the Ring Nebula. Using 7mm and 2.5x barlow (163x) you could see it if you diverted your eyes. Otherwise, it was a faint blur and very tiny as well as disappointing. But, not bad for a 4" scope on a 9th mag object.
Finally saw M51, the Whirlpool galaxy. It was just as "Night Watch" described it: "a double smudge in small scopes". Disappointing none the less. It was so faint I passed over it several times. The spiral arms could not be resolved.