Enjoyable read Doug, thanks
I started with a 4.5" reflector aswell, had fun with it for 7 years and saw alot!
I was toying with the idea of waiting for Mars aswell, but on acount of the seeing Iwas experiencing, I figured why sit around until 4:30 to see probably nothing when I could catch some much needed sleep
Interesting how you saw only 5 stars in your 12" - if your 8" can pick the six and my 10" at only 104x, maybe your 12" suffers from a pinched primary/secondary (or miscollimation or a defective mirror or...) or just happened to have horrible seeing?
Keep 'em coming (if its possible living with our horrible cold and gloomy climate)!