It was definately Machholz Aragorn.
I was out at about midnight last night. (crystal clear and beautiful)
Machholz looked great in 10X50's. Its west and south of Rigel and west and north of Lepus. Almost just naked eye (in easy mag 5-6 skies) if you don't know where it is, and naked eye with averted vision if you know where to look.
The map should help. The area is roughly where it was last night (mybe slightly more west). Very easy to see in binocs
Paul