Another nice report Doug. It's great reading what other people get up to, gives me ideas of objects etc that may be possible inmy small scope.
I too have looked for 247, and I saw what you and SAB saw nothing.
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I haven't tried for M1, or M77. I've now got them on my list.
By the way Doug, what type of refractor to you have? I have been tossing up between a 100/120mm refractor or 10 or 12" dobs for a while now. Still not sure which I will go, but would like some feedback if you don't mind as I remember you used to have a dobs at one stage.