Malcolm that was a interesting report. Just a comment on M73.
You said "M73 ... only really possible to see with averted vision even with the 12"."
There is no need for averted vision with a 12". It is a Y shape with 4 stars mag 10.4, 11.3, 11.9 and 11.7.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dunlop18...90184288488290