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I got my scope out last night to look at these objects. I hadn't observed since the birth of my son, well over a year ago.
Scope: 101mm APO f5.4 refractor.
Location: Melbourne
Seeing: very good
Transparency: average
NGC2516
Easily located just off the end of the False Cross. Nestled in against a bright "diamond" shape grouping of four stars. Pleasing cluster, two obvious red members, and around 80 (by my count) members spread across 30'. I was going to sketch the cluster, but it was beyond my talents. I began though, and marked what I thought were two double stars and a triple.
M42
Easily held five stars in the Trapezium. Always used to see six in my larger scopes before the great downsize. Only seen six stars once in the refractor.
Rigel
Easily split at 90x. Went for a hopeful stab at Sirius.... you know the result!
Mars
Lovely detail at 180x (3mm Nagler zoom) ... could have taken more magnification, despite the low altitude. Sharp triangular wedge of dark markings from the south extending to the equator. Confirmed as Syrtis Major when I got back inside. I though the North Polar cap was jumping out at me ... it was so obvious, however it may have been the contrast with the darker band of Nilosyrtis, which seemed to stand out. I need to compare my sketch with an image taken last night.
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