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To get the best out of observing the homonculus visually you need good seeing and high power. An 8" scope is plenty, to see good detail but you need 240X as an absolute minimum to get detail in the lobes. A 10" scope is better again and anything over 15" gives you an enormous advantage. Andrew Murrell and I often observe this target in our 18" and 25" scopes at 600X plus. I have on one occasion observed it at 1050X in my 18" scope under exceptional seeing. It is one target which holds up exceptionally well under very high magnification, but you need decent seeing.
The structure of the lobes has changed fairly noticeably over the past 4 or 5 years. The dark internal blotches have grown and the dimmer lobe has dimmed in comparison to the brighter one.
Cheers,
John B
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