Download
RTGUI and you may never have to ask such a question again
As for DSO's looking unimpressive, theres very few that are bright enough to give a 'knock your socks off view' , especially galaxies which are always "faint fuzzies" compared to other classes of objects.
You could also try hunting down some planetary nebulae, which are smaller objects that you can view at higher powers, so sky brightness isnt so much of a factor.