Regarding galaxies, Brian is right, Natalie.
Don't expect too much. Though understand that as the eyes get better at studying little bits of detail, they will improve at seeing more. It's all about pushing visual observing to it's limits.
I've only seen 3 galaxies so far. Andromeda from a dark site in my 10" was huge and jaw dropping. Centaurus A (NGC 5128) showed a bright round glow, but I couldn't make out the dark lane inside. The guys in the obs. forum tell me the more I study it the more I will be able to pull out and see from it. The other one is The Sombrero Galaxy (M104). Only saw that thru my 6", but it was just a tiny cigar shaped fuzz. Yet to see in my 10".
A dark site tho is a must for galaxies.
Regardless of the little detail we see at the time, what is amazing is just that we can see them at all and how far they are away. The Sombrero all though tiny and fuzzy through my 6" is something like 33 million light years away! That in itself is awesome to see!
For more of an idea of what to expect to see, I recommend you take some time and lots more cuppas and have a read through the "Observation Reports" which is right at the top of the page in the "Observational and Visual Astronomy Forum". But I've given you the link to it straight here.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/f...splay.php?f=25
Many of these guys posting reports here are experienced observers, so they have worked up to this stage.
My reports reflect my young experience of 18 months:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=71992
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=73786
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=67200