I was just outside with my telescope. It wasn’t the best of nights to observe, but it was the best I’ve had in Bowie for a week or so and anyway it was Saturday and I did not have to get up early to go to work the next day. So, I took the telescope out and observed. I failed to find M51 (though I know I pointed right at it–as I said, it wasn’t the best of nights), or M81/M82 (this was surprising, but I’m less sure I was pointed right at them). The North America nebula was invisible as well. I did see, however, M57, the ring nebula. And for good measure, I observed the “coathanger” asterism, also known as Collinder 399. The links go to observing reports, with sketches I just did in the last hour.