Drove to Compton to one of the CAAS members farms to observe. It was a very dark site, not quite as dark as Mont Megantic but close. The Milky Way was discernible across the sky. Main Observations included; M 11, The Wild Duck Cluster; M 51, The Whirlpool Galaxy; M17, The Omega or Swan Nebula.
Robert, the host that evening, has a 16 inch dobsonian and it was interesting to see M 51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, in both my 8 inch and the 16 inch dobsonian. There as definitely more detail and the arms of the swirl where definitely discernible in the 16 inch, however the comparison really makes me happy to have chosen my 8 inch SCT(Smidth-Cassagrain Telescope).
Wild Duck Cluster
The Wild Duck Clluster, also known as M11, was discovered in 1681 by Gottfried Kirch. It is an open cluster and resides an some 6000 light years away. Visually from a dark site such as the farm in Compton it appears as a very bright loosely pack cluster of stars, very spectacular to observe though M13 is still my favorite globular cluster I suppose the wild duck cluster could hold the place of favorite open cluster.
Whirlpool Galaxy
The Whirlpool Galaxy is a spectacular interacting spiral galaxy. It is currently (or was current 23 million years ago) devouring its companion galaxy NGC 5194. It is estimated to be some 23 million light years away. Visually this is perhaps one of the most stunning galaxies to look at. You see the galaxy is face on and one can easily make out the spiral arms and the companion galaxy.
Disclaimer: The above picture was taken by the Hubble space telescope.