[sac-forum] Messier Marathon results questions

I have to add my voice to the questions that have come up concerning the viewing of M77. With two observers reporting that they visually saw M77, I am curious as to the method used and what, if any, filters were employed. Bob and I tracked M77 with a Celestron 9.25" SCT with 36MM and 25MM Plossel eyepieces until M77 was physically below the mountain and the background light continually obscured any chance of our seeing this Mag 8.9 object. Of course, our attempt at sighting M77 cost us M33... :-(
I'm not trying to cast doubt on the two reported sightings, just trying to understand what we could have done differently from what we did. 

Tim

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