M101, how big visually ?

[asset189]

Ive had a bit of sucess this winter tracking down some of the better known galaxies that have eluded me in past , such as M33 & M51 yet have not been able to get a glimps of M101 .

Using 15 x70 bins i eventually tracked M33 down and was surprised at the size of it visually far bigger than id imagined where as finding M51 with an 8" dob even, it was a far smaller better defined object in thec eye piece. 

I cant for the life of me find M101 and im sure im looking in the right place -forming an equilateral triangle with the first two stars in the handle of the plough  asterism-  still no show.  can anyone tell me how M101 compares with m33 visually, ie is it big diffused or smaller ?

ta

[asset189]

found the answer, for any one else trying to find it follow the link good image of surrounding sky

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/92802-trouble-finding-the-m101-pinwheel-galaxy/#entry921982

[WaveSoarer]

M101 has a fairly low surface brightness and you'll need reasonably dark skies to have a chance of seeing it. I had problems seeing it a couple of years ago with my 200p and it was certainly more difficult than the nearby M51. After a couple of years of getting my eye in with even fainter objects, I was pleasantly surprised a few nights ago, when the moon was just a slim crescent, to see the galaxy quite easily. I used my 20 mm eyepiece and it was visible as a large milky patch. It certainly appears larger than M51. It was also observable the same night with my 10 x 50 bins and that really did come as a big surprise given the struggle I had when I first started observing. I expect it's partly expectation, some experience and, probably more importantly, the quality of the sky. In my location the darkness of the sky can vary considerably from night to night depending on humidity and general haze so a fresh night following a showery day (to clear out the murk) may help. The night I saw M101 followed a day like that.

[spike95609]

I have got it in my 15x70s before in my not brilliant 4.5 to 5 skies, only a couple of times though and just a hint of it. Very good seeing required!