Whirlpool and Triple plus double confusion

[Spile]

Last night was a bit of a change for me. As per usual I was on the doubles with the rather confusing group between Auriga and Perseus - STF 928, Otto STF 147 and STF 929. I managed two out of three but not sure which, so I have printed a better map for next time. It is centred on the bright orange UU Aur so I will know what I am looking at!

Then I moved onto the Leo Triplet and was delighted to find M66 and M65 between Chertan and Iota. The hamburger (NGC 3628) was more a Wimpy than a Big Mac and a lot less convincing. So one for another night.

My final catch was to head up to the tail of the Plough and catch the Whirlpool (M51a / NGC 5194) . Wow  - I was mesmerised and spend a long time first at low power and then at medium. I saw traces of the arms linking the two which I was very happy with. 

Excuse the dreadful sketches but I needed to record something.

[Pixies]

Congrats. The sky was nice and transparent last night and I could see the same of M51 as you - some actual structure even between the 2 cores.

As for the hamburger, it helps to locate it if you look between two mag 11(ish) stars north of M66:

 

PS - I think you might have M65 and M66 mixed up? It's a reflector you're using, isn't it?