Visual redshift record?

Hello:
Would anyone happen to know what is the highest redshift object ever visually seen by an amateur astronomer (no CCDs!)?? I was searching a catalog of quasars, and there are several brighter than 16th magnitude with a redshift greater than 2. There is even one that is magnitude 15.8 with a redshift of 3.05. By comparison, 3C273 is magnitude 13.0 and is "only" at a redshift of 0.158.

Cheers
Mike Connelley

Michael
I don't know that TON 490 would be the most distant object seen visually through a telescope, but it's a good start. See Maurice's Clark excellent web article and finder charts at http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/PHYS/Faculty/MClark/dsc.htm. If the link doesn't work just type "TON 490 quasar" in the google search engine and it should come up at the top of the list. I have seen TON 490 with the 40" f5 Dob using Maurice's excellent finder charts. There may be quasars with even larger red shifts that can be picked up visually in large aperture amateur instruments. There is something a tad overwhelming about staring in the eypiece and realizing the significance of the dim fuzzy you are seeing. I used to say I was seeing very "old light" but then got to thinking about what happens to time at the speed of light and I'm not sure I can sell the idea of "ancient photons" to anybody who is up on their relativity physics. Good (quasar)hunting.

Hi Mike --

-- good topic! Are you aware of a good reference to a discussion of what red shift is all about? Specifically, how does the redshift scale work? What's a red shift of 3.05, 0.158?
Any help appreciated.

Bob Polcyn