As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of Norse mythology as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 5 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 13. It somewhat resembled Dubya. After that, I had a chance to see Abell 41 in Triangulum. It glowed, rather like yet another globular. After that, I found IC 1551. It was a blurry likeness of one of Martha Stewart's doilies.
After a short break to have a smoke, I found IC 3288 in Virgo. It looked exactly like yet another globular. Then, I logged M 90 in Corvus. It gave the appearance of Demi Moore. Next, I identified M 51 in Sagittarius. It looked like Miss Piggy. With that checked off my list, I identified NGC 474 in Hydra. It was as bright as dancing elephants. After that, I slewed to IC 3870. It looked exactly like blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I helped a beginner find B 161. It gave the appearance of dandruff on black satin pajamas. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident Abell 81 in Lyra. It appeared in the eyepiece like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, I accidentally located IC 3278 in Corvus. It appeared in the eyepiece like fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to NGC 6864. It seemed most like a UFO.
After a short break to cut some cheese, I looked at B 490. It appeared to be its Hubble photograph. Next, I found M 12 in Camelopardalis. It was a blurry likeness of Dubya. After that, I jumped to Abell 49. It reminded me of George W. Bush. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to IC 1843 in that confusing part of Virgo. It was a blurry likeness of its Hubble photograph.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I looked at M 27. It appeared to be cotton on velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to M 61 in the western sky. It looked like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to M 21. It looked like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I went for B 623 in Canis Major. It seemed almost a UFO. After that, I helped a beginner find IC 3679 in Sculptor. It somewhat resembled yet another globular. Next, I hunted IC 275. It looked uncannily like the clouds I'd seen earlier. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to M 46. It reminded me of cream being swirled into hot coffee.
Finally, it was time to pack up and leave. As I drove home, I contemplated the events of the night, and realized that any night out under the sky with good friends is better than spending the evening reading blogs.