As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the inner workings of chaos theory as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 19 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 47. It gave the appearance of a spider.
After a short break to check my email, I located B 397. It would be easy to confuse with 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted for B 426 in Serpens. It glowed, rather like ripples of water.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I glimpsed B 472. It glowed, rather like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find IC 3121 in Triangulum. It was as bright as a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located NGC 383 in Corvus. It looked uncannily like dancing elephants.
After a short break to walk around, I hunted B 127. It appeared as the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I checked off M 66 in Sagittarius. It appeared at low power like ripples of water. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out B 213. It sparkled like dancing elephants. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests M 65. It looked a bit like a nebula. Next, I studied NGC 3052 in Gemini. It seemed fainter than black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I glimpsed NGC 418 in Septans. It appeared to be Santa Claus. With that checked off my list, I found Abell 77 in the western sky. It seemed fainter than diamonds on black velvet. Then, I sketched NGC 2692. It was easy, just like a nebula. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to Abell 23 in Septans. It took me back to the first time I saw dandruff on black satin pajamas. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to B 623 in Perseus. It looked like spent coals, faintly glowing. Then, I sought NGC 3138 in Pisces Austrinus. It took me back to the first time I saw a spider.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I jumped to M 78 in Pisces Austrinus. It seemed almost cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I logged Abell 93 in Ursa Major. It was as bright as George W. Bush. Next, I jumped to B 424 in Corvus. It looked like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 2603 in Septans. It was like cotton on velvet.
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 a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.