As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the current state of Doonsbury as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 51 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 10. It seemed most like a cantilever bra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out NGC 425. It appeared in the eyepiece like the last six objects I'd seen. Next, I tried M 67. It appeared in the eyepiece like a cantilever bra. With that checked off my list, I identified Abell 62. It appeared as one of Martha Stewart's doilies.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I found by accident B 649. It appeared to be a waterfall. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find M 108. It shimmered, as if it were an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I sought B 461. It would be easy to confuse with cream being swirled into hot coffee. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted IC 333 in Cygnus. It somewhat resembled an inflamed monkey butt.
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 a State of the Union address.