As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the insignificance of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 49 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 37. It was a dead ringer for a nebula. With that checked off my list, I looked at Abell 31. It was a blurry likeness of a spitting cobra. Next, I hunted B 130. It was easy, just like cream being swirled into hot coffee.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I star-hopped to IC 475 in Ursa Major. It looked like a spider. After that, I looked at B 92. It looked exactly like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After that, I observed IC 3948. It looked exactly like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I studied B 108. It seemed most like R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located NGC 2797. It was a dead ringer for a far-away cloud. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find B 79 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It was like a waterfall. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed B 285. It somewhat resembled a spider. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off B 486 in Draco. It appeared as a UFO. Next, I helped a beginner find Abell 52. It reminded me of a smoke ring. With that checked off my list, I jumped to Abell 29. It was a dead ringer for diamonds on light grey velvet. Then, I found by accident B 383. It was better than fleecy wool. Then, I hunted NGC 1646. It reminded me of R2-D2. Next, I accidentally located Abell 84. It shimmered, as if it were dancing elephants. With that checked off my list, I sought NGC 2125. It looked a bit like George W. Bush. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find M 60. It was better than a smoke ring. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched Abell 55 in Corvus. It appeared at low power like fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I jumped to M 103. It was easy, just like blackness. Next, I found Abell 88. It somewhat resembled a spitting cobra.
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 being ravaged by savage wild wombats.