As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the higher implications of economic theory as I contemplated the fleecy clouds, hoping they would clear. 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 110 in Ursa Major. It would be easy to confuse with blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at M 14. It looked a bit like a smoke ring. Next, I located B 30 in Lepus. It looked exactly like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I located Abell 62. It compared favorably with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I hunted for B 214. It seemed almost diamonds on light grey velvet. After that, I studied IC 2696 in that confusing part of Virgo. It glowed, rather like Dubya. With that checked off my list, I found by accident Abell 91. It looked uncannily like black pearls on flocked paper. After that, I observed IC 2225. It was as bright as two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After that, I tried NGC 4906 in Sculptor. It looked exactly like a spitting cobra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched Abell 82 in Hydra. It was even more difficult than spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I sought B 374. It looked a bit like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, I had a chance to see M 97 in the western sky. It was like an inflamed monkey butt. Then, I slewed to B 436 in Orion. It seemed fainter than Dubya. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to B 275. It was as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I identified B 15 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It looked like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I slewed to NGC 6643. It was not quite as bright as cotton on velvet. Then, I slewed to M 56. It looked uncannily like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I sketched Abell 42 in Septans. It was not quite as bright as desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook IC 2871 in Cygnus. It was like cotton candy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for M 22. It would be easy to confuse with a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at M 93. It seemed most like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon B 83. It was not quite as bright as 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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).