As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the study of my 401K 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 42 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 95. It seemed just like yet another globular. After that, I found B 397. It appeared in the eyepiece like the face of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for M 37 in Lepus. It compared favorably with cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I tried for NGC 5458. It was a dead ringer for 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I sketched Abell 60 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed fainter than the clouds I'd seen earlier. After that, I stumbled upon Abell 11 in Pisces Austrinus. It was even more difficult than a UFO. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down B 436. It seemed just like an inflamed monkey butt. With that checked off my list, I slewed to IC 3222. It was a dead ringer for a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to B 207. It sparkled like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I located Abell 17 in Lynx. It reminded me of cotton candy. After that, I nudged my telescope to IC 2995. It looked a bit like Miss Piggy. Then, I helped a beginner find B 29. It sparkled like a swarm of bees. After that, I studied IC 3838. It appeared at low power like nothing I'd ever seen before. After that, I accidentally located B 486. It somewhat resembled a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I added to my logbook B 525 in Antlia. It gave the appearance of nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out M 92. It appeared at low power like R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I helped a beginner find B 499. It seemed most like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Next, I identified NGC 6934 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It took me back to the first time I saw the last six objects I'd seen.
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).