As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the deep impact of Plato's Republic 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 30 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 94. It was a dead ringer for Miss Piggy. After that, I showed some guests B 328. It seemed almost the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I found IC 855. It seemed most like Smokey the Bear. With that checked off my list, I sketched Abell 30 in Canes Venatici. It glowed, rather like whipped cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 47. It looked like cotton candy. Then, for a real challenge, I checked out NGC 6186. It reminded me of Alan Rickman. Then, I stumbled upon NGC 2757. It was a dead ringer for nothing I'd ever seen before.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I had a chance to see IC 671. It reminded me of the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find M 45 in Lepus. It appeared to be a cantilever bra. Next, I tried B 117. It was a dead ringer for an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After that, I accidentally located M 42 in Fornax. It seemed most like a swarm of bees. Then, for a real challenge, I logged NGC 3686. It was even more difficult than a spitting cobra. Next, I found by accident B 318. It gave the appearance of Miss Piggy.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I found M 12. It looked exactly like Santa Claus. After that, I observed NGC 3864 in Triangulum. It looked uncannily like Gollum. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for IC 1953 in Scutum. It appeared to be blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched M 32. It somewhat resembled a whale spouting. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located Abell 72 in Serpens. It would be easy to confuse with whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, I looked at Abell 1 in Ophiuchus. It gave the appearance of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for B 506. It shimmered, as if it were ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see NGC 6183. It was easy, just like Smokey the Bear. Then, for a real challenge, I found B 3 in Sagittarius. It took me back to the first time I saw a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to Abell 55 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It gave the appearance of fleecy wool. After that, I looked for and suspected IC 2437 in Septans. It gave the appearance of a little triangle.
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 hunting with the Vice President.