As I drove up the winding road to my driveway, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of television 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 22 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 3. It looked uncannily like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I located B 379. It looked uncannily like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, I star-hopped to Abell 5. It would be easy to confuse with a smoke ring. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for B 164. It shimmered, as if it were the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I nudged my telescope to IC 2715. It seemed most like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I logged B 118. It was a blurry likeness of cotton candy. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off B 152 in Lyra. It seemed most like a little triangle. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified B 529. It appeared at low power like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, I tracked down M 5 in Scutum. It was like ripples of water. Then, for a real challenge, I jumped to B 94. It was even more difficult than the eye of God. With that checked off my list, I hunted for NGC 2350 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It appeared at low power like desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 227 in Lynx. It would be easy to confuse with the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I showed some guests B 174 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was a dead ringer for Miss Piggy. Next, I studied M 13 in Sculptor. It was better than a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After that, I found by accident B 230. It was even more difficult than a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged B 376. It was easy, just like blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to M 70. It looked a bit like Gollum. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found Abell 84. It looked exactly like Gollum. Then, I tracked down IC 641. It was a dead ringer for Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located M 44. It seemed just like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I logged B 614 in Sagittarius. It looked a bit like a whale spouting.
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 24-hour 007 marathon.