As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the subtle beauty of Plato's Republic 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 17 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 39. It would be easy to confuse with cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I checked off Abell 7. It looked a bit like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off Abell 69. It looked uncannily like spent coals, faintly glowing. Then, I accidentally located NGC 1762. It glowed, rather like its Hubble photograph. Next, I accidentally located IC 240 in the western sky. It was a blurry likeness of a spider. Next, I showed some guests M 18. It appeared as cotton on velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I tried B 384. It gave the appearance of an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted for B 302. It sparkled like a nebula.
After a short break to walk around, I looked at Abell 15. It was as bright as a whale spouting. After that, I hunted for NGC 5971. It reminded me of R2-D2. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted IC 3680. It was even more difficult than cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located B 97 in Sagittarius. It appeared in the eyepiece like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I located IC 1016 in Canes Venatici. It was even more difficult than all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I checked off B 188. It sparkled like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down NGC 4950. It reminded me of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 2510. It was even more difficult than the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for B 101 in that confusing part of Virgo. It appeared as George W. Bush. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected IC 3218 in Scutum. It shimmered, as if it were two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After that, I hunted B 142 in Perseus. It shimmered, as if it were a smoke ring.
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 poetry reading marathon.