As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the deep mystery of television as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 28 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 18 in Antlia. It seemed almost Dubya. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted IC 579. It was better than cream being swirled into hot coffee.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I glimpsed IC 2494. It was even more difficult than ripples of water. After that, I sought M 80. It reminded me of the last six objects I'd seen. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find NGC 2207. It reminded me of black pearls on flocked paper. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for Abell 48. It appeared as all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I studied B 376 in Gemini. It looked uncannily like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located B 315. It was better than the eye of God. Next, I looked at B 522. It appeared at low power like Santa Claus. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried IC 699. It appeared at low power like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After that, I helped a beginner find Abell 79. It seemed most like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I tried M 60. It seemed just like George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I found Abell 79. It seemed almost a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, I stumbled upon M 78 in Cygnus. It appeared to be a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I looked at IC 823 in Camelopardalis. It was not quite as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). With that checked off my list, I hunted IC 2629. It appeared in the eyepiece like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged NGC 5531. It looked a bit like R2-D2.
After a short break to have a smoke, I jumped to B 4. It seemed just like R2-D2.
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 spending the evening reading blogs.