As I drove up the winding road to my driveway, I idly mused upon the deep impact 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 8 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 65. It sparkled like diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, I identified B 302 in Canes Venatici. It would be easy to confuse with dandruff on black satin pajamas. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down M 20. It seemed most like a spider. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to Abell 58. It shimmered, as if it were a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried B 173. It was as bright as the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I hunted for NGC 3809. It reminded me of nothing I'd ever seen before. After that, I observed IC 3372. It was even more difficult than R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I stumbled upon NGC 3359. It was as bright as whipped cream.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I identified M 5 in Serpens. It seemed almost all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I helped a beginner find B 125. It seemed almost its Hubble photograph. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified M 76 in Lepus. It seemed most like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I found IC 2533. It shimmered, as if it were a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I hunted NGC 4828 in Camelopardalis. It was better than Alan Rickman. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified IC 3270 in Ophiuchus. It was not quite as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I checked out B 147. It seemed most like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I glimpsed B 182. It was not quite as bright as Santa Claus. After that, I found NGC 5828. It looked like a spider.
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 looking at another first attempt to image the Lagoon Nebula.