My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the inner workings of cosmology as I contemplated the night's aurora display. 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 107. It sparkled like Demi Moore. Then, for a real challenge, I located NGC 6474 in Lynx. It appeared at low power like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, I star-hopped to IC 2606. It appeared at low power like Dubya. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 4233. It was like Dubya.

After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I tracked down B 185. It reminded me of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 65. It seemed just like R2-D2. After that, I observed Abell 1. It sparkled like the invisible man. After that, I checked off B 219 in Antlia. It gave the appearance of R2-D2. Then, I logged B 330 in Cygnus. It glowed, rather like yet another globular. Next, I tried for Abell 6. It seemed most like Demi Moore. After that, I helped a beginner find M 1 in Scorpius. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. After that, I glimpsed NGC 4517. It looked uncannily like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I accidentally located IC 2177. It was as bright as cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident IC 2086. It appeared to be Demi Moore. Then, I studied B 371. It shimmered, as if it were George W. Bush. Next, I looked at Abell 20. It appeared to be an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I sought B 278. It was a blurry likeness of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I went for B 426. It seemed fainter than a spider. Next, I studied B 600. It was not quite as bright as a little triangle. After that, I had a chance to see IC 918. It looked a bit like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I tracked down IC 656. It reminded me of George W. Bush.

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 stacking 400 Mars images by hand.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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