My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the study of tight underwear as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 32 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 108. It seemed most like a glimmer of the Big Bang. With that checked off my list, I hunted B 571 in Sagittarius. It compared favorably with 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, I slewed to Abell 37 in Camelopardalis. It appeared in the eyepiece like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected Abell 80. It looked a bit like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I tracked down B 525 in the western sky. It looked uncannily like cotton candy.

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.


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

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