As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the study of Plato's Republic as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 26 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 25. It seemed almost a nebula. After that, I located IC 3329. It was like spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I hunted B 607 in Scutum. It seemed almost fleecy wool. Then, I nudged my telescope to NGC 1662. It looked uncannily like fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I found by accident M 90. It was better than an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to M 63. It glowed, rather like spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I looked at NGC 2476. It was not quite as bright as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I jumped to NGC 3755. It took me back to the first time I saw diamonds on black velvet.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I tracked down IC 3754 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It somewhat resembled the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, I tried for B 73. It glowed, rather like yet another globular. After that, I stumbled upon M 9. It gave the appearance of cotton candy. Then, I looked at M 63. It looked exactly like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at NGC 379. It appeared as nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I glimpsed Abell 40. It seemed almost that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, for a real challenge, I observed M 2. It appeared as 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. With that checked off my list, I sketched IC 1583. It seemed most like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I tried IC 39 in Canis Major. It looked exactly like a far-away cloud.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I tried M 63. It glowed, rather like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident NGC 5954. It looked uncannily like the invisible man. Then, I went for Abell 39. It gave the appearance of an inflamed monkey butt.
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.