My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the study of world hunger 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 37 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 20. It appeared as cotton candy. After that, I went for IC 2583. It was like the invisible man. After that, I found by accident Abell 94. It was even more difficult than 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I stumbled upon B 400. It glowed, rather like its Hubble photograph. Next, I jumped to NGC 6735. It glowed, rather like nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected Abell 58. It was as bright as one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, I went for NGC 2481 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It somewhat resembled an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find M 16. It appeared at low power like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I found NGC 424 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It looked uncannily like cotton on velvet. Next, I identified M 103 in Corvus. It was better than a spitting cobra. With that checked off my list, I jumped to B 594. It somewhat resembled the face of God. Then, for a real challenge, I found M 28 in Lyra. It took me back to the first time I saw Dubya. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located B 66. It was even more difficult than dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to B 333. It looked a bit like a nebula.

After a short break to drink a slurpie, I studied NGC 4942 in Cygnus. It gave the appearance of the face of God. Then, I jumped to NGC 4745. It took me back to the first time I saw a swarm of bees. Next, I hunted for B 645. It seemed most like a waterfall. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 42. It reminded me of lumpy darkness. After that, I sought IC 2692 in Septans. It looked like cotton candy. After that, I identified NGC 2671. It took me back to the first time I saw a UFO.

After a short break to have a smoke, I checked out NGC 4578. It seemed just like ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located NGC 5833 in Pisces Austrinus. It gave the appearance of the eye of God. Next, I checked out B 130. It seemed most like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched IC 19. It looked exactly like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.

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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