As I drove up the winding road to my driveway, I idly mused upon the study of Plato's Republic 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 23 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 52 in Perseus. It took me back to the first time I saw a spitting cobra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for IC 2341 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It seemed almost Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for Abell 43 in Canes Venatici. It appeared as a nebula. Then, I hunted IC 1191 in Ophiuchus. It was like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook IC 2686. It compared favorably with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I logged NGC 624. It was a dead ringer for spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, I found by accident IC 1364. It was a dead ringer for Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.
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 hunting with the Vice President.