As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the subtle beauty of Dilbert as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 55 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 27. It appeared at low power like diamonds on light grey velvet. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for M 8. It appeared in the eyepiece like dancing elephants. Next, I found B 547 in Lynx. It seemed fainter than whipped cream. Next, I logged B 189 in Hydra. It was as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I showed some guests B 195. It gave the appearance of dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to M 70 in Fornax. It was a dead ringer for the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I found by accident NGC 4787. It appeared to be ripples of water. Then, I tracked down IC 484 in Sagittarius. It shimmered, as if it were a cantilever bra. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident Abell 42. It took me back to the first time I saw R2-D2. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon IC 1027. It was not quite as bright as the invisible man. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to NGC 1559 in Virgo. It appeared at low power like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, for a real challenge, I found Abell 98. It was a dead ringer for a cantilever bra. After that, I glimpsed B 537. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. Next, I checked off NGC 5658. It looked a bit like the eye of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected NGC 1334. It seemed almost blackness. With that checked off my list, I sketched B 147. It glowed, rather like a spitting cobra.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I tried M 66. It compared favorably with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for IC 2875. It looked uncannily like Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried Abell 5. It was a blurry likeness of Smokey the Bear.
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.