As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the inner workings of cosmology as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 22 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 107. It sparkled like Demi Moore. Then, for a real challenge, I located NGC 6474 in Lynx. It appeared at low power like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, I star-hopped to IC 2606. It appeared at low power like Dubya. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 4233. It was like Dubya.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I tracked down B 185. It reminded me of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 65. It seemed just like R2-D2. After that, I observed Abell 1. It sparkled like the invisible man. After that, I checked off B 219 in Antlia. It gave the appearance of R2-D2. Then, I logged B 330 in Cygnus. It glowed, rather like yet another globular. Next, I tried for Abell 6. It seemed most like Demi Moore. After that, I helped a beginner find M 1 in Scorpius. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. After that, I glimpsed NGC 4517. It looked uncannily like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I accidentally located IC 2177. It was as bright as cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident IC 2086. It appeared to be Demi Moore. Then, I studied B 371. It shimmered, as if it were George W. Bush. Next, I looked at Abell 20. It appeared to be an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I sought B 278. It was a blurry likeness of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I went for B 426. It seemed fainter than a spider. Next, I studied B 600. It was not quite as bright as a little triangle. After that, I had a chance to see IC 918. It looked a bit like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I tracked down IC 656. It reminded me of George W. Bush.
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.