As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of Norse mythology as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 48 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 88. It compared favorably with cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I jumped to NGC 4295. It seemed most like the last six objects I'd seen. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find NGC 6679. It appeared in the eyepiece like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sought NGC 3071 in Canis Major. It was as bright as a cantilever bra. Next, I had a chance to see IC 3850. It was not quite as bright as spent coals, faintly glowing. After that, I studied B 210 in Pisces Austrinus. It seemed fainter than a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 1605 in Lyra. It glowed, rather like black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to check my email, I nudged my telescope to IC 2690 in Canis Major. It was not quite as bright as the exhaust from a diesel Suburban.
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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).