As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of the energy crisis as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 27 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 36 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed most like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I tried NGC 4592. It appeared to be dandruff on black satin pajamas.
After a short break to do some yoga, I jumped to B 248. It shimmered, as if it were a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests B 329 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It was as bright as a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, I hunted for B 267 in Cygnus. It was even more difficult than that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, for a real challenge, I studied M 103. It took me back to the first time I saw cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I found Abell 89. It appeared in the eyepiece like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to Abell 30 in Sagittarius. It reminded me of black pearls on flocked paper. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see M 27. It was a blurry likeness of one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, I accidentally located M 34 in Canes Venatici. It was easy, just like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to NGC 6603 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It seemed just like Demi Moore. After that, I accidentally located B 443 in Triangulum. It was a blurry likeness of the pillars of creation. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located Abell 17. It seemed fainter than whipped cream. With that checked off my list, I tracked down NGC 4760. It seemed most like yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located Abell 11. It was even more difficult than George W. Bush. Then, I stumbled upon IC 1722 in Serpens. It was not quite as bright as Demi Moore.
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 a kick in the pants with a copper toed boot.