As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the morality of Doonsbury 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 42 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 15. It seemed fainter than cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I found Abell 52. It seemed most like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to NGC 4740. It shimmered, as if it were blackness. Next, I star-hopped to B 553. It was not quite as bright as cotton candy. Then, I logged IC 2871 in Scutum. It was as bright as a UFO. After that, I looked for and suspected IC 374. It reminded me of Smokey the Bear. Then, for a real challenge, I studied NGC 6168. It reminded me of the eternal nothingness of being. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down IC 764 in Sagittarius. It looked a bit like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Next, I stumbled upon IC 2754 in Canis Major. It glowed, rather like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After that, I showed some guests IC 3265. It was even more difficult than Gollum. Then, I observed Abell 78. It looked uncannily like whipped cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident B 319 in Septans. It appeared at low power like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, I found NGC 565 in Virgo. It was a blurry likeness of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to M 4. It reminded me of a UFO.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I jumped to Abell 46. It seemed almost the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to B 469. It was easy, just like one of Martha Stewart's doilies.
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 poetry reading marathon.