My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the morality of Plato's Republic as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 31 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 96. It was like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). With that checked off my list, I identified IC 1941. It gave the appearance of two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off Abell 30. It sparkled like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.

After a short break to converse with an owl, I stumbled upon IC 790. It appeared to be dancing elephants. Next, I looked at B 621. It was not quite as bright as cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find M 25 in Lyra. It seemed almost a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.

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 ebola.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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