As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of Yahoo P/E ratios 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 47 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 53. It was not quite as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, for a real challenge, I jumped to M 102. It reminded me of whipped cream. Next, I found by accident Abell 26. It gave the appearance of spent coals, faintly glowing. After that, I had a chance to see NGC 6073. It seemed most like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to NGC 5638 in Fornax. It was like lumpy darkness. Then, I hunted for IC 2313 in the western sky. It reminded me of a far-away cloud. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected M 53. It seemed just like black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I tried for B 121. It glowed, rather like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After that, I found IC 1983. It was better than two scoops of spumoni ice cream.
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 day out under the hot sun with bitter enemies.