As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of economic theory 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 49 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 11. It appeared in the eyepiece like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I sought B 34. It appeared at low power like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I showed some guests M 13. It would be easy to confuse with a spitting cobra. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed NGC 5252 in Virgo. It appeared to be its Hubble photograph. Then, for a real challenge, I sought B 365. It sparkled like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to NGC 5184. It sparkled like Miss Piggy. After that, I observed NGC 5918. It looked a bit like a whale spouting. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged IC 3244. It sparkled like a UFO.
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 taking an elevator during a Stage 3 alert.