As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the morality of world hunger as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 52 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 4 in Canes Venatici. It was not quite as bright as spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I studied IC 857. It seemed most like its Hubble photograph. Then, I hunted for Abell 40. It looked exactly like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I logged Abell 35. It was better than a nebula. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to Abell 82 in Scutum. It was as bright as fleecy wool. Next, I found by accident Abell 18. It looked uncannily like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I tried B 557. It appeared at low power like its Hubble photograph. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located M 101. It looked a bit like the clouds I'd seen earlier. After that, I slewed to IC 2917. It looked like the pillars of creation. Next, I jumped to B 226. It glowed, rather like desert sand. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find M 109 in Pisces Austrinus. It would be easy to confuse with a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Next, I star-hopped to NGC 6959. It appeared as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I checked off IC 37. It gave the appearance of one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for B 407 in Triangulum. It was easy, just like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I tried for NGC 1133. It appeared as Dubya. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted for Abell 14 in Lepus. It seemed almost a smoke ring.
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 cleaning the bathroom.