As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the current state of tight underwear as I contemplated the crystal-clear skies. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 21 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 24 in Draco. It reminded me of blackness. Next, I tried for Abell 94. It seemed fainter than Smokey the Bear. Then, I added to my logbook M 67. It gave the appearance of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I went for M 104 in Draco. It was a blurry likeness of R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests NGC 3191. It appeared to be fleecy wool.
After a short break to do some yoga, I found by accident NGC 3433 in Virgo. It was easy, just like cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I checked out IC 1817. It took me back to the first time I saw a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off IC 891. It reminded me of the eternal nothingness of being. Next, I identified Abell 3 in Lepus. It looked like dandruff on black satin pajamas.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I stumbled upon M 18 in Scutum. It seemed most like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I tried for IC 2910. It gave the appearance of Dubya. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified Abell 91. It seemed most like George W. Bush. Next, I helped a beginner find M 43 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It appeared in the eyepiece like black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I hunted M 62 in Sagittarius. It was not quite as bright as a far-away cloud. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched NGC 3793. It appeared to be the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, for a real challenge, I went for B 431. It appeared to be a spider. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for NGC 3271 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It was better than diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, I studied B 273. It looked uncannily like the eye of God. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to B 419. It looked uncannily like yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I showed some guests M 57. It was not quite as bright as the pillars of creation. After that, I star-hopped to NGC 3945. It seemed fainter than a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I found by accident B 514 in the western sky. It appeared to be spent coals, faintly glowing.
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 poke in the eye with a frozen dishrag.