As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the insignificance of my life's work as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 30 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 14. It gave the appearance of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Then, I located M 16 in Gemini. It sparkled like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at M 14. It sparkled like its Hubble photograph. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed Abell 79 in Septans. It appeared at low power like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I went for Abell 47. It gave the appearance of Miss Piggy.
After a short break to chat, I helped a beginner find NGC 3835. It shimmered, as if it were Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified NGC 2274 in Serpens. It appeared in the eyepiece like desert sand. Then, I showed some guests B 189 in the western sky. It would be easy to confuse with George W. Bush. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged B 499. It appeared at low power like the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I sketched NGC 3974. It looked a bit like a spider. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests B 187 in Canis Major. It somewhat resembled the last six objects I'd seen. Then, for a real challenge, I observed B 148. It would be easy to confuse with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
After a short break to listen to Mozart, I went for IC 1052. It was not quite as bright as diamonds on black velvet. Next, I sought IC 631. It appeared as yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident NGC 864. It gave the appearance of cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I logged M 72. It shimmered, as if it were a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed NGC 5440 in Scutum. It shimmered, as if it were its Hubble photograph. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located Abell 7. It took me back to the first time I saw the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, I hunted B 237. It seemed just like a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for IC 1469 in Lynx. It appeared at low power like lumpy darkness. Then, I studied NGC 2712. It looked like blackness. With that checked off my list, I identified IC 509 in Lepus. It gave the appearance of whipped 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 stacking 400 Mars images by hand.