As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the subtle beauty of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 46 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 43 in Septans. It compared favorably with all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I identified Abell 25. It was not quite as bright as Miss Piggy. Then, I checked out NGC 2474. It gave the appearance of two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I had a chance to see NGC 6949. It was a dead ringer for Alan Rickman. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident IC 3112. It was even more difficult than a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to IC 592. It took me back to the first time I saw Smokey the Bear. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I studied B 289 in Lyra. It seemed most like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After that, I glimpsed NGC 5707. It seemed almost a spider.
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 spending a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.