As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the morality of Norse mythology as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 2 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 7 in that confusing part of Virgo. It took me back to the first time I saw cotton candy. Then, I had a chance to see Abell 90. It was easy, just like Alan Rickman. Next, I logged NGC 706. It looked uncannily like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, I hunted for Abell 29. It looked exactly like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I sought Abell 40. It sparkled like the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to NGC 2174 in Camelopardalis. It would be easy to confuse with 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I observed IC 1838 in Scutum. It shimmered, as if it were the eye of God. Then, I glimpsed Abell 20. It reminded me of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I helped a beginner find B 367. It reminded me of a waterfall.
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 sex.