As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the popularity of my life's work 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 45 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 63. It glowed, rather like a swarm of bees. Then, for a real challenge, I logged Abell 83 in Septans. It was better than a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted M 29. It glowed, rather like a cantilever bra. Then, I found by accident Abell 6. It appeared at low power like Miss Piggy. After that, I tried for M 79. It reminded me of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.
After a short break to check my email, I nudged my telescope to Abell 94. It reminded me of cotton on velvet. After that, I identified B 287 in Canis Major. It seemed just like dancing elephants. After that, I logged Abell 2 in Perseus. It was a blurry likeness of cream being swirled into hot coffee. Next, I slewed to Abell 31. It looked uncannily like desert sand.
After a short break to have a smoke, I identified NGC 178. It seemed fainter than Gollum. After that, I slewed to IC 782. It compared favorably with the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified M 88 in Gemini. It would be easy to confuse with Smokey the Bear.
After a short break to listen to Mozart, I tracked down M 104 in Scorpius. It reminded me of the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I added to my logbook NGC 1048 in Lepus. It seemed fainter than the clouds I'd seen earlier.
After a short break to do some yoga, I located NGC 3124. It seemed just like a spider. Next, I identified Abell 90 in Sagittarius. It appeared at low power like a little triangle. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out IC 280 in Virgo. It seemed almost Smokey the Bear. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to Abell 11. It compared favorably with yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident NGC 98 in Scorpius. It seemed most like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I studied NGC 1605 in Pisces Austrinus. It was better than the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I hunted M 92 in Hydra. It looked like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I helped a beginner find M 68. It appeared at low power like 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 sitting in a dentist's waiting room.