As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the current state of the human spirit as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 13 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 97 in Fornax. It shimmered, as if it were all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down Abell 90 in Ursa Major. It reminded me of a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried M 52. It was better than desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I glimpsed Abell 50. It looked uncannily like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to NGC 1539 in Triangulum. It was a dead ringer for cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I looked at NGC 1968. It seemed almost the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I slewed to M 1. It shimmered, as if it were the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for B 240. It gave the appearance of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I tried B 500. It looked uncannily like its Hubble photograph. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to IC 962. It gave the appearance of fleecy wool. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident Abell 92. It appeared at low power like diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged B 200. It compared favorably with R2-D2. Next, I looked for and suspected M 94. It would be easy to confuse with diamonds on black velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I showed some guests M 8. It seemed most like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I checked off Abell 52 in Canis Major. It appeared to be that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After that, I hunted for Abell 60. It reminded me of a spider. Then, I logged M 77. It shimmered, as if it were the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, I tracked down B 5. It reminded me of a whale spouting. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched B 560. It shimmered, as if it were the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to M 79. It seemed just like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, I glimpsed IC 2988 in Orion. It somewhat resembled George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests M 107. It appeared to be yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I had a chance to see NGC 1287. It somewhat resembled dancing elephants. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I studied Abell 33 in Lyra. It looked exactly like a nebula.
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 stale peeps.