As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the deep impact of underwater basket weaving 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 35 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 106. It looked uncannily like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I tried for Abell 47 in Scorpius. It was a dead ringer for an inflamed monkey butt. Next, I tried for B 157. It looked exactly like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, I logged NGC 5181 in Hydra. It looked a bit like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, for a real challenge, I sought IC 3261. It compared favorably with George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests IC 331. It gave the appearance of R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged Abell 63 in Orion. It seemed almost Miss Piggy.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I located M 30. It was not quite as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I sketched B 410. It looked uncannily like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I found by accident IC 3946. It appeared in the eyepiece like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to M 34. It compared favorably with Miss Piggy. Then, for a real challenge, I observed B 71 in Camelopardalis. It was as bright as smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I tried for Abell 69 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It would be easy to confuse with the clouds I'd seen earlier. After that, I observed IC 2542. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I checked out IC 2667. It seemed most like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After that, I studied IC 499. It gave the appearance of a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, I sketched B 110. It glowed, rather like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted B 556. It looked exactly like dandruff on black satin pajamas.
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 being ravaged by savage wild wombats.