As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the deep mystery of Yahoo P/E ratios as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 26 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 79. It seemed most like nothing I'd ever seen before.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I hunted B 166. It gave the appearance of dancing elephants. Next, I hunted for NGC 4234. It looked uncannily like R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked for and suspected IC 2540 in Ursa Minor. It was easy, just like Miss Piggy. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located Abell 52. It was a blurry likeness of diamonds on light grey velvet. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see Abell 31. It seemed most like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, I looked for and suspected M 78 in the western sky. It appeared as a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I helped a beginner find M 9. It was a blurry likeness of Santa Claus. Next, I tracked down Abell 56. It was even more difficult than lumpy darkness. Then, I star-hopped to IC 3436. It appeared as dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed B 165. It appeared at low power like diamonds on black velvet. Next, I located B 535. It seemed just like spent coals, faintly glowing. Then, for a real challenge, I added to my logbook Abell 8 in Lyra. It was better than a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I located IC 1483. It appeared in the eyepiece like Smokey the Bear. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out Abell 85 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It looked like the face of God. After that, I star-hopped to NGC 2862. It was not quite as bright as blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched M 93. It seemed just like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified B 575 in Camelopardalis. It was easy, just like cotton candy.
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 reading Beowulf in Old English.