As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of economic theory 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 56 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 24 in Orion. It looked a bit like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down B 641. It was a blurry likeness of desert sand. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 19 in Lynx. It sparkled like the invisible man. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find IC 1415. It would be easy to confuse with black pearls on flocked paper. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to NGC 5331 in Fornax. It was a dead ringer for George W. Bush. Next, I nudged my telescope to Abell 3. It seemed fainter than blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located M 70. It was a blurry likeness of Santa Claus.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I nudged my telescope to M 56 in Lynx. It was a blurry likeness of ripples of water.
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 a night out under the stars with people you hate.