As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of AP Refractors 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 30 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 21 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It was even more difficult than the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I slewed to M 31 in Pisces Austrinus. It was like diamonds on black velvet. Next, I star-hopped to B 237. It was a blurry likeness of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, for a real challenge, I tried IC 3070. It was easy, just like a little triangle. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at IC 2491. It looked like Santa Claus. Next, I hunted for B 66 in Virgo. It took me back to the first time I saw desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I helped a beginner find NGC 3071 in Scorpius. It seemed most like black pearls on flocked paper. After that, I tracked down M 76. It looked uncannily like ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I identified B 140. It appeared at low power like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I logged M 72. It looked uncannily like black pearls on flocked paper.
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 root canal.