My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the current state of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 15 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 35. It was even more difficult than yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident Abell 50. It seemed just like Alan Rickman. Next, I glimpsed M 90. It was not quite as bright as a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I tried M 85 in the western sky. It gave the appearance of the eternal nothingness of being. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to M 108 in Perseus. It looked like a UFO. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sought B 359. It seemed just like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I studied IC 3951. It was like Dubya. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed IC 3982 in Scutum. It was not quite as bright as the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I showed some guests NGC 200. It was like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed B 460. It compared favorably with a whale spouting. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see IC 3766. It shimmered, as if it were R2-D2. With that checked off my list, I found by accident NGC 4174 in Camelopardalis. It was a blurry likeness of cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I accidentally located IC 676. It reminded me of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed NGC 2955. It looked exactly like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.

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 phone sex.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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