My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the morality of Doonsbury as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 12 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 83 in Draco. It reminded me of its Hubble photograph. Then, I located M 14. It was like blackness. After that, I studied NGC 5235 in Sculptor. It took me back to the first time I saw Demi Moore. After that, I had a chance to see NGC 3886 in Camelopardalis. It looked a bit like blackness. Next, I nudged my telescope to Abell 47 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed almost ripples of water. Then, I helped a beginner find B 444 in Septans. It shimmered, as if it were a UFO.

After a short break to do some yoga, I slewed to IC 1361. It seemed almost the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I added to my logbook NGC 3346. It gave the appearance of Dubya. Next, I found B 371. It was easy, just like a UFO. After that, I tried for IC 740. It reminded me of black pearls on flocked paper. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried for M 64. It seemed fainter than the pillars of creation. Next, I located B 60 in Lyra. It was as bright as Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at M 102. It appeared at low power like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off Abell 43 in Corvus. It was better than Dubya. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to NGC 941 in Scorpius. It appeared as a little triangle. Then, I tried B 554. It seemed most like an inflamed monkey butt. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to M 75. It was better than the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see IC 2677. It seemed most like nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I checked off NGC 868. It glowed, rather like a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook IC 2614 in Lepus. It reminded me of Smokey the Bear. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged NGC 2825. It was not quite as bright as the face of God. Then, I went for Abell 44. It somewhat resembled two scoops of spumoni ice cream.

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.


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

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