My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the higher implications of Yahoo P/E ratios 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 36 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 107. It appeared at low power like Santa Claus. Then, for a real challenge, I looked at B 370 in Canis Major. It gave the appearance of an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I studied IC 3582. It seemed almost Dubya. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried B 146. It seemed just like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I showed some guests Abell 27. It was as bright as dancing elephants. Then, for a real challenge, I located B 595. It was a dead ringer for fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 4946. It took me back to the first time I saw Demi Moore. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 3633. It seemed almost blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off M 19. It was not quite as bright as a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to B 73. It appeared in the eyepiece like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I jumped to NGC 3506. It looked exactly like a UFO. Next, I found by accident IC 681. It took me back to the first time I saw Gollum.

After a short break to recite my mantra, I logged B 55. It somewhat resembled a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, I star-hopped to NGC 1764 in Hydra. It appeared to be black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I tracked down M 17. It appeared as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). With that checked off my list, I jumped to NGC 5768. It looked exactly like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located B 431 in Serpens. It appeared to be cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I located Abell 34. It glowed, rather like dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to Abell 44 in Cygnus. It was not quite as bright as cream being swirled into hot coffee.

After a short break to converse with an owl, I identified IC 3471 in Cygnus. It reminded me of a nebula.

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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).


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

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