As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of Yahoo P/E ratios as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 41 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 47. It would be easy to confuse with diamonds on black velvet. After that, I went for IC 353. It looked a bit like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I observed NGC 2496 in Lynx. It sparkled like Alan Rickman. After that, I tracked down Abell 51 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It looked like dandruff on black satin pajamas.
After a short break to check my email, I sought Abell 87 in Canis Major. It compared favorably with lumpy darkness.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I sketched Abell 41. It reminded me of a smoke ring. With that checked off my list, I hunted Abell 55. It somewhat resembled a glimmer of the Big Bang. After that, I stumbled upon B 340 in Sculptor. It seemed just like spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed IC 429. It was like desert sand. Then, I looked for and suspected B 352 in Pisces Austrinus. It seemed almost a spitting cobra. After that, I hunted IC 2147. It appeared as cotton on velvet. Then, I studied M 31. It looked like R2-D2. With that checked off my list, I slewed to B 517 in Lynx. It appeared as nothing I'd ever seen before. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 3808. It was a blurry likeness of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to IC 259 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It somewhat resembled dandruff on black satin pajamas. Then, for a real challenge, I added to my logbook NGC 3427. It appeared at low power like a whale spouting. Then, I found by accident Abell 26. It took me back to the first time I saw whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I found B 626. It reminded me of nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I tried M 4 in Ophiuchus. It was like spent coals, faintly glowing. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed M 53. It appeared at low power like a swarm of bees.
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 watching an I Love Lucy marathon on Nick at Night.