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).