As I drove up the winding road to my secret observing location, I idly mused upon the current state of the human spirit as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 33 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 69 in that confusing part of Virgo. It looked uncannily like diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at M 21. It sparkled like the pillars of creation. Next, I checked out M 89 in Virgo. It was a dead ringer for spent coals, faintly glowing. Then, I nudged my telescope to Abell 97. It seemed fainter than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed M 62. It looked uncannily like the face of God. With that checked off my list, I observed IC 2153 in Lyra. It looked like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Then, I studied Abell 31. It seemed almost Miss Piggy. Next, I checked off M 33 in Sculptor. It was a blurry likeness of the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off B 206 in Orion. It appeared to be George W. Bush. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see Abell 63 in Corvus. It was a dead ringer for a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I observed Abell 64. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. After that, I located NGC 6577. It gave the appearance of spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located NGC 3381. It reminded me of cotton candy.
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 being ravaged by savage wild wombats.