My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the morality of Doonsbury 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 26 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 99 in Lynx. It was as bright as yet another globular. Then, I went for B 134. It seemed fainter than a spider. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I stumbled upon M 84 in Lyra. It appeared at low power like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected Abell 92 in Virgo. It gave the appearance of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I showed some guests NGC 4505. It appeared to be a little triangle. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon IC 2596 in Lynx. It appeared in the eyepiece like the eye of God. With that checked off my list, I slewed to NGC 2770 in Ophiuchus. It was as bright as yet another globular. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see IC 1598. It appeared in the eyepiece like a swarm of bees. Next, I checked off Abell 54. It was as bright as a spitting cobra. After that, I found Abell 20. It was a dead ringer for a spitting cobra. Then, I accidentally located Abell 39. It was as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 73 in Draco. It was as bright as dancing elephants.

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 phone sex.


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

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