As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of tight underwear as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 22 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 93. It shimmered, as if it were black pearls on flocked paper. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down B 460. It was better than the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I identified Abell 41 in Lepus. It was not quite as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner).
After a short break to converse with an owl, I nudged my telescope to Abell 56 in Scutum. It reminded me of a whale spouting. Then, I tried M 66. It glowed, rather like Alan Rickman. Next, I observed M 7. It took me back to the first time I saw a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I jumped to Abell 38. It appeared in the eyepiece like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, I added to my logbook NGC 6700. It was a dead ringer for spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I hunted IC 1377. It was as bright as nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I hunted for IC 2572. It glowed, rather like cotton on velvet. Next, I stumbled upon B 201 in Corvus. It seemed just like a swarm of bees. Then, I identified B 205. It reminded me of lumpy darkness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to NGC 1142. It looked a bit like Alan Rickman. After that, I tracked down Abell 25. It appeared as dandruff on black satin pajamas.
After a short break to check my email, I nudged my telescope to M 9 in Scutum. It somewhat resembled black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I had a chance to see M 66 in Serpens. It was not quite as bright as a UFO. After that, I found by accident IC 3087. It was even more difficult than a spitting cobra. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to M 1 in Hydra. It was as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find B 610. It reminded me of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off M 68. It was a dead ringer for lumpy darkness. After that, I located M 63. It seemed most like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I jumped to Abell 86 in the western sky. It somewhat resembled a swarm of bees. After that, I added to my logbook Abell 6 in Scutum. It was a blurry likeness of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban.
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 looking at another first attempt to image the Lagoon Nebula.