My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the current state of Doonsbury 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 15 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 55. It was not quite as bright as Alan Rickman. With that checked off my list, I tracked down NGC 3248 in Ophiuchus. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests IC 2186. It looked exactly like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 78. It sparkled like the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I went for Abell 95 in Lepus. It seemed just like a little triangle. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified M 84 in Ursa Minor. It was better than the pillars of creation. With that checked off my list, I tracked down NGC 5045 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was a dead ringer for diamonds on light grey velvet. With that checked off my list, I tracked down B 560 in Sagittarius. It would be easy to confuse with a far-away cloud.

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 reading Beowulf in Old English.


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

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