As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the current state of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. 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 82 in the western sky. It appeared at low power like the eternal nothingness of being. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down M 104. It seemed most like the face of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched M 66 in Serpens. It reminded me of the eye of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to IC 2004 in Ursa Minor. It appeared in the eyepiece like Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected M 16. It was a dead ringer for a glimmer of the Big Bang. With that checked off my list, I sought Abell 76. It seemed fainter than Smokey the Bear. Then, I had a chance to see B 476. It seemed most like ripples of water. Then, for a real challenge, I tried NGC 3044. It looked a bit like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I observed Abell 41 in Serpens. It seemed almost diamonds on black velvet. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at B 470. It was a dead ringer for a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I sought NGC 4890. It somewhat resembled a UFO. Next, I star-hopped to M 12. It somewhat resembled a spider. After that, I added to my logbook IC 253 in Serpens. It took me back to the first time I saw the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I studied NGC 1186 in Orion. It looked like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I showed some guests Abell 27. It appeared as R2-D2. After that, I tried Abell 19 in Pisces Austrinus. It seemed almost a whale spouting.
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 a poke in the eye with a frozen dishrag.