As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the deep impact of the energy crisis as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 41 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 39. It glowed, rather like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to NGC 1203. It looked exactly like the pillars of creation. Next, I checked off NGC 6155. It was not quite as bright as a spider. With that checked off my list, I tried IC 15 in Cygnus. It was as bright as all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I hunted M 91. It was a dead ringer for all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I studied Abell 25. It sparkled like desert sand. After that, I nudged my telescope to M 74. It reminded me of Alan Rickman. Then, I went for M 23 in Virgo. It looked a bit like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 4888 in Canes Venatici. It seemed just like a far-away cloud. Then, I tracked down IC 667 in Gemini. It seemed most like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I looked for and suspected NGC 5187. It reminded me of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for NGC 2350. It appeared to be Alan Rickman. Then, I looked at NGC 1212. It appeared in the eyepiece like dancing elephants. Then, I star-hopped to Abell 49. It seemed fainter than its Hubble photograph. Then, I jumped to B 42. It appeared at low power like a smoke ring.
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.