As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of AP Refractors 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 38 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 55 in Orion. It gave the appearance of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to chat, I hunted for M 94. It looked like Santa Claus. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified B 510. It was a blurry likeness of cream being swirled into hot coffee. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out B 573 in Fornax. It glowed, rather like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to NGC 4740. It appeared to be a nebula.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I accidentally located Abell 58. It looked exactly like Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to IC 2470. It appeared at low power like a whale spouting. With that checked off my list, I jumped to M 87. It compared favorably with the eternal nothingness of being. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for B 274. It looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests IC 1145. It looked uncannily like the eye of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for M 31. It was a blurry likeness of 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, I jumped to NGC 1235 in Triangulum. It glowed, rather like R2-D2. After that, I sought M 66. It seemed fainter than two scoops of spumoni ice cream.
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 kick in the pants with a copper toed boot.