As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of economic theory as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 33 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 82 in Ophiuchus. It was better than an inflamed monkey butt. After that, I sought Abell 65 in Perseus. It was a dead ringer for one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident Abell 51. It looked uncannily like blackness.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I located IC 2662 in Fornax. It seemed almost a glimmer of the Big Bang.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I sought B 211. It would be easy to confuse with the pillars of creation. After that, I checked off Abell 60. It appeared to be Demi Moore. Then, I tracked down Abell 75. It appeared as Alan Rickman. Next, I observed B 39. It looked exactly like dandruff on black satin pajamas. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed M 25. It appeared to be the eye of God. Then, I located NGC 4704. It looked uncannily like its Hubble photograph. Next, I tried IC 2097. It appeared in the eyepiece like Gollum. With that checked off my list, I tracked down M 101. It was a dead ringer for that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed IC 585. It shimmered, as if it were blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged NGC 5757 in Triangulum. It shimmered, as if it were dancing elephants. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to NGC 4979 in Lepus. It seemed fainter than a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, I stumbled upon NGC 2391. It reminded me of a spitting cobra.
After a short break to listen to Mozart, I star-hopped to M 54. It was a blurry likeness of Gollum. Then, I found Abell 15. It compared favorably with diamonds on black velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched M 13. It looked like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). With that checked off my list, I checked off M 15. It reminded me of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, I located Abell 1 in Virgo. It appeared in the eyepiece like the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I went for Abell 62. It was a dead ringer for the clouds I'd seen earlier.
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 poetry reading marathon.