My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the insignificance of TAC as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 45 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 109. It looked a bit like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched IC 2276. It reminded me of fleecy wool. After that, I went for B 223. It was like a UFO. With that checked off my list, I tried for NGC 4187. It looked exactly like spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, I stumbled upon IC 2517. It seemed almost a whale spouting.

After a short break to check my email, I tried for IC 3176. It looked a bit like yet another globular. Then, for a real challenge, I tried Abell 7. It would be easy to confuse with a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted for M 12. It seemed almost 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to IC 3071. It appeared to be a little triangle. Next, I identified M 91. It reminded me of nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for Abell 58. It was a blurry likeness of cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to B 22. It looked uncannily like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for Abell 26. It reminded me of ripples of water. Next, I nudged my telescope to IC 2077 in Fornax. It would be easy to confuse with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to Abell 16. It seemed almost a little triangle. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to NGC 2078. It compared favorably with a spitting cobra. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook Abell 80 in Septans. It looked uncannily like cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for B 421 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It took me back to the first time I saw the eternal nothingness of being. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed B 496. It appeared at low power like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I located B 618. It shimmered, as if it were Smokey the Bear. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged M 39 in Ursa Major. It took me back to the first time I saw that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After that, I stumbled upon IC 2572. It appeared in the eyepiece like the invisible man.

After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I logged M 7 in Corvus. It gave the appearance of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down B 369. It was a dead ringer for 60 grit carborundum on asphalt.

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 being strapped naked to an anthill.


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

(Don't forget to hit reload.)