As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the popularity of Plato's Republic 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 5 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 100 in Ophiuchus. It reminded me of the pillars of creation. With that checked off my list, I logged M 57 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed fainter than blackness. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off B 490 in Serpens. It was a blurry likeness of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I slewed to Abell 67 in Canes Venatici. It seemed fainter than cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to B 248. It somewhat resembled a spitting cobra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for IC 3390. It seemed almost yet another globular. Next, I logged Abell 90. It was as bright as a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Next, I helped a beginner find IC 2858. It was a blurry likeness of the eternal nothingness of being.
After a short break to recite my mantra, I tracked down B 225 in Ursa Minor. It looked uncannily like diamonds on light grey velvet.
After a short break to do some yoga, I jumped to Abell 19. It looked like whipped cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for M 73. It appeared at low power like a spitting cobra. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected M 92. It glowed, rather like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out Abell 84 in Lynx. It gave the appearance of Demi Moore.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I tried for Abell 2 in the western sky. It compared favorably with R2-D2. With that checked off my list, I checked off B 6. It reminded me of a whale spouting. With that checked off my list, I sketched M 33 in Hydra. It was better than a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, I sought B 478. It was a blurry likeness of two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down NGC 4583. It was a blurry likeness of cotton candy.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I star-hopped to B 441. It appeared at low power like desert sand. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted NGC 4798 in Hydra. It shimmered, as if it were the face of God. Then, I sought Abell 26. It looked uncannily like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged NGC 4975. It took me back to the first time I saw a spider.
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 ravaged by savage wild wombats.