As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the current state of Norse mythology 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 37 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 109. It was a dead ringer for blackness. Then, I sought NGC 5390 in Pisces Austrinus. It looked like dandruff on black satin pajamas. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to IC 1908. It was a blurry likeness of the pillars of creation. With that checked off my list, I looked at IC 2570. It would be easy to confuse with whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, I observed B 76. It looked a bit like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, I tried M 75 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It reminded me of one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried for B 371. It seemed almost the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at IC 186. It somewhat resembled a smoke ring. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for M 89. It was easy, just like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, for a real challenge, I studied B 388. It was even more difficult than a UFO. With that checked off my list, I studied Abell 33. It looked like lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located Abell 15. It looked uncannily like cotton candy. Then, I helped a beginner find NGC 2610. It sparkled like a waterfall. After that, I observed B 261 in Cygnus. It appeared as ripples of water. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted NGC 5261. It would be easy to confuse with a swarm of bees. Then, I helped a beginner find IC 1196. It appeared in the eyepiece like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. With that checked off my list, I tried IC 568. It was like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Next, I showed some guests B 489 in Ophiuchus. It was a dead ringer for the invisible man. After that, I hunted M 49 in Gemini. It appeared as ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down Abell 35. It looked a bit like a cantilever bra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to Abell 45. It seemed most like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located NGC 4025. It was better than yet another globular. Then, I hunted for IC 1730. It seemed most like a little triangle. After that, I sketched NGC 877. It sparkled like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.
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 stale peeps.