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.