As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the morality of Doonsbury as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 12 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 83 in Draco. It reminded me of its Hubble photograph. Then, I located M 14. It was like blackness. After that, I studied NGC 5235 in Sculptor. It took me back to the first time I saw Demi Moore. After that, I had a chance to see NGC 3886 in Camelopardalis. It looked a bit like blackness. Next, I nudged my telescope to Abell 47 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed almost ripples of water. Then, I helped a beginner find B 444 in Septans. It shimmered, as if it were a UFO.
After a short break to do some yoga, I slewed to IC 1361. It seemed almost the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I added to my logbook NGC 3346. It gave the appearance of Dubya. Next, I found B 371. It was easy, just like a UFO. After that, I tried for IC 740. It reminded me of black pearls on flocked paper. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried for M 64. It seemed fainter than the pillars of creation. Next, I located B 60 in Lyra. It was as bright as Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at M 102. It appeared at low power like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off Abell 43 in Corvus. It was better than Dubya. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to NGC 941 in Scorpius. It appeared as a little triangle. Then, I tried B 554. It seemed most like an inflamed monkey butt. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to M 75. It was better than the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see IC 2677. It seemed most like nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I checked off NGC 868. It glowed, rather like a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook IC 2614 in Lepus. It reminded me of Smokey the Bear. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged NGC 2825. It was not quite as bright as the face of God. Then, I went for Abell 44. It somewhat resembled two scoops of spumoni ice cream.
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 reading Beowulf in Old English.