As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the deep impact of Yahoo P/E ratios as I contemplated the crystal-clear skies. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 53 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 86. It appeared to be nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at IC 1002 in Virgo. It appeared as a spider. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located M 103. It was easy, just like Miss Piggy.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I accidentally located IC 27. It looked uncannily like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted M 15 in Lynx. It would be easy to confuse with a little triangle.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I looked for and suspected Abell 26 in Scorpius. It appeared as Smokey the Bear. Then, for a real challenge, I went for Abell 41. It was even more difficult than a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified M 24. It was easy, just like the invisible man. After that, I identified B 287. It seemed just like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located NGC 3557. It looked exactly like a little triangle. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched M 108. It was easy, just like the last six objects I'd seen. With that checked off my list, I sketched NGC 3159. It was a dead ringer for a whale spouting.
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 a hot poker rammed up your nose.