As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the popularity of chaos theory as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 42 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 108. It was not quite as bright as a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I sought M 45. It looked uncannily like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off Abell 2 in the western sky. It looked a bit like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, I tried for Abell 65. It looked exactly like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I tried M 60. It looked uncannily like the pillars of creation. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found IC 1791 in Lepus. It was not quite as bright as a spider. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook M 36. It shimmered, as if it were Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected NGC 4724. It was like its Hubble photograph. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for B 169. It looked like Smokey the Bear. Next, I stumbled upon NGC 4435. It looked uncannily like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I tried M 17. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted NGC 3415. It was as bright as whipped cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified M 9 in Sagittarius. It compared favorably with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. With that checked off my list, I observed IC 3469. It gave the appearance of black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I found by accident NGC 417. It was a dead ringer for blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to Abell 72. It looked exactly like the invisible man. After that, I jumped to B 646. It seemed most like Demi Moore. Next, I looked for and suspected B 172. It took me back to the first time I saw desert sand. Then, I found by accident Abell 52. It appeared at low power like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, I logged NGC 2552. It was a dead ringer for the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to M 44 in Triangulum. It somewhat resembled cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located IC 2304. It looked a bit like whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
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 kick in the pants with a copper toed boot.