As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the deep impact of tight underwear as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 27 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 43. It looked exactly like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, I slewed to NGC 3833. It compared favorably with Gollum.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I observed Abell 73. It compared favorably with a UFO. With that checked off my list, I jumped to Abell 81. It would be easy to confuse with Santa Claus. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off B 601 in that confusing part of Virgo. It looked like lumpy darkness.
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 fetid Dingo's kidneys.