As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the study of my life's work 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 53 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 61. It was as bright as the face of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to IC 3868. It looked a bit like Dubya.
After a short break to recite my mantra, I identified Abell 29. It was a blurry likeness of cotton on velvet. After that, I star-hopped to NGC 5764. It seemed most like spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at Abell 48. It appeared to be ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed IC 1621. It shimmered, as if it were a whale spouting. Then, for a real challenge, I tried IC 3420 in Corvus. It seemed most like the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to NGC 1124 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed almost the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I hunted NGC 3456 in Draco. It reminded me of Alan Rickman. Then, I found by accident M 53. It seemed almost dancing elephants. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to B 366. It was as bright as yet another globular. With that checked off my list, I checked off Abell 81. It appeared at low power like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I helped a beginner find B 190 in Ursa Major. It shimmered, as if it were ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located NGC 5262 in Hydra. It looked uncannily like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed Abell 43. It looked a bit like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). With that checked off my list, I found by accident IC 609. It was better than all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out IC 2354. It took me back to the first time I saw nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 3950 in Gemini. It looked exactly like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After that, I studied NGC 1665. It was not quite as bright as the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I hunted for IC 2862. It appeared in the eyepiece like 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 spending the evening reading blogs.