My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of Yahoo P/E ratios as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 5 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 59. It was not quite as bright as the last six objects I'd seen.

After a short break to chat, I hunted for Abell 26. It looked uncannily like diamonds on light grey velvet.

After a short break to enjoy a nutritious snack, I tried Abell 54. It was a blurry likeness of Demi Moore. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located B 551. It shimmered, as if it were a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, I studied Abell 98 in the western sky. It took me back to the first time I saw a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I tracked down IC 2053. It gave the appearance of R2-D2. Next, I looked at M 28. It seemed most like the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected M 83. It looked uncannily like the pillars of creation. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located M 14. It somewhat resembled Dubya. Then, I star-hopped to Abell 76. It was like a spider. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located NGC 4842. It appeared at low power like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.

After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I tried IC 3515. It looked a bit like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I looked for and suspected IC 3940 in Septans. It was a blurry likeness of Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 4. It looked uncannily like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, I went for B 617. It seemed almost a spitting cobra.

After a short break to chat, I hunted for M 9. It reminded me of a Black Rider hunting for Frodo.

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 getting shot in the face by Dick Cheney.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

(Don't forget to hit reload.)