As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the popularity of television 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 45 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 47. It would be easy to confuse with the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I tried NGC 1817. It seemed most like its Hubble photograph.
After a short break to recite my mantra, I sought IC 699. It was a dead ringer for that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed NGC 6231. It appeared in the eyepiece like the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I checked off Abell 59. It would be easy to confuse with the invisible man. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found M 83. It appeared to be blackness. After that, I found by accident NGC 6777 in Corvus. It looked uncannily like George W. Bush.
After a short break to walk around, I sketched B 516 in Lynx. It shimmered, as if it were diamonds on light grey velvet. With that checked off my list, I tracked down B 384. It seemed fainter than cotton candy.
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 sitting in a dentist's waiting room.