As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the study of this Pale Blue Dot we call home as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 47 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 72. It appeared as a far-away cloud. Next, I hunted for NGC 6217. It glowed, rather like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I sought NGC 5381. It appeared to be the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I nudged my telescope to B 58. It appeared as smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I star-hopped to IC 2576. It was better than Smokey the Bear. With that checked off my list, I stumbled upon M 107 in the western sky. It looked like black pearls on flocked paper. With that checked off my list, I checked out M 34 in Lyra. It reminded me of cotton candy. Then, for a real challenge, I located M 69 in the western sky. It looked like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, I looked at IC 3378. It sparkled like whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I added to my logbook Abell 43. It somewhat resembled dancing elephants. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed M 52. It was a blurry likeness of Alan Rickman. After that, I went for B 400. It seemed almost the face of God. With that checked off my list, I found B 336 in the western sky. It looked uncannily like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I identified Abell 15. It seemed most like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I studied B 215 in the western sky. It sparkled like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. With that checked off my list, I sought M 68 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It was as bright as fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted B 442. It somewhat resembled a smoke ring. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out M 47. It was a dead ringer for whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After that, I glimpsed M 73 in Triangulum. It seemed just like Demi Moore. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook Abell 68. It reminded me of a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I added to my logbook B 21. It reminded me of a glimmer of the Big Bang.
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 taking an elevator during a Stage 3 alert.