As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of tight underwear as I contemplated the fleecy clouds, hoping they would clear. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 39 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 61. It was better than a whale spouting. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I observed Abell 65. It appeared in the eyepiece like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests IC 723. It appeared to be cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected B 573 in Sculptor. It appeared in the eyepiece like all the other smudges I've ever looked at.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I studied IC 784. It seemed almost Demi Moore. Then, I slewed to IC 204 in Perseus. It was not quite as bright as the last six objects I'd seen.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I checked off NGC 5115. It seemed fainter than Smokey the Bear. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked for and suspected B 69 in Pisces Austrinus. It was better than a far-away cloud. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see IC 2110 in Cygnus. It compared favorably with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I helped a beginner find NGC 2943. It compared favorably with a cantilever bra. After that, I identified B 91. It looked like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, I jumped to M 15. It was as bright as blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for B 470. It was like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, for a real challenge, I observed M 37. It was a blurry likeness of the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I tracked down B 197. It gave the appearance of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, I helped a beginner find IC 1765 in Lyra. It looked uncannily like blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off M 61 in Perseus. It was even more difficult than fleecy wool.
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 a night watching an I Love Lucy marathon on Nick at Night.