My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the study of television as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 35 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 110 in Serpens. It was a blurry likeness of all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I located NGC 5617. It shimmered, as if it were the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to B 566 in Ursa Minor. It was as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After that, I sketched NGC 3902 in Virgo. It seemed almost a spider. Then, I glimpsed IC 646. It looked like a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I found by accident M 92. It looked exactly like whipped cream. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident M 5 in Scutum. It was a blurry likeness of a glimmer of the Big Bang.

After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I star-hopped to NGC 5508. It appeared in the eyepiece like a nebula. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted M 109 in Cygnus. It seemed most like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After that, I found IC 141 in Serpens. It reminded me of blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at B 392. It was as bright as desert sand. After that, I sketched M 91 in Ursa Minor. It looked a bit like cotton on velvet.

After a short break to empty my output buffers, I had a chance to see M 29 in Ophiuchus. It appeared as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 2197 in Triangulum. It looked exactly like the eternal nothingness of being. With that checked off my list, I went for IC 3869 in Lepus. It glowed, rather like a spider.

After a short break to chat, I slewed to M 3. It looked exactly like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I went for IC 3143. It was a blurry likeness of an inflamed monkey butt. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to M 12. It seemed fainter than whipped cream. After that, I glimpsed Abell 44. It shimmered, as if it were whipped cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I observed Abell 55 in Serpens. It appeared to be George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located IC 2867. It compared favorably with R2-D2.

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 reading Beowulf in Old English.


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

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