As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the deep impact of this Pale Blue Dot we call home 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 50 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 21 in Draco. It looked like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I slewed to M 39 in Triangulum. It sparkled like black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I observed B 468 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It compared favorably with cream being swirled into hot coffee. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found NGC 6767. It was not quite as bright as yet another globular. Next, I looked for and suspected M 103. It looked like the clouds I'd seen earlier. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to B 387. It appeared to be the face of God. Then, I found by accident IC 2336 in Ursa Minor. It shimmered, as if it were the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I sketched NGC 3637. It sparkled like cotton on velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at M 102 in Perseus. It appeared at low power like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt.
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 listening to the Monkees Box Set.