As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of Dilbert 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 48 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 45 in Fornax. It looked a bit like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I located Abell 20 in Hydra. It seemed most like a waterfall. Next, I sought IC 3482. It seemed almost the eye of God. Next, I found Abell 51 in Corvus. It looked a bit like the last six objects I'd seen. With that checked off my list, I went for Abell 66. It looked like a spitting cobra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests B 603. It reminded me of a far-away cloud. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched NGC 6455. It somewhat resembled a far-away cloud. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located B 505. It reminded me of the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to IC 1030. It was a blurry likeness of R2-D2. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see IC 1870. It seemed fainter than diamonds on black velvet. After that, I identified Abell 24. It appeared at low power like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I nudged my telescope to Abell 81 in Corvus. It appeared as a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down IC 1455 in Virgo. It was a dead ringer for whipped cream. Next, I looked at NGC 5247 in Gemini. It shimmered, as if it were the invisible man. With that checked off my list, I sought M 57 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It glowed, rather like dancing elephants. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off M 33. It appeared at low power like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Next, I went for M 9. It took me back to the first time I saw a far-away cloud. Then, I helped a beginner find NGC 1603. It reminded me of Miss Piggy. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see NGC 5513. It looked exactly like Demi Moore. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I studied B 86 in Camelopardalis. It reminded me of George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I located M 31. It seemed almost the eternal nothingness of being. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted IC 2453. It seemed almost Alan Rickman. With that checked off my list, I hunted IC 2922. It would be easy to confuse with cream being swirled into hot coffee.
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.