My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of television as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 53 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 26. It seemed just like blackness. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see Abell 15 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It appeared to be cotton on velvet. Then, I stumbled upon NGC 3480. It looked exactly like a waterfall. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for Abell 71 in Ursa Major. It would be easy to confuse with lumpy darkness. With that checked off my list, I slewed to Abell 87. It looked exactly like the eternal nothingness of being.

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 getting shot in the face by Dick Cheney.


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

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