As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 30 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 68. It looked like dancing elephants.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I nudged my telescope to Abell 68. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, I identified Abell 18. It compared favorably with Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified B 39 in Orion. It seemed just like blackness. Next, I slewed to NGC 503. It was not quite as bright as black pearls on flocked paper. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for NGC 509. It seemed most like a swarm of bees. After that, I tried for IC 1151. It was not quite as bright as desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 82. It looked like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I went for IC 2071. It was not quite as bright as the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I hunted for IC 781 in Lynx. It somewhat resembled smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I added to my logbook M 69 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was as bright as whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed M 5 in Fornax. It was easy, just like Dubya.
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 stale peeps.