As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the morality of my 401K as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 47 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 13. It seemed almost the invisible man. After that, I added to my logbook M 96. It would be easy to confuse with yet another globular.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I checked out M 47. It appeared in the eyepiece like the face of God. After that, I looked at M 8. It took me back to the first time I saw its Hubble photograph. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found IC 958 in Triangulum. It appeared at low power like cotton candy. Then, I tracked down M 47. It was as bright as Gollum. Next, I logged M 64. It was easy, just like lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I tried Abell 65. It appeared as the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, I accidentally located NGC 1827. It shimmered, as if it were George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down NGC 453. It somewhat resembled Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified M 105. It was a dead ringer for a smoke ring. Then, I observed Abell 23. It looked like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 751. It appeared at low power like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to M 86. It reminded me of fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to NGC 55 in Pisces Austrinus. It was better than lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted M 44 in Septans. It appeared in the eyepiece like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I had a chance to see IC 1583 in Orion. It glowed, rather like the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find B 122 in Ophiuchus. It was a blurry likeness of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I sketched B 325. It looked exactly like George W. Bush. After that, I found by accident Abell 4. It looked uncannily like a cantilever bra. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook M 64. It was even more difficult than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I hunted B 453. It gave the appearance of an inflamed monkey butt.
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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).