As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of tight underwear as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 3 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 109. It compared favorably with Dubya. Next, I helped a beginner find B 475 in Sagittarius. It was like fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected B 409 in Sculptor. It was better than Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 72. It was easy, just like Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests NGC 1725. It was even more difficult than all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I tried Abell 97. It gave the appearance of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Then, I helped a beginner find IC 2768. It appeared at low power like the eye of God. Then, for a real challenge, I logged B 273 in Antlia. It would be easy to confuse with that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I located M 46. It was like ripples of water. Then, I located B 380. It shimmered, as if it were spent coals, faintly glowing.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I tried M 3. It appeared in the eyepiece like the eye of God. Next, I showed some guests NGC 6866 in Scutum. It compared favorably with the face of God. Next, I found NGC 4175. It would be easy to confuse with desert sand. Then, I helped a beginner find NGC 6082 in the western sky. It appeared to be a Black Rider hunting for Frodo.
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 ebola.