As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the current implications of Doonsbury as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 35 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 1 in Ursa Major. It looked a bit like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried Abell 28. It was a blurry likeness of Santa Claus. Then, I added to my logbook Abell 79. It was better than Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Then, for a real challenge, I identified IC 698. It looked like Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to B 66. It appeared to be cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to Abell 10 in Scorpius. It looked exactly like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for B 97. It compared favorably with desert sand. Then, I tracked down B 373 in Antlia. It was a blurry likeness of cotton candy.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I looked for and suspected IC 2621 in Virgo. It compared favorably with Alan Rickman. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed Abell 1. It shimmered, as if it were cotton on velvet.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I sought B 97. It glowed, rather like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted NGC 6778 in the western sky. It seemed most like the face of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged B 456. It was not quite as bright as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down NGC 5786. It sparkled like its Hubble photograph.
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 a root canal.