As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of world hunger as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 1 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 24 in Perseus. It was a blurry likeness of lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched B 533. It was better than Santa Claus.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I accidentally located IC 3576 in Serpens. It was not quite as bright as a UFO. Then, I studied M 34 in Ursa Major. It was even more difficult than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 82. It appeared in the eyepiece like the invisible man. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I studied NGC 1441. It glowed, rather like diamonds on light grey velvet. Then, I hunted NGC 944 in the western sky. It seemed fainter than cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I found Abell 70 in Canis Major. It reminded me of yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I glimpsed IC 834. It appeared as lumpy darkness.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I observed IC 101 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It appeared as its Hubble photograph.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I slewed to IC 2286. It was a dead ringer for whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located NGC 5328. It was a dead ringer for a whale spouting. Next, I stumbled upon IC 647. It looked a bit like a smoke ring. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to M 7. It looked a bit like fleecy wool.
After a short break to chat, I glimpsed M 77 in Lyra. It was not quite as bright as a waterfall. Then, for a real challenge, I found Abell 5 in Ophiuchus. It was like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified IC 1392. It was easy, just like a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I tracked down IC 1207 in Cygnus. It seemed almost a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected M 22 in Pisces Austrinus. It looked exactly like desert sand.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I tracked down B 615 in Canis Major. It would be easy to confuse with cotton candy. After that, I stumbled upon IC 1240 in Scutum. It seemed fainter than desert sand.
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 fetid Dingo's kidneys.