As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of Norse mythology 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 11 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 78. It appeared as 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I sketched NGC 3695. It seemed almost that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After that, I found B 233. It was a dead ringer for smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I had a chance to see B 562 in Fornax. It glowed, rather like Gollum. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to NGC 499. It glowed, rather like Santa Claus. Next, I logged B 233. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. Then, I nudged my telescope to Abell 17 in Camelopardalis. It seemed almost a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner).
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I checked out NGC 4122. It glowed, rather like the last six objects I'd seen.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I looked at Abell 64. It appeared as whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, I added to my logbook NGC 4872 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed fainter than black pearls on flocked paper. After that, I glimpsed Abell 61. It glowed, rather like a far-away cloud. Next, I logged B 411. It appeared to be all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched IC 446. It was like the face of God. Then, for a real challenge, I identified Abell 33 in Sagittarius. It shimmered, as if it were ripples of water. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located NGC 3473. It appeared at low power like diamonds on light grey velvet. With that checked off my list, I looked at NGC 1080 in Perseus. It looked exactly like spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, I tried for NGC 3523. It was a blurry likeness of Santa Claus. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sought M 83. It reminded me of 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, I looked at NGC 5071. It appeared at low power like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at IC 2920 in Gemini. It would be easy to confuse with desert sand. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off M 62. It was easy, just like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Next, I looked at IC 3345 in Ursa Minor. It was better than Santa Claus. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to B 407. It was even more difficult than desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down IC 1933. It was a dead ringer for a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
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 being ravaged by savage wild wombats.