As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the deep mystery of astrology as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 8 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 64. It glowed, rather like the last six objects I'd seen. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see Abell 86. It appeared in the eyepiece like the pillars of creation. After that, I accidentally located B 522 in Septans. It looked like an inflamed monkey butt. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out IC 3946. It glowed, rather like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I studied IC 3925. It was as bright as blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked for and suspected Abell 57. It appeared in the eyepiece like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found M 52 in Gemini. It looked uncannily like Miss Piggy. With that checked off my list, I located B 494 in Pisces Austrinus. It glowed, rather like R2-D2. With that checked off my list, I tried for Abell 1 in Orion. It seemed most like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
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 stale peeps.