As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of Plato's Republic 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 23 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 35. It was a blurry likeness of a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, I looked at IC 3526. It glowed, rather like Demi Moore. Next, I tracked down NGC 5890. It seemed almost nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I looked for and suspected NGC 2891 in Virgo. It compared favorably with a spider. Then, I checked off Abell 76 in Scutum. It took me back to the first time I saw Demi Moore.
After a short break to chat, I looked for and suspected M 90 in Gemini. It looked a bit like a little triangle. Next, I identified NGC 942. It was a blurry likeness of Santa Claus. Next, I showed some guests M 97. It was a dead ringer for 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to M 70. It looked uncannily like its Hubble photograph. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I had a chance to see IC 173 in Ophiuchus. It looked a bit like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I looked for and suspected NGC 6493 in Camelopardalis. It compared favorably with whispy tendrils of nebulosity. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located B 347. It was even more difficult than Santa Claus. Then, for a real challenge, I logged Abell 86. It seemed just like Miss Piggy.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I checked out IC 2125. It reminded me of cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located M 77 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed almost lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected NGC 52. It was like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to IC 3354. It looked exactly like the pillars of creation. Next, I hunted for IC 916 in Corvus. It was a blurry likeness of a little triangle. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook M 98. It looked like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I observed Abell 54. It looked a bit like nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sought IC 350. It glowed, rather like the face of God. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 6846. It glowed, rather like blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for Abell 62. It seemed just like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
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.