My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of television as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 54 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 101. It was a dead ringer for a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched IC 1840. It seemed just like dancing elephants. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at Abell 22. It looked exactly like a whale spouting. Then, for a real challenge, I observed M 86. It gave the appearance of black pearls on flocked paper. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located M 88. It glowed, rather like Dubya. With that checked off my list, I tracked down B 574 in Serpens. It somewhat resembled the last six objects I'd seen. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted for IC 1871. It reminded me of a spider. Then, for a real challenge, I identified NGC 1272 in Virgo. It reminded me of blackness.

After a short break to have a smoke, I tracked down M 5. It reminded me of a cantilever bra. After that, I tracked down B 608. It was a dead ringer for one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I slewed to Abell 57. It appeared at low power like a UFO. With that checked off my list, I tried for IC 2694. It appeared in the eyepiece like the eternal nothingness of being. Next, I star-hopped to Abell 28. It was even more difficult than whipped cream.

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.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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