As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the morality of Dilbert as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 15 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 14. It shimmered, as if it were blackness. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to IC 1593. It was a blurry likeness of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I hunted Abell 20. It sparkled like dancing elephants.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I had a chance to see IC 401 in Ursa Major. It was like a swarm of bees. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed NGC 4386. It was a blurry likeness of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at Abell 28. It was better than a far-away cloud. Then, for a real challenge, I located IC 3116. It was a dead ringer for Smokey the Bear. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to M 64 in Antlia. It appeared to be a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I showed some guests B 600. It shimmered, as if it were a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged NGC 3467. It looked exactly like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests IC 456. It appeared as spent coals, faintly glowing.
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 sex.