As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the popularity of Plato's Republic as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 44 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 66. It compared favorably with a far-away cloud. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched B 48. It took me back to the first time I saw cream being swirled into hot coffee.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I checked off IC 3418 in Triangulum. It seemed just like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I logged M 84. It took me back to the first time I saw a whale spouting. Then, for a real challenge, I looked at NGC 4370. It shimmered, as if it were cotton candy. After that, I tracked down M 93. It was a dead ringer for one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I looked for and suspected M 50. It appeared in the eyepiece like R2-D2. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed NGC 4909. It was a blurry likeness of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I went for IC 2468. It was better than Santa Claus. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched B 151. It would be easy to confuse with whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
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 a night out under the stars with people you hate.