As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the current state of Plato's Republic as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 10 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 27. It seemed almost a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I star-hopped to B 36 in the western sky. It looked uncannily like a waterfall. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to M 13. It appeared in the eyepiece like diamonds on black velvet. Then, I observed NGC 6881. It glowed, rather like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I looked for and suspected NGC 6333 in Septans. It sparkled like yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to M 81. It appeared as ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see M 94. It seemed fainter than its Hubble photograph. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 78. It seemed almost ripples of water. Then, I tried Abell 35 in Perseus. It shimmered, as if it were whipped cream. With that checked off my list, I tried for B 382. It appeared as a nebula. After that, I added to my logbook B 237. It was even more difficult than R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off M 34. It was easy, just like the clouds I'd seen earlier. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched B 505. It somewhat resembled lumpy darkness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for M 62. It seemed fainter than nothing I'd ever seen before. After that, I star-hopped to NGC 4048. It was easy, just like Alan Rickman. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected NGC 5551 in Canis Major. It reminded me of the eye of God.
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 watching an I Love Lucy marathon on Nick at Night.