As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of chaos theory 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 33 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 92. It was a blurry likeness of a far-away cloud. After that, I added to my logbook M 17 in Ursa Major. It seemed fainter than a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, I sketched Abell 71. It was as bright as Alan Rickman.
After a short break to chat, I slewed to Abell 46 in Lynx. It was better than a whale spouting. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to B 557. It sparkled like the face of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for IC 1753. It was like Smokey the Bear.
After a short break to walk around, I went for Abell 80 in the western sky. It appeared as dancing elephants. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident NGC 6723 in Perseus. It appeared at low power like Alan Rickman. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for IC 3610. It appeared to be the invisible man.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I added to my logbook Abell 19. It shimmered, as if it were a UFO. With that checked off my list, I checked out Abell 18. It was a dead ringer for that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After that, I sketched NGC 709. It seemed just like a smoke ring. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for NGC 2375. It looked a bit like Alan Rickman. Then, I glimpsed Abell 99 in Camelopardalis. It seemed fainter than the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I identified NGC 5043 in that confusing part of Virgo. It sparkled like a little triangle. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected B 325. It would be easy to confuse with all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I checked out Abell 83. It was a blurry likeness of two scoops of spumoni ice cream.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I found M 98. It looked exactly like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I glimpsed B 220. It was not quite as bright as R2-D2. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to M 49. It shimmered, as if it were the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I star-hopped to NGC 2696. It appeared at low power like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, I showed some guests IC 3476. It sparkled like a whale spouting. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at B 239 in Scorpius. It appeared at low power like Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at NGC 2743 in Draco. It glowed, rather like its Hubble photograph.
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 spending the evening reading blogs.