As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of my 401K as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 19 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 54. It reminded me of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I glimpsed Abell 94 in Lyra. It appeared as Gollum. After that, I hunted for M 89 in Lepus. It appeared at low power like Demi Moore. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident IC 3654. It gave the appearance of whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located B 200. It appeared as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched B 643. It was not quite as bright as its Hubble photograph. Next, I studied Abell 42. It seemed just like cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I looked at NGC 2964. It compared favorably with a swarm of bees. With that checked off my list, I hunted B 408. It seemed most like a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I found B 583. It sparkled like dancing elephants. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find IC 1547. It looked uncannily like Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I observed Abell 66. It seemed most like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I checked off M 49 in Perseus. It was not quite as bright as a waterfall. After that, I stumbled upon M 90 in Scorpius. It would be easy to confuse with a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to M 41. It sparkled like George W. Bush. After that, I tried Abell 13. It looked like its Hubble photograph. After that, I jumped to B 493 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It shimmered, as if it were Demi Moore.
After a short break to have a smoke, I logged B 312. It was like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner).
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 taking an elevator during a Stage 3 alert.