As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of the human spirit as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 49 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 16 in Hydra. It shimmered, as if it were a far-away cloud. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off NGC 6780. It appeared in the eyepiece like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I tried for IC 3706. It was a dead ringer for all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I stumbled upon IC 1784. It compared favorably with dancing elephants. With that checked off my list, I identified Abell 9 in Camelopardalis. It was better than the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I stumbled upon M 9 in Lyra. It was a dead ringer for a swarm of bees. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see B 212. It was even more difficult than a nebula. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located B 626 in Antlia. It looked a bit like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Then, I glimpsed M 82 in Serpens. It was a blurry likeness of an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I looked at NGC 863. It looked a bit like cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I studied B 284. It was as bright as whispy tendrils of nebulosity. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to IC 2360. It reminded me of Smokey the Bear. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found M 43. It was a blurry likeness of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for B 179 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It looked exactly like Miss Piggy. Then, for a real challenge, I tried NGC 6517. It was as bright as Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.
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 looking at another first attempt to image the Lagoon Nebula.