As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the higher implications of Doonsbury as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 37 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 88. It appeared as two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After that, I found M 10. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton on velvet. Next, I accidentally located IC 1333. It was even more difficult than that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, I looked for and suspected Abell 53. It somewhat resembled ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident IC 2184. It glowed, rather like 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 yet another town star party with clueless newbies.