My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the morality of my 401K 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 47 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 13. It seemed almost the invisible man. After that, I added to my logbook M 96. It would be easy to confuse with yet another globular.

After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I checked out M 47. It appeared in the eyepiece like the face of God. After that, I looked at M 8. It took me back to the first time I saw its Hubble photograph. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found IC 958 in Triangulum. It appeared at low power like cotton candy. Then, I tracked down M 47. It was as bright as Gollum. Next, I logged M 64. It was easy, just like lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I tried Abell 65. It appeared as the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, I accidentally located NGC 1827. It shimmered, as if it were George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down NGC 453. It somewhat resembled Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified M 105. It was a dead ringer for a smoke ring. Then, I observed Abell 23. It looked like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 751. It appeared at low power like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to M 86. It reminded me of fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to NGC 55 in Pisces Austrinus. It was better than lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted M 44 in Septans. It appeared in the eyepiece like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.

After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I had a chance to see IC 1583 in Orion. It glowed, rather like the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find B 122 in Ophiuchus. It was a blurry likeness of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I sketched B 325. It looked exactly like George W. Bush. After that, I found by accident Abell 4. It looked uncannily like a cantilever bra. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook M 64. It was even more difficult than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I hunted B 453. It gave the appearance of an inflamed monkey butt.

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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

(Don't forget to hit reload.)