As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 1 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 60. It gave the appearance of the eternal nothingness of being. With that checked off my list, I tracked down B 558. It glowed, rather like diamonds on black velvet.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I star-hopped to IC 825. It was not quite as bright as a spitting cobra. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched Abell 22. It sparkled like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After that, I added to my logbook M 71. It appeared at low power like Miss Piggy. Then, I logged M 20. It was easy, just like the invisible man. Then, I jumped to IC 2046. It appeared at low power like a nebula.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I checked out IC 2427. It appeared in the eyepiece like Smokey the Bear. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 1636 in Ophiuchus. It glowed, rather like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off IC 1892. It reminded me of cotton candy. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident IC 203. It looked a bit like Smokey the Bear. Then, for a real challenge, I studied B 219. It appeared in the eyepiece like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted NGC 2479 in Lyra. It looked uncannily like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. With that checked off my list, I logged M 47 in Scorpius. It was like black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I sought IC 3909. It seemed most like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for IC 533 in Virgo. It was a dead ringer for a UFO. Then, I nudged my telescope to Abell 85. It was a blurry likeness of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I located NGC 3545. It seemed almost the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for IC 2729. It somewhat resembled all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to Abell 80. It was a dead ringer for that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to Abell 27 in Ursa Minor. It was even more difficult than the clouds I'd seen earlier.
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 listening to the Monkees Box Set.