As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the higher implications of Yahoo P/E ratios as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 7 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 103 in that confusing part of Virgo. It was easy, just like Gollum. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to IC 1454 in Antlia. It looked a bit like a far-away cloud. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see M 14 in Serpens. It looked a bit like fleecy wool. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to M 47. It was a blurry likeness of one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, for a real challenge, I found NGC 661. It appeared to be Smokey the Bear. With that checked off my list, I logged Abell 39. It took me back to the first time I saw a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed NGC 863. It was even more difficult than that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried for Abell 87. It looked a bit like a smoke ring.
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 spending the evening reading blogs.