As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the subtle beauty of chaos theory as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 32 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 63 in Septans. It looked uncannily like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I stumbled upon IC 2522 in Canis Major. It was not quite as bright as Alan Rickman.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I tried for Abell 91. It reminded me of cotton candy. Next, I identified Abell 57. It looked exactly like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found M 81. It looked exactly like cotton candy. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests NGC 6891 in Fornax. It was a blurry likeness of cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected NGC 3718. It looked exactly like the pillars of creation. After that, I stumbled upon Abell 37. It was better than yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 105. It appeared as 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see M 40. It was a dead ringer for an inflamed monkey butt. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged B 605 in Corvus. It reminded me of black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I slewed to M 25 in Sagittarius. It looked exactly like a waterfall. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected NGC 6183. It was a blurry likeness of a smoke ring. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to B 154 in Canis Major. It was a dead ringer for cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I slewed to M 85 in Serpens. It reminded me of dandruff on black satin pajamas. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to IC 1117. It seemed fainter than that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I tried IC 46. It appeared in the eyepiece like dancing elephants. After that, I checked off NGC 4146 in Canis Major. It was even more difficult than dancing elephants. After that, I nudged my telescope to B 177. It gave the appearance of one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, I nudged my telescope to B 516. It appeared at low power like cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried IC 3189 in Canes Venatici. It was a blurry likeness of Smokey the Bear. After that, I jumped to IC 3410 in Gemini. It reminded me of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I went for IC 3438. It seemed almost a nebula.
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 a night out under the stars with people you hate.