As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the higher implications of the internet as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 51 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 22. It seemed almost blackness. Next, I sketched NGC 1930 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It took me back to the first time I saw George W. Bush. Then, I checked off M 85. It appeared as fleecy wool. Next, I hunted B 536. It would be easy to confuse with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
After a short break to walk around, I tracked down NGC 1960 in Camelopardalis. It looked uncannily like the invisible man. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted B 283. It seemed fainter than a whale spouting.
After a short break to check my email, I checked off B 233 in Ophiuchus. It reminded me of R2-D2. After that, I tracked down Abell 85. It seemed almost yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook IC 2710 in Draco. It looked exactly like Gollum. Then, I stumbled upon M 72. It was a blurry likeness of Gollum. After that, I sought IC 3965 in Antlia. It shimmered, as if it were an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook IC 398. It gave the appearance of black pearls on flocked paper. After that, I went for Abell 43. It looked like a little triangle. Next, I showed some guests M 33. It was a blurry likeness of a nebula. Next, I sketched NGC 4123. It reminded me of a whale spouting. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for B 200 in Serpens. It looked exactly like whipped cream. Then, I checked off IC 1326. It gave the appearance of an inflamed monkey butt. Next, I hunted for IC 3651 in Scutum. It was like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find M 76. It looked uncannily like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I found IC 1359. It reminded me of the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I found by accident IC 2714 in Canes Venatici. It was easy, just like the clouds I'd seen earlier. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged NGC 2336. It appeared at low power like all the other smudges I've ever looked at.
After a short break to check my email, I identified Abell 5. It seemed just like dancing elephants. Next, I looked at IC 985 in Ursa Major. It was a dead ringer for 60 grit carborundum on asphalt.
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 24-hour 007 marathon.