As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the deep impact of world hunger 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 21 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 78. It seemed most like Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to IC 641 in Lyra. It was a dead ringer for a cantilever bra. Next, I looked at B 319 in Lepus. It shimmered, as if it were cotton candy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to Abell 99. It seemed just like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found NGC 6700. It was easy, just like Smokey the Bear. After that, I sketched Abell 17 in Hydra. It was like the face of God.
After a short break to check my email, I stumbled upon NGC 6237. It would be easy to confuse with fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located Abell 49 in Camelopardalis. It appeared at low power like a smoke ring. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at B 444. It compared favorably with a nebula. With that checked off my list, I found by accident NGC 717. It looked exactly like Santa Claus. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located B 498 in the western sky. It glowed, rather like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to IC 3161. It was a dead ringer for all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook IC 710. It somewhat resembled cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests IC 804. It appeared at low power like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I found NGC 2802. It shimmered, as if it were a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident NGC 3683. It would be easy to confuse with blackness. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests M 70. It shimmered, as if it were the pillars of creation. With that checked off my list, I slewed to B 21. It appeared at low power like the pillars of creation. With that checked off my list, I sought Abell 26. It took me back to the first time I saw all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, for a real challenge, I tried M 43 in Cygnus. It was even more difficult than a nebula. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see B 57. It was even more difficult than its Hubble photograph. With that checked off my list, I jumped to NGC 1457 in Draco. It appeared in the eyepiece like a little triangle. After that, I helped a beginner find NGC 2107. It was even more difficult than 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 reading observing reports.