As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the current state of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 23 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 41 in Pisces Austrinus. It took me back to the first time I saw a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After that, I sought NGC 879. It looked uncannily like the eternal nothingness of being.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I went for Abell 24. It appeared to be Miss Piggy. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook B 58 in Camelopardalis. It was better than 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, for a real challenge, I identified B 107. It compared favorably with a whale spouting. With that checked off my list, I checked out M 13. It somewhat resembled an inflamed monkey butt. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected M 89. It was a dead ringer for George W. Bush. Then, for a real challenge, I logged M 55 in Virgo. It looked exactly like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted IC 1217 in that confusing part of Virgo. It appeared to be diamonds on black velvet. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for IC 2094. It was not quite as bright as the eternal nothingness of being. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see B 305. It appeared at low power like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, I identified B 390 in Canes Venatici. It took me back to the first time I saw lumpy darkness. After that, I nudged my telescope to IC 2147 in Ursa Major. It looked uncannily like cotton on velvet. After that, I showed some guests IC 2849. It seemed most like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I tried B 436. It glowed, rather like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed M 94. It looked like a spitting cobra. With that checked off my list, I observed M 15. It seemed fainter than cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for M 1 in the western sky. It looked uncannily like 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 phone sex.