As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the morality of Dilbert 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 30 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 59 in Fornax. It appeared to be the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, I checked off B 571. It reminded me of a spider. Next, I went for Abell 82. It looked like the eye of God. After that, I went for IC 160. It was a blurry likeness of a whale spouting. Next, I tracked down B 438 in Scutum. It was a dead ringer for Alan Rickman. Then, I added to my logbook NGC 6689. It would be easy to confuse with black pearls on flocked paper. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 2487. It gave the appearance of a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I glimpsed NGC 5510. It reminded me of whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected M 64. It looked like a UFO. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed M 57. It was a dead ringer for Demi Moore.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I showed some guests NGC 4770. It seemed just like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged B 411. It shimmered, as if it were Gollum.
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 day out under the hot sun with bitter enemies.