As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the higher implications of Doonsbury as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 13 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 71 in Corvus. It somewhat resembled cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down B 560 in Hydra. It seemed most like the eye of God. Next, I logged Abell 27. It was a blurry likeness of the eternal nothingness of being. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see NGC 6403. It appeared in the eyepiece like lumpy darkness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident Abell 91 in Perseus. It appeared at low power like Demi Moore. Then, I nudged my telescope to Abell 43. It appeared to be a cantilever bra. After that, I glimpsed NGC 2364. It glowed, rather like the eye of God. Then, I accidentally located M 22. It took me back to the first time I saw an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down Abell 12. It appeared in the eyepiece like Gollum. Then, I studied NGC 5377. It seemed almost the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see B 275 in the western sky. It looked a bit like yet another globular.
After a short break to have a smoke, I checked out Abell 6. It appeared as a UFO.
After a short break to have a smoke, I stumbled upon IC 3332 in Canis Major. It was easy, just like one of Martha Stewart's doilies.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I went for B 394. It seemed most like 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 a root canal.