As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of TAC as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 5 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 33. It looked uncannily like a cantilever bra. After that, I nudged my telescope to M 85 in Canis Major. It reminded me of the eternal nothingness of being.
After a short break to recite my mantra, I had a chance to see IC 997 in Canes Venatici. It seemed almost all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located Abell 72 in Pisces Austrinus. It appeared in the eyepiece like Santa Claus. Next, I located B 472. It was better than the invisible man. With that checked off my list, I went for NGC 4086. It looked uncannily like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I tried for NGC 6512. It glowed, rather like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected M 97. It was a dead ringer for a spider. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 62. It was easy, just like desert sand. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off M 13. It was a blurry likeness of a spider. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located B 628. It was not quite as bright as the last six objects I'd seen. Next, I found by accident IC 3277. It was easy, just like a UFO. Then, for a real challenge, I checked out B 40 in Sagittarius. It seemed just like the eternal nothingness of being.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I looked at B 508. It appeared as a whale spouting. After that, I showed some guests Abell 86. It appeared in the eyepiece like the invisible man. Then, I studied M 110 in Ursa Minor. It seemed most like a little triangle. Then, I looked at M 25. It was as bright as the eye of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located B 371 in the western sky. It looked a bit like Gollum. With that checked off my list, I tracked down B 639. It appeared in the eyepiece like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I found by accident IC 13. It looked exactly like whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
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 looking at another first attempt to image the Lagoon Nebula.