As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the current state of economic theory 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 9 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 32. It glowed, rather like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I glimpsed NGC 3192. It looked exactly like Dubya.
After a short break to check my email, I observed NGC 5749. It somewhat resembled a cantilever bra. Next, I hunted Abell 78. It would be easy to confuse with cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I hunted for B 474. It seemed almost that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find NGC 3769. It was better than desert sand. Then, for a real challenge, I located NGC 250 in Draco. It appeared to be a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After that, I looked at IC 1006. It gave the appearance of dancing elephants. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified M 39. It glowed, rather like the face of God. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see Abell 95 in Septans. It seemed fainter than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I checked off Abell 98. It gave the appearance of dancing elephants. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to Abell 22. It seemed most like a spider. With that checked off my list, I slewed to B 326 in Perseus. It was even more difficult than a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I looked at M 17 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It somewhat resembled two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, I went for Abell 17. It compared favorably with the exhaust from a diesel Suburban.
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 State of the Union address.