As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the current implications of Dilbert as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 16 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 84. It seemed almost spent coals, faintly glowing. After that, I tracked down NGC 5990. It took me back to the first time I saw a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests M 63 in Virgo. It reminded me of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I stumbled upon B 543. It somewhat resembled Alan Rickman. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged NGC 3994 in Perseus. It appeared as fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at IC 2800. It would be easy to confuse with the pillars of creation.
After a short break to check my email, I added to my logbook M 1. It was a dead ringer for its Hubble photograph. Next, I nudged my telescope to IC 2785 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was a blurry likeness of a spitting cobra. With that checked off my list, I located Abell 29. It sparkled like a spider. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched IC 512. It took me back to the first time I saw a whale spouting. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook IC 29 in Gemini. It appeared as cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I went for M 22. It was even more difficult than a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I hunted for B 267 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed almost the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I found IC 696 in Serpens. It looked a bit like fleecy wool. Next, I stumbled upon B 203. It reminded me of cotton on velvet.
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 spending a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.