As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of cosmology 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 53 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 104 in Perseus. It appeared as the pillars of creation.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I showed some guests M 93. It was better than the last six objects I'd seen. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook Abell 14 in Lepus. It glowed, rather like desert sand. Then, I found by accident NGC 5430. It looked a bit like black pearls on flocked paper. After that, I added to my logbook IC 3509 in Ursa Minor. It looked exactly like spent coals, faintly glowing. After that, I tried NGC 4503. It seemed just like blackness. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched IC 481 in Fornax. It glowed, rather like ripples of water. Then, I looked for and suspected NGC 6354. It reminded me of a whale spouting. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located Abell 18. It was like diamonds on black velvet. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged Abell 75. It compared favorably with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for B 123 in Scorpius. It was as bright as Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.
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 hot poker rammed up your nose.