My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of Doonsbury 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 48 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 95 in Gemini. It shimmered, as if it were the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I logged NGC 6976. It reminded me of two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I had a chance to see NGC 2358. It glowed, rather like Dubya. Next, I showed some guests B 22. It was a dead ringer for R2-D2.

After a short break to walk around, I found NGC 4640. It seemed most like a spitting cobra. Then, I identified IC 1242. It looked uncannily like lumpy darkness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to IC 613. It reminded me of whispy tendrils of nebulosity.

After a short break to empty my output buffers, I looked for and suspected IC 3378 in Virgo. It reminded me of the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I studied NGC 4744 in Pisces Austrinus. It compared favorably with the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I logged Abell 48. It was a dead ringer for a swarm of bees. Then, for a real challenge, I found IC 3908 in Corvus. It seemed fainter than fleecy wool. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for NGC 4681. It somewhat resembled a whale spouting. Next, I identified B 530 in that confusing part of Virgo. It was a dead ringer for the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I found by accident B 607. It reminded me of all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, I slewed to Abell 32. It reminded me of George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook NGC 4964. It would be easy to confuse with Miss Piggy. After that, I slewed to Abell 66 in Lyra. It sparkled like whispy tendrils of nebulosity.

After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I sketched Abell 28 in Fornax. It would be easy to confuse with a whale spouting. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed M 66. It appeared at low power like cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find Abell 57 in Scutum. It shimmered, as if it were a UFO. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged B 435 in Perseus. It looked like cream being swirled into hot coffee.

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 the evening reading blogs.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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