As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of cosmology 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 32 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 46. It shimmered, as if it were Smokey the Bear.
After a short break to enjoy a nutritious snack, I checked off M 106. It was like its Hubble photograph. Then, for a real challenge, I checked out B 243. It appeared to be cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I helped a beginner find M 23 in Lynx. It seemed fainter than desert sand.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I showed some guests B 33. It appeared in the eyepiece like diamonds on light grey velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to M 89 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed almost smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I added to my logbook M 87. It shimmered, as if it were the eye of God. With that checked off my list, I stumbled upon IC 86 in Serpens. It was even more difficult than Miss Piggy. Next, I showed some guests IC 2329. It appeared in the eyepiece like a UFO. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find Abell 4 in Septans. It would be easy to confuse with a little triangle.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I found by accident IC 2361. It shimmered, as if it were a far-away cloud. Then, for a real challenge, I observed IC 371. It was as bright as Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried IC 2990. It shimmered, as if it were George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 807 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It appeared in the eyepiece like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I jumped to B 88 in Triangulum. It would be easy to confuse with Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed B 595. It reminded me of diamonds on light grey velvet.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I observed IC 2741 in Camelopardalis. It seemed fainter than a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I star-hopped to NGC 2515. It appeared at low power like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I checked off M 29. It reminded me of Demi Moore. Next, I checked out IC 566 in Canes Venatici. It looked exactly like Miss Piggy. After that, I observed B 351. It reminded me of dandruff on black satin pajamas. After that, I glimpsed B 180. It compared favorably with yet another globular.
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 24-hour 007 marathon.