As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the morality of world hunger as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 58 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 60. It looked uncannily like whipped cream. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident IC 3507 in Corvus. It was a blurry likeness of the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I identified NGC 3600 in Camelopardalis. It was better than ripples of water. Next, I jumped to IC 2505 in Serpens. It was a blurry likeness of a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted B 457 in Hydra. It was better than cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see B 620 in Ursa Major. It glowed, rather like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for IC 3932. It appeared at low power like ripples of water. Next, I hunted IC 2222. It reminded me of a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, I observed Abell 99. It was like black pearls on flocked paper. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found Abell 76. It seemed most like Santa Claus. Next, I tracked down Abell 93 in Canis Major. It was a blurry likeness of Santa Claus. Then, I went for M 53. It looked like blackness. After that, I hunted IC 57. It looked exactly like whipped cream.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I slewed to IC 1822. It shimmered, as if it were cotton on velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I studied B 211. It was a blurry likeness of spent coals, faintly glowing. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off Abell 12. It seemed just like nothing I'd ever seen before. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to M 77. It was as bright as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I slewed to Abell 21 in Perseus. It was not quite as bright as the pillars of creation. Next, I logged Abell 75 in Perseus. It was better than yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at M 73 in Gemini. It appeared as the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, I glimpsed B 503. It appeared as a glimmer of the Big Bang. With that checked off my list, I observed Abell 27. It was as bright as Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident B 550 in Camelopardalis. It seemed just like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident NGC 5247. It appeared at low power like diamonds on light grey 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 a poke in the eye with a frozen dishrag.