As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the study of Norse mythology as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. 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 30. It was better than R2-D2. With that checked off my list, I hunted NGC 6097 in Scorpius. It would be easy to confuse with yet another globular. Then, I located NGC 4437 in Septans. It reminded me of R2-D2. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched B 101. It was a blurry likeness of its Hubble photograph. With that checked off my list, I showed some guests IC 834. It was even more difficult than spent coals, faintly glowing. Then, I jumped to B 32 in Perseus. It shimmered, as if it were a glimmer of the Big Bang. After that, I tracked down B 17 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was a blurry likeness of whipped cream. After that, I accidentally located NGC 3368. It appeared to be whipped cream. Next, I went for Abell 21. It was a blurry likeness of a nebula. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected B 508 in Pisces Austrinus. It appeared in the eyepiece like blackness. Then, I observed B 543 in Canis Major. It was a dead ringer for diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident Abell 67. 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 helped a beginner find Abell 73. 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 yet another town star party with clueless newbies.