As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the morality of world hunger 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 2 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 102. It gave the appearance of Smokey the Bear. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged B 98. It seemed almost 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off IC 1664. It was easy, just like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected NGC 5921. It seemed fainter than cotton on velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted B 179. It sparkled like ripples of water. After that, I logged IC 3814 in Canes Venatici. It was a dead ringer for ripples of water. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 6428. It gave the appearance of nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to NGC 5768. It sparkled like a glimmer of the Big Bang. With that checked off my list, I sketched Abell 73. It seemed just like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I checked out NGC 3172 in Scorpius. It appeared at low power like Smokey the Bear. Next, I added to my logbook Abell 40. It was a blurry likeness of the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I sketched IC 1536. It appeared in the eyepiece like Demi Moore. After that, I had a chance to see Abell 29. It seemed most like blackness. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected Abell 44 in Lepus. It looked like a glimmer of the Big Bang. With that checked off my list, I found Abell 74. It looked uncannily like a far-away cloud. After that, I observed B 577. It appeared in the eyepiece like a spitting cobra.
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 night out under the stars with people you hate.