As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the study of television 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 35 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 110 in Serpens. It was a blurry likeness of all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I located NGC 5617. It shimmered, as if it were the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to B 566 in Ursa Minor. It was as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After that, I sketched NGC 3902 in Virgo. It seemed almost a spider. Then, I glimpsed IC 646. It looked like a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I found by accident M 92. It looked exactly like whipped cream. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident M 5 in Scutum. It was a blurry likeness of a glimmer of the Big Bang.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I star-hopped to NGC 5508. It appeared in the eyepiece like a nebula. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted M 109 in Cygnus. It seemed most like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After that, I found IC 141 in Serpens. It reminded me of blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at B 392. It was as bright as desert sand. After that, I sketched M 91 in Ursa Minor. It looked a bit like cotton on velvet.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I had a chance to see M 29 in Ophiuchus. It appeared as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 2197 in Triangulum. It looked exactly like the eternal nothingness of being. With that checked off my list, I went for IC 3869 in Lepus. It glowed, rather like a spider.
After a short break to chat, I slewed to M 3. It looked exactly like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I went for IC 3143. It was a blurry likeness of an inflamed monkey butt. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to M 12. It seemed fainter than whipped cream. After that, I glimpsed Abell 44. It shimmered, as if it were whipped cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I observed Abell 55 in Serpens. It appeared to be George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located IC 2867. It compared favorably with R2-D2.
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 reading Beowulf in Old English.