As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the study of my 401K as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 9 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 85 in Gemini. It seemed just like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I glimpsed M 106 in Orion. It shimmered, as if it were a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests IC 1986. It would be easy to confuse with cotton candy. After that, I jumped to M 60. It compared favorably with two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, I nudged my telescope to B 371. It was a dead ringer for a cantilever bra. After that, I looked for and suspected Abell 2. It took me back to the first time I saw a spitting cobra. Then, I found by accident B 141 in Gemini. It gave the appearance of all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to NGC 2308. It was better than ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed IC 707. It was better than a swarm of bees.
After a short break to check my email, I observed NGC 2284. It shimmered, as if it were whipped cream. After that, I slewed to IC 1378. It somewhat resembled a waterfall. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted IC 2982. It was as bright as Alan Rickman. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located Abell 38 in Virgo. It seemed fainter than its Hubble photograph. Then, I tried for NGC 2300 in Lyra. It appeared at low power like dancing elephants. Next, I went for M 19. It looked uncannily like an inflamed monkey butt. Next, I sought Abell 55. It appeared to be whispy tendrils of nebulosity. With that checked off my list, I logged M 108. It was not quite as bright as cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I jumped to Abell 35. It looked like the face of God. After that, I found by accident M 2. It appeared in the eyepiece like George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out IC 2683 in Antlia. It seemed almost Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Next, I looked at M 20 in Scutum. It was not quite as bright as a smoke ring.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I logged IC 3134. It was a blurry likeness of 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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).