As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the current state of economic theory as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 33 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 99. It appeared to be lumpy darkness. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 77 in Hydra. It looked uncannily like a smoke ring. With that checked off my list, I located M 12. It gave the appearance of R2-D2. After that, I found M 5. It would be easy to confuse with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I observed Abell 26 in Antlia. It looked exactly like the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see B 241. It appeared at low power like the invisible man. With that checked off my list, I jumped to IC 3380. It sparkled like the face of God. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched B 248. It would be easy to confuse with nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to IC 1138. It glowed, rather like a spitting cobra. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed Abell 69. It was as bright as two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I looked at M 39. It was not quite as bright as dancing elephants. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed IC 2075. It was easy, just like Gollum. Next, I slewed to Abell 45. It looked exactly like whipped cream.
After a short break to enjoy a nutritious snack, I stumbled upon IC 2384 in Ursa Major. It seemed almost an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to NGC 5056. It looked uncannily like a nebula. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 68. It was even more difficult than cream being swirled into hot coffee.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I glimpsed IC 1813. It appeared as whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried Abell 63. It seemed most like spent coals, faintly glowing.
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 stale peeps.