My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the higher implications of underwater basket weaving 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 49 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 109. It glowed, rather like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified Abell 82. It was better than a swarm of bees. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located Abell 79. It was easy, just like a cantilever bra. After that, I looked for and suspected M 75. It was a blurry likeness of fleecy wool. After that, I studied Abell 17. It somewhat resembled a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for NGC 227 in Triangulum. It was a blurry likeness of a nebula.

After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I found Abell 31. It sparkled like R2-D2. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at M 11. It looked exactly like the face of God. Then, I had a chance to see M 57. It was as bright as two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to NGC 2727. It was even more difficult than the pillars of creation. Next, I stumbled upon NGC 6098 in Canes Venatici. It seemed almost the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I logged IC 856. It compared favorably with fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I jumped to B 559 in Cygnus. It glowed, rather like cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched NGC 4421. It seemed just like Santa Claus. Then, for a real challenge, I added to my logbook NGC 3840 in Triangulum. It looked uncannily like lumpy darkness. Then, I looked at NGC 1956. It looked uncannily like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to B 389. It seemed most like diamonds on black velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I looked at Abell 45. It looked a bit like a cantilever bra.

After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I located B 506. It looked uncannily like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests Abell 92 in Canis Major. It reminded me of yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for M 19. It appeared as that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located NGC 374. It seemed just 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 stacking 400 Mars images by hand.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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