As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the current implications of my life's work as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 50 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 44. It took me back to the first time I saw the invisible man. Next, I sketched M 70. It appeared at low power like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Next, I identified Abell 67. It looked like ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified IC 3113 in Canes Venatici. It gave the appearance of George W. Bush. Then, I star-hopped to B 584. It looked like the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I located B 484 in Scutum. It reminded me of nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked for and suspected Abell 71. It looked uncannily like its Hubble photograph. Next, I found B 536. It appeared to be a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed M 2 in Cygnus. It seemed almost a whale spouting. After that, I checked out IC 484 in the western sky. It would be easy to confuse with whipped cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests NGC 316 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It seemed almost Gollum. With that checked off my list, I tried NGC 2703. It compared favorably with desert sand. With that checked off my list, I checked out NGC 3179. It gave the appearance of cotton on velvet. Then, I showed some guests IC 2029. It was like an inflamed monkey butt. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to M 6. It somewhat resembled the last six objects I'd seen. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to B 632. It seemed most like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I found by accident IC 234 in Orion. It looked a bit like its Hubble photograph. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I studied M 33 in Ursa Major. It appeared as a spitting cobra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to Abell 82. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I hunted for NGC 6890. It glowed, rather like diamonds on black velvet. With that checked off my list, I studied Abell 3. It looked like ripples of water.
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 looking at another first attempt to image the Lagoon Nebula.