As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of Doonsbury as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. 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 26. It was not quite as bright as the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I observed B 175. It was as bright as that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I identified B 207. It gave the appearance of Smokey the Bear. After that, I observed IC 3623 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed fainter than Dubya. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off M 25. It sparkled like cotton on velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located NGC 4223. It somewhat resembled two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at M 109 in Fornax. It appeared as the pillars of creation. Then, I found Abell 86. It seemed fainter than the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I studied NGC 3043 in Lepus. It reminded me of whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched M 105. It seemed fainter than a nebula. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to B 275. It glowed, rather like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, I hunted for M 45. It appeared to be spent coals, faintly glowing. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident IC 3489. It was better than a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I located M 81 in Triangulum. It was a dead ringer for the pillars of creation.
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 a State of the Union address.