As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of underwater basket weaving 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 2 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 53 in Pisces Austrinus. It seemed fainter than the face of God. After that, I looked at M 66. It shimmered, as if it were the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out B 564 in Triangulum. It looked like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I glimpsed NGC 2485 in Cygnus. It reminded me of whipped cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged Abell 68. It was a dead ringer for all the other smudges I've ever looked at. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located Abell 93. It somewhat resembled a cantilever bra. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched Abell 22. It was even more difficult than spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located IC 1306. It looked uncannily like a UFO. With that checked off my list, I tracked down Abell 48. It was even more difficult than whipped cream. After that, I checked out NGC 6167 in Fornax. It was a blurry likeness of George W. Bush. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to Abell 57 in Canis Major. It seemed fainter than whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for NGC 4228. It reminded me of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted NGC 3630. It seemed fainter than smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. With that checked off my list, I found M 55. It appeared in the eyepiece like an inflamed monkey butt. Then, for a real challenge, I located M 36. It appeared to be George W. Bush.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I sketched Abell 71. It somewhat resembled Gollum.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I sought M 103 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed fainter than the eye of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests NGC 1367. It looked a bit like George W. Bush. Next, I looked at NGC 3021. It appeared in the eyepiece like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to M 79 in Fornax. It was like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I hunted NGC 6224. It glowed, rather like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Then, I observed B 557. It appeared as a UFO.
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 sitting in a dentist's waiting room.