As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the insignificance of Plato's Republic 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 25 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 52. It seemed almost two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, I sought Abell 9. It reminded me of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, I looked at IC 1474 in Corvus. It would be easy to confuse with a far-away cloud. Then, I tried for NGC 6255. It looked uncannily like a cantilever bra. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see NGC 4102. It was better than the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I hunted IC 994. It looked uncannily like lumpy darkness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to B 343. It was a blurry likeness of yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to B 600 in Virgo. It was easy, just like the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident IC 116 in Antlia. It looked uncannily like a spitting cobra. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests IC 3628. It compared favorably with two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see B 428. It was a blurry likeness of 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I had a chance to see Abell 99. It was like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I added to my logbook M 110. It looked like Gollum. After that, I stumbled upon B 384. It appeared to be ripples of water. Then, I found by accident IC 96. It appeared as Gollum. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon B 485. It was even more difficult than George W. Bush. After that, I tried for Abell 53 in Ophiuchus. It shimmered, as if it were a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, I had a chance to see Abell 26. It somewhat resembled Alan Rickman. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for Abell 24. It looked uncannily like cotton on velvet. Next, I observed M 93 in Gemini. It seemed most like ripples of water. Next, I hunted M 105. It was like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. With that checked off my list, I sought IC 100. It was even more difficult than one of Martha Stewart's doilies.
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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).